Panasonic DMR-ES10S DIGA Series DVD Recorder , Silver
Easy to Use, Well-Designed
The Panasonic ES10 is a smooth-functioning, feature-rich machine. Someone at Panasonic must have spent a lot of time designing this unit and it shows. It is easy to program and use. If you are coming from the world of VCR recording, you will appreciate many of the features you can use to record and playback your favorite shows. Using the DVD-RAM disc, you can play and then delete your recorded programs in a snap. The ES10 comes with one DVD-RAM disc which Panasonic says can be used up to 1000 times. The DVD menu function allows the viewer not only to see snippets of the recorded shows in a small on-screen box, but to hear them also. Thus, you can easily decide what programs to keep, and which to delete.<br /><br />There are four record modes. I mostly use the Long Play mode which gives you four hours of recording time per disc with very good quality. Compared with a VCR, the picture quality is very sharp.<br /><br />I especially like the \\"Commercial Skip\\" feature which is labelled \\"CM Skip\\" on the remote. You can use this feature with DVD-RAM discs to skip ahead one minute at time. I also find this useful to skip ahead in a recorded program.<br /><br />The only thing I would change would be to put more controls on the front panel of the unit. As it stands, you can only play, stop and record from the front panel. There are also up and down channel buttons in a recessed front panel next to the front VCR inputs (there are 3 sets of VCR inputs -- two on the back and one on the front). You must use the buttons on the remote control to access all the unit's features including fast-forward and rewind. For my medium-sized fingers, the remote is comfortable to use and easy to operate.<br /><br />Overall, this unit is a great value for the price and a huge improvement over VCR recording.<br /><br />(Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of OPENING MINDS: A Journey of Extraordinary Encounters, Crop Circles, and Resonance and PLANETARY INTELLIGENCE: 101 Easy Steps to Energy, Well-Being and Natural Insight)