Panasonic  DMR-ES40VS VHS / DVD Recorder Silver
Buggy and Poor support from Panasonic.
The firmware/software in this product is full of bugs. Particularly when time recording to VHS.  Sometimes it records, sometimes it doesn't.<br /><br />Also it has problems with choosing thumbnails for chapters.  Sometimes it selects them, sometimes it wipes out what you selected, uses the 1st frame, and won't let you change it.  No explanation or error message, just won't save it. Very rude software.  No indication that anything is wrong, just won't let you do it.<br /><br />Recording to DVD ram is problematic.  When I record a show, delete it - then record another show. Sometimes in the middle of the second show, the audio bleeds through the previously recorded and deleted program.  Sometimes the video does also.<br /><br />This machine quite often locks up and has to be \\"Rebooted.\\"<br /><br />I've downloaded and installed the latest firmware from Panasonic (Twice per their support persons instructions.) But the behavior never changed.  When calling support you wait forever being transferred to different people, then have to go through their inane script, \\"Is the machine plugged in.\\", etc.<br /><br />Don't even think of using cheap DVD-Rs in the machine.  I found Sony work pretty well and Panasonic DVD-RAMs are what I use.  Imation are just coasters waiting to happen in this machine.<br /><br />It also locks up when playing VCD discs.<br /><br />My wife is a video professional, and we were using this device to transfer some things from other video tape formats to DVD. I am a computer software professional and I don't get confused by hardware very easily - but their manual leaves a lot to be desired.  No explanation of the various error codes the machine generates. (When it generates one. Most of the time it just locks up.)<br /><br />So - Panasonic - Fix your BUGS! - Release another Firmware upgrade Please!