Panasonic DMRE85HS Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 120 GB Hard Drive Recording
Great Machine!!  Worth the effort to learn it's features
I debated over whether or not to buy this machine. I already have 5 SVHS machines for taping material I want to keep.  But after using the DMR-E85S for a couple of months, I'm glad I bought it. <br /> <br />The maching works very well.  It delivers all that the description of it promises.  If you can program a vcr with not much fuss and are familiar with routine computer applications, then you are way ahead on the learning curve this thing requires. <br /> <br />Watching a recorded show with this is nice, since playing it back is like getting around through your favorite movie DVD.  The fast forward & reverse is quick to respond to remote commands.   This make regular viewing or editing very easy.  The playback quality is very good to excellent.  I usually use the 2nd or 3rd fasted speed.  No need to use the fastest.  Playback quailty is like live tv--no snow bars or flashing of different colors until the tape tracks properly over the playback head on a vcr. <br /> <br />Also, I'm glad I bought the unit with the built in hard drive.  No looking through tapes to wonder \\"what's on this one\\" when trying to record a show.  The hard drive will hold more information than I will ever need it to. <br /> <br />Burned & finalized DVD's are as good as live tv.  I like the flexable recording speed that let's me tell the E85S what I want on the DVD-R, and it adjusts the speed to exactly fill up the disk.  No wasted space & the recording was performed in the fastest possible speed to get the best quality. <br /> <br />The TV Guide works for me.  Others posts tell of folks that had a problem with it.  It has listed the shows correctly & made recordings of what I wanted without any trouble.   <br /> <br />I highly recommend this unit.   I'd get one before buying another blank video tape for a vcr.  You can put 2-3 hours of high quality video on a disk that costs about 40 cents a piece.  You wont' regreat it.