Panasonic DMR-ES20K DVD Recorder
Wait!
Bought this item.  Can't figure out how this unit differs from the Panasonic DMR ES-10S.  It must be an improvement, since it is newer and costs $50 more.  Yet the write ups on the ES-10 hype up its 12-bit analog to digital converter that allows more gradations of color and its noise reduction and stabilizer that improve the quality of VCR tapes dubbing, but there is nothing about this is any of the write-ups or the manual of the ES-20.  Could it be that Panasonic is foisting off an inferior \\"upgrade\\" for more money?  Don't know.  One thing about both units that bothers me is that both record to DVD-RWs in VR mode ONLY.  The limitation seems to be more of the technology--like the DVD-RAM these units sport--forced on manufacturers to guard copyright materials. They are definitely not a boon to consumers or advertisers.  DVD-RW and, especially, DVD-RAM disks are a lot more expensive that VCR tapes; and, based on my study of the manual for the ES-20, a lot less trouble to use.  As far as I know, there are no one-time-only restrictions on recording to VCR tapes and thence to DVD--at least via computer--but if there aren't now, you can be there will be.  I wouldn't be surprised if the new VCR recorders aren't already designed to scramble recordings or mark them in some way as to make them uncopyable, so hang on to your old VCRs.  If you do decide to buy a DVD recorder, however, bottom line on the ES-20 is don't buy until [...]--which, by the way, has a neat video tape touting the advantages of the ES-10 but nothing like it on the ES-20--provides sellers more information to give customers, specifically:  how does the ES-20 differ from the ES-10?