Panasonic DMRE85HS Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with 120 GB Hard Drive Recording
A Great Machine With A Slight Problem
I just returned my DMR-E85H recorder because of a problem that many other people have experienced.  It locks up occasionally and various things happen mysteriously.  I found out that this recorder acts much like a pc running older Windows software.  After performing a variety of different functions, it becomes sluggish.  Response times to commands become slow, or it just locks up and sometimes I can't even shut it off with the power button the recorder itself.  The recorder that I just returned is a GREAT machine, except for this defect.(probably in it's software or operating system).  I just ordered another one of these machines, hoping that the next one will be bug-free.  I do want to mention one thing that will be helpful to those of you who are experiencing these problems occasionally.  I believe you can have trouble-free operation with this machine if, before you power it on, unplug the unit for 4 or 5 seconds.  When you re-connect it, it will do a self-check and when it is thru with that, you can start it and it will run glitch-free for a while.  Mine would go as much as seven days, and then suddenly, it would do something goofy. (not always the same thing).  If you notice any changes in operation such as response time slowing, try shutting it down, unplugging and re-plugging, and when you re-start the unit it will run great.  Actually, I could have lived with the unit that I sent back, but why should I?  That recorder shouldn't act up after a lot of usage.  It wasn't any particular type of usage that caused the problem, just doing multiple various tasks over a period of time.  Once reset, it works great again.  I don't lose the time of day or the contents of the TV Guide.  I've never lost anything from the HardDrive during these episodes.  Overall, it's a great machine and, like I said, I just ordered another one.  Once you learn how to edit the programs on the HDD and remove the commercials, you can watch the average half-hour show in about 21 minutes.  Movies that you record on a commercial TV station can be reduced about 1/3 in time.  A 3-hour movie, minus the commercials, will run in about 2 hours.    This is an update to the above.    I have my second machine now for a few weeks and it is great!  I did have to re-set it by unplugging it for a few seconds (5), then plugging it in again.  It re-set itself and I didn't lose anything.  All my recordings were on the harddrive as they were, and the TV GUIDE listing was still intact.  I really believe that this is a great machine even if it has to be re-set once in a while.  I can't imagine being without it.  I no longer sit and watch all of the commercials that are on TV today.  There are at least 18 minutes of commercials each hour and sometimes more than that.  If you have difficulty programming a VCR, maybe this isn't for you, but if you are adept at figuring out how to operate things, then this machine is worth a try.  It is Great!!!  It does so many things, and it does them well.  I am really amazed at just how good this machine is, and all of the things it is capable of doing.  Good recording is just the start.  You can pull out the commercials; re-title the segments; divide the segments any way you wish;  dub any of the segments to a DVD-R in any order; Copy your VHS tapes to the harddrive, edit them or divide them into segments any way you wish; delete any segments that you don't want; etc.  The TV GUIDE is great too.  When you record a TV show, it is already named for you, or you can change the name if you want.  I intend to keep this one.  If it breaks down after the warranty, I'll probably just buy another one.  By that time, they surely will be improved and have even more features.    One thing about recording....  If you are recording two shows that are on the same channel and running consectively, set the recording up manually.  Otherwise, as example: a show running from 9:00 to 9:30, then another from 9:30 to 10 or later, you will lose approx 15 seconds from the end of the first show and another 15 seconds from the beginning of the second show.  By setting manually from 9:00 to 10:00 or later, you won't lose anything, and you can \\"divide\\" the two shows later into separate shows.  You will also lose about 15 seconds as above from each show if they are on different channels, but end and start at the same time as above.