Panasonic DMR-ES20K DVD Recorder
Good but not as good as it's predecessor.
Overall, not a bad product for the price but it is certainly no replacement for the venerable old VCR. <br /> <br />We have both the DMR-ES10-S and ES20-S and in head-to-head comparison I believe the ES10-S to be the overall better machine. <br /> <br />First, the ES20S has problems not present on the ES-10. <br /> <br />The schedule software seems to prioritize programs by when they were entered, rather than by time. <br /> <br />For the following example we are using the Panasonic DVD-RAM disc's: <br /> <br />Let's say you record the following programs every day: <br /> <br />1. Murder She Wrote - 1 hour <br />2. General Hospital - 1 hour <br />3. Spongebob Squarepants - 30 minutes <br />4. Ed, Edd & Eddy - 30 minutes <br />5. Oprah - 1 hour <br /> <br />Total - 4 hours. <br /> <br />The ES10S has no problems recording the entire 4 hours in LP mode on a blank disk. <br /> <br />The ES20S's scheduleing software will consider the disk full after the first 2 hours BUT will still show that there is room enough on the disk to get the first 1 hour program THE NEXT DAY (ignoring the fact that it still has 2 more programs to record that day AND has plenty of blank disk).  At this point your only option is to turn the machine on and record the rest of the programs manually. <br /> <br />As a result, unless your using a blank disc, you cannot set the schedule to get a program overnight and go to bed. <br /> <br />I have reported this to Panasonic, even talking to a senior technician but they too seemed confused. <br /> <br /> <br />Next, the ES20S frequently locks up on finalization (where the ES10S does not) regardless of media used. <br /> <br /> <br />Likes: <br /> <br />1. Cooling fan. <br />2. Digital Video input. <br />3. Excellant playback quality in 1,2 and 4 hour modes <br />4. Fast Record Response time (~1 second) <br />5. Excellant tape>disc dubbing quality <br /> <br />Dislikes: <br />1. No ability to store titles (available in the ES10) <br />2. Frequent LockUps (ES20 only) <br />3. Schedule problems (ES20 only) <br />4. Does NOT play through the 75ohm (CATV) output. (ES10 and ES20)