Panasonic DMR-E100HS Progressive Scan DVD Player with 120GB Hard Disk
Great recorder, TERRIBLE DV features (no DVD dubbing)
The other reviews speak much of this great product so I will not duplicate their raves. It IS all that! My main problem, a problem without a \\"real world\\" solution, is that these units, BY FEDERAL LAW, are required to PREVENT DUBBING (copying) of ANY DVD to the Hard Drive (HDD), even if it was a PERSONAL DVD made by me with no copy protection technology. <br /> <br />Basically, if you put in a lot of DV video to the HDD, burn it to a DVD or DVD-RAM, then delete the HDD content to make room for new content, you cannot go back later on and make any copies of the DVD you made previously. You can't DUB it, nor can you play it to the HDD. You are FORCED to either pipe it in from the INPUTS with another DVD player at 1x speed (slow) or hook up the DV camera and play the DV tapes back into the machine all over again, as well as REBUILD the DETAILED menus and titles. A BIG WASTE of TIME!!!!!!! <br /> <br />With my primary uses, this is a RESTRICTION that I cannot live with and I returned this unit to Amazon. I now use the excellent PLEXTOR PX-712UF DVD Burner with my Toshiba notebook for all my DVD needs and it works FLAWLESSLY. I make a DVD, then later I make as many copies as I desire, most in less than 15 minutes. Just what I needed! <br /> <br />I really liked the DMR-E100HS and really tried to make it work. Panasonic is bound by the STUPID federal law and it is not their fault. If you don't need the DV functionality, then this unit is AMAZING!!! <br /> <br />Also, don't forget to TURN ON the HIGH SPEED DUBBING switch in the SETTINGS of the unit. Why this is not a DEFAULT is beyond me. <br /> <br />Sorry Amazon & Panasonic... this unit is coming back. <br /> <br />Robert