Panasonic DMR-ES20K DVD Recorder
She Offered Her Honor (Groucho)
This is my first DVD Recorder, yes I had at first planned to get the ES10S as, except for the \\"Firewire\\" input I did not see much advantage on paper. They go for about $160 but no one seems to have them in stock?I have too many DVD players but what I wanted was a unit to function as a DVD (VCR) so as to have the ability to record some TV show when I'm not home or certain events. Having the ability to use the RAM Disc for \\"Chasing Playback\\" seems very cool. My very nice but older Toshiba simply would not play the DVD R+ I made, which is what placed it on the chopping block. On the plus side, I hooked this unit up to my very old RCA big screen. The entire remote had gone out on this TV. Due to the age I did not want to invest to repair this \\"older\\" technology, we had just been using this TV for movies as the remote (in the TV) was out. The Pansaonics tuner can be used to run the whole system. So aside from turning on the TV, I can use the DVD remote to watch normal cable TV, watch the VCR, watch a movie, or of course, chase the playback and the unit plays ALL my DVD's, well my zone one DVD anyway. I have not used it all that much which is why I felt I could not go to 5 stars -so it's a report and not an in depth review. I did try out the Chasing Playback, very easy to do, works well. I made a bootleg of an educational VCR tape--a bit more involved as you have to \\"close\\" a DVD so it will play on other DVD players but it did work. Although the DVD RAM are more expensive, Circuit City had 5 Panasonic DVD RAM disc for $10 so for my expected uses of this system I'm set for a modest fee. Amazon does have this unit cheaper than anywhere else I looked by about $15 ($185)BUT I came across a coupon on Amazon that states \\"Spend $129 on Panasonic, Get $50 Off a Future Purchase at Amazon.com\\" I don't know if they will honor this offer but I bought my unit 10/6 and it says for purchases between 10/1 to 10/31 2005 so that would make this about a $135 purchase which would be very cool!l!