Panasonic DMRE85HS Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 120 GB Hard Drive Recording
It works just fine, once you figure out the owner's manual
This is far from being my first Panasonic built product, and I'm sure it won't be my last. <br /> <br />It is fairly typical for Panasonic:  Well constructed, good quality, and once you figure out what the typically incomprehensible Panasonic owner's manual actually means, it is pretty easy to use.  Especially considering the fact it is performing some fairly complicated multi-tasks.  <br /> <br />It just makes sense to record all off-air programming directly to the hard drive.  That's obviously what Panasonic has in mind.  And in the \\"SP\\" recording mode (that's the next-to-best mode) you will get picture quality virtually indistinguishable from the original broadcast.  In this mode the hard drive will store around 55 hours of material.  Surely that will give you enough space to time shift all those fabulous shows you didn't want to miss.  <br /> <br />I agree with others that the longer-record modes offer very compromised picture quality.  But who really needs to get 200 hours of time on the hard drive? <br /> <br />As for dubbing from hard drive to a DVD-r or DVD-Ram, it's fairly uncomplicated.  Especially after you've done it a few times so you can say to yourself \\"Oh, that's what the owner's manual meant - but didn't really say\\".  Because it is a TV set-top accessory rather than a computer add-on, you have to use the remote for just about everything.  It is a bit laborious until, again, you get the hang of what it is you are supposed to do.  Gee, a keyboard option would be so great. <br /> <br />As for the TV Guide On Screen option, the only problem I've been able to find is that it seems to take a very long time for the info to download and, of course, since the function actually involves channel scanning, it can only be done when the machine is not in use.  And, by-the-way, it is also dependent on the information being fed it by the individual channel.  Therefore, you may occasionally have listings at a particular time of day for most, but not all, your channels.  The conundrum is Panasonic has designed the machine, what with it's Time Slip feature and all, to be used practically your every waking hour.  But, and this is a big \\"but\\", you don't have to use TV Guide On Screen to program the timer.  You can program it in the usual manner, or use VCR-Plus, just like any VCR.   <br /> <br />And, something very nice:  If you have a repeat program scheduled, say, every Tuesday at 9PM, and it isn't running on a particular week, the machine automatically skips it, and reschedules itself for the next week.  However, unlike Tivo, it doesn't search out different times and days that program might be on.  And, also unlike Tivo, it is absolutely free. <br /> <br />So, in conclusion, I am very pleased with this machine.  You have to use it to understand how to use it, because Panasonic, as is their tradition, is not especially helpful with their owner's manual.  I could certainly never go back to video tape. <br /> <br />Oh, yeah, in response to someone who said it won't record on DVD-r's  from bulk spindle packs, yes, you guessed it, pure horsehockey.  Just buy a quality brand like TDK, Maxell, etc, and, like me, you'll have no problem (over 30 so far without a hitch). <br /> <br />Have fun!   <br />