Panasonic DMRE85HS Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 120 GB Hard Drive Recording
This is my favorite piece of electronics.
I have used the previous model E80H for almost a year with no problems and bought this new model E85HS as soon as it became available. I should add, I bought both DVRs right here at Amazon.com and have not had any problems at all. I did read the manual before I unpacked the unit as I do with anything complex. This model is more intuitive than most but knowing idiosyncrasies like the reset button mentioned in an earlier review are important to know. You can also do some things the manual doesn't cover like record from a DVD to the hard-drive. Like all consumer DVRs it will not copy a copy protected DVD which is just about all US releases. However, copying a personal VHS tape is a breeze. It is easy to do edits and make a very useable menu for your DVD version.<br />The programming function is also simple to use. I programmed 16 different TV shows to be recorded while I was on a five week trip and it recorded them all perfectly. I highly suggest you use the SP speed so instead of 284 hours of theoretical recording time you really have about 55 to 95 hours max which is still great! I only use the fastest XP speed when it is important to see fine details (i.e. swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated video;-) or I am going to make a permanent copy of a less than 2 hour program to a DVD-R. Then by using the variable speed recording choice I end up with the best possible DVD-R copy.  With Panasonics filters the finished copy can indeed look better than the original source but do not expect miracles.  I often use DVD-RAM for temporary storage of programs I do not want the rest of the family to see and the high speed transfer is a great convenience.  Playback is excellent even with an older TV but your TV works with progressive scan this model will display a very high quality image indeed.  This new model plays a wider variety of VCDs (the E80H did reasonable well) and it you like to play music through your TV entertainment center it play CDs and CD-Rs fine.<br />I have found the DVD-Rs to be viewable in a wide variety on DVD players as I am the one that converts the family movies to DVD-R and distribute them all over the country.  I also sell some travel movies I made on my website and have not had any returned.  No coasters and between my two units I have made well over 100 DVD-Rs.  I have only used name brand blank DVD-R and DVD-RAM disks, so that probably has been a factor.<br />Features like time-slip and one button switch to TV only makes viewing a pleasure.  Yes, you can really watch a program while still recording it or watch a different program from the hard drive or DVD tray.  The remote control takes a while to get used to but has it all at your fingertips.<br />Enjoy!found the DVD-Rs to be viewable in a wide variety on DVD players as I am the one that converts the family movies to DVD-R and distribute them all over the country.  I also sell some travel movies I made on my website and have not had any returned.  No coasters and between my two units I have made well over 100 DVD-Rs.  I have only used name brand blank DVD-R and DVD-RAM disks, so that probably has been a factor. <br />Features like time-slip and one button switch to TV only makes viewing a pleasure.  Yes, you can really watch a program while still recording it or watch a different program from the hard drive or DVD tray.  The remote control takes a while to get used to but has it all at your fingertips.  <br />Enjoy!