Panasonic  DMR-ES40VS VHS / DVD Recorder Silver
A somewhat disappointed customer dreams of more...
This is my first DVD Recorder--and, as a DVD Recorder, it works. I can use it to successfully copy all my old VCR tapes onto DVDs now. This is great! The picture and the sound are faithfully replicated onto my new DVD. I can also program TV shows onto my choice of VCR tapes or blank DVDs as well. (It doesn't record onto DVD+RW; but it can play DVD+RW.)<br /><br />Unfortunately, there's more; and here's where my review becomes rather mixed. I simply cannot program the darned thing to record anything beyond the current date, even after I took it in for a repair check. It also developed a nasty problem with both horizontal and angled static after only four months and I was really glad I had a warranty for it! The resulting picture looked like something that would have been broadcast with rabbit ears several decades ago. It took almost two weeks for the repair crew to get the machine back to me (although being under warranty I didn't spend for this problem.)<br /><br />The remote buttons are rather small and this can be frustrating at times, especially when you're first getting used to it. On the other hand, there is only one single button you need to press to dub from either VCR to DVD or vice versa--a definite plus. It does not play PAL discs; and it does not play Blu-ray discs either. But for most American purposes this is still OK (for now, at least) since it does play all region 1 DVDs and DVDs that are marked with the label \\"ALL.\\"<br /><br />There are quite a few editing features and a \\"flexible recording\\" mode that allows you to put part of a program on one DVD (if you want to record at the very slowest speeds for the sake of picture clarity) and finish the rest of the same program on another DVD breaking the two DVDs up at a moment of your choosing. The screen menus become easy to navigate with time.<br /><br />In short, this player is OK--but I don't think it's the best. After all, after four months you shouldn't have to be taking it to a repair shop like I wound up doing! On the other hand, the player does offer all the basic features and a few nice extras like showing still pictures, flexible recording and more without too much of a price for a combination player.  But--if you have the money, please consider going with another DVD-Recorder that offers better quality and reliability.like I wound up doing! On the other hand, the player does offer all the basic features and a few nice extras like showing still pictures, flexible recording and more without too much of a price for a combination player.  But--if you have the money, please consider going with another DVD-Recorder that offers better quality and reliability. <br />