PANASONIC DMR E50EBS REVIEW

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Reviewed by UK Guest, 3rd Jan 2004.

Review Summary: An affordable DVD recorder with great features

Overall Score: 4/5

Review: Why buy a player when you can get a Panasonic DMR E50EBS DVD recorder for well under £300? This machine is nearly perfect. The 4 recording modes let you trade off quality with disk space. The 1hr (per disk) XP mode gives DVD quality, 2hr SP mode gives 'as broadcast quality', 4hr LP mode is slightly poorer than VHS - tho there's not much in it. The 6hr XP mode is similar to VHS Long Play. I tend to use LP mode as a good balance between time and quality, and sometimes SP mode.
Recording is easy using Video Plus, or if you set 'Auto View' on your Sky digibox you need then only push a button on the unit and it records your selected programmes automatically.
One of the few players with DVD-RAM so you can watch anything on the disk while you are recording at the same time. It was this feature alone which made me chosse this over the other formats. Recorded programmes are even titled for you to help you find them. Shame it doesn't store your disk library as the Philips does, as just like VHS you can be a while finding the right disk - but it is still quicker due to the simple index once it has read the disk. I would recommend using Maxell double sided 9.4Gb type I disks (in caddys) for protection and ease of use - under £12 if you search. Another great feature is that just like a PC if you erase a 1/2 hr recording you get 1/2 hour added to the free space on the disk. For the average family these are the major pluses over VHS.
Down sides: Working out how to connect Sky, DVD, HiFi and VCR so it all works as only got 2 scarts on my TV. Remote control could be designed better. It's not ergonomic, button response is poor as is the layout. The on screen menus seem as if they ran out of development time. Small gripes really. A great buy once you've plugged it all in. I know 4 mates who've also bought this - all as satisfied as I am. Just need to archive my VHS home movies to DVD-R and it's good bye VCR!

Ratings

Value For Money:		4
Review Score:		4
Recommended?		Yes

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