Panasonic DMR-E80H (80 GB) DVD Recorder

Years ago I wondered why they couldn't invent a machine that would record TV signals onto a computer hard drive instead of videotape. With TiVo, and now the Panasonic DMR-E80H, they FINALLY did it! The only thing missing, unless it's buried in the manual, which I only skimmed, is the ability to phone in or transmit schedule changes to the DMR-E80H recorder from a remote location.

Without going into all the electronic specifications, I found it easy to set up and start recording. Got into play lists, editing, and dubbing (copying) via a very short trial and error period. Haven't tried the Pause action feature yet, but nice to know it's available.

The DMR-E80H allows you to take recorded programs and easily edit them. You can record a program to the hard drive, then delete all the commercials, and dub it to a DVD disc to save. You'll be amazed at how short some of these TV programs are once the commercials are removed and how much space you can save on the DVD for more programs. Alternatively, you can record the Super Bowl and put all the commercials, and/or Half-Time show, into a playlist, then dub that to a DVD for posterity.

You can also take a program and edit it into a set of scenes in a playlist, then rearrange them. I'm considering trying this with the backwards Seinfeld episode. Always wanted to see it run in "real" chronological sequence! And, though I haven't tried it yet, all this can also be done with video on tape, by plugging the VCR or videocam into the DMR-E80H, to transfer selected programs from tape to DVD or make your own home movies on DVD.

The only drawbacks found so far:

1. The hard drive could be larger. There is a Panasonic model with a larger drive, but it's a lot more expensive, about a thousand dollars. But the technology should get less expensive over the years, like VHS.

2. Because it is basically a computer, it has an internal fan which needs adequate ventilation, so it can't be kept in an enclosed space, like a cabinet or bookcase. Keeping it well-ventilated should prevent catastrophic failure.

3. Unlike some Panasonic models with smaller or no hard drives, the DMR-E80H does not accommodate memory cards, like CompactFlash cards.

4. Functions are limited with the DVD-R discs. Cannot edit or shorten programs recorded on DVD-R and can't dub them to the hard drive. When using DVD-R disks, you can watch the programs and either delete them to record over them or finalize the entire disk, as recorded, for retention. DVD-RAM disks are more versatile but cost a lot more.

5. Twice since buying it in December 2003, there was a DVD recording failure for no discernible reason. Not a programming error but either a DVD disk failure or the DVD wasn't seated properly. Once restarted, it worked fine.

6. Once it starts recording, there's almost no stopping it! In fact, if there's room on the hard drive or the DVD disc, it WILL record the programs that are set up whether the Power is on or off. At least with VHS, if you left the Power on, the recording would not start. You can't even stop it by trying to open and remove the DVD. Short of pullling the plug, the only way I was able to stop recording a program that had started was to go into the list of programs and reset the Stop time to the next minute.

And the only ways I found to bypass programs already set up to record are to either reset or erase the program entries OR set the programs to record to the DVD and remove the disc. You would want to do this in order to avoid having to reprogram the setting, although it's not all that difficult to set up a timed recording.

All in all, this is so much more versatile than videotape recording and the picture quality is much sharper than tape. Not all that sure about audio quality, because of a tin ear, or durability, since I've only had it for a few months. With any luck, by the time it needs replacing, the technology will be much more sophisticated and much less expensive!