Panasonic DMR-EX77 - 160gb Hard Drive DVD Recorder - With 1080P Up-Conversion & Freeview - Silver
Panasonic DMR-EX77 - 160gb Hard Drive DVD Recorder - With 1080P Up-Conversion & Freeview - Silver
Customer Review: DVD playback
On the whole have been very happy with the machine, agree with the comments on slow start but we are learning to be patient! We haven’t gone too much in to detail but have found one big problem with DVD playback- it doesn’t do Region 2 (which is what Europe comes under). Being not technically minded and checking the manual there doesn’t seem to be any reference to dealing with this. Can anyone tell us how to change this or have we been completely ignorant and not paid attention to the details and it isn’t possible? Just took it for granted that it would automatically play DVDs from UK when we bought it.
Customer Review: freeview - would recommend
Spent ages deciding which DVD recorder player to buy as wanted one which would record freeview while I was also watching freeview.
Would definitely recommend this, to record and view another freeview station at the same time you will need a separate digital set top box. Took me a while to work out how to do this as doesnt explain in the manual, but by pressing AV in the TV part of the handset it switches from the DVD freeview to the separate set top box so when recording from the DVD recorder you need to watch through the separate set top box. Also wasnt sure whether to get one with hard drive but am glad I did as don’t have to bother with DVDs. Have option to record from hard drive onto DVD if you wish though - and if you can work out which type of DVD to buy!
Really clear screen shows what you have recorded. Can set programmes to record easily by going into TV guide and clicking on the programme you want.
A big advantage is that while a programme is recording you can watch it from the start - even while its still recording. So if you have to miss the first part of a programme you can press record then just press play when you are ready to watch, even if its not finished recording the programme.
Have had same problem as last reviewer and havent worked out how to set timer on recorder. Tried what it suggested in manual but didnt work. Anybody else had any luck?
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Toshiba DR160 DVD Recorder 
Amazon Price: ?108.88
Used Price: ?82.99
Customer Review: Adequate basic recorder
I was looking for a second entry-level -R/RW recorder, having already got a Funai 2737 (which does the job fine). Decided to try the Toshiba as it had the benefit of Chase Play. In actual fact, this Toshiba seems to be the same underlying chassis as the Funai, with a different (somewhat more attractive) fascia. All rear ports and the user interface are all identical. The only difference is the addition of chase play. If you are drawn to this machine because of this feature then beware. Chase play can only be used when recording in quality setting of long play, or lower. This is tolerable on a small screen TV, but the quality when viewed on a large screen is barely acceptable, more or less making chase play a feature you will never use anyway. Apart from that, the unit looks and works fine, however, it might be worth considering the Funai and saving yourself ?25.
Customer Review: Not a bad machine, just too noisy
This machine has some very good points, but its too noisy to be used in a living room. Ours was RMAed. On the plus side: - Discs are initalised quickly, you can be recording on DVD-R within 20 secs. - The menu system is clear and easy to use - The DVD playing machanism is very quiet, you can’t hear the disc spinning at all - The DVD-R disc recorded played perfectly in Pioneer DVD (Dv464), Argos in Car DVD and PC. - It can play CDs of Jpegs. However the downsides out weight these good features: - Its very noisy, there is case fan at the back, that is always on when the recorder is. Watching Planet Earth with the DVD recording is, unconfortable, there is a constant whiring. Its 3 or 4 times noisyer than my AV reciever and I thought that was noisy! - remote control is “boxy” and square, hence unconfortable in the hand. - DVD-R take a LONG time to finalise, over 20 Mins. - It cannot play DVD-R discs of photo JPEGs burnt on my PC, that my Pioneer DVD player plays fine. Hence only 3 stars I’m afraid ….
Samsung DVD Recorder Silver DVDR128 
• Ultra slim DVD recorder compatible with DVD/DVD-RAM/DVD-R/DVD-RW/DVD+R/DVD+RW/VCD and SVCD (without logo) /MPEG4/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/JPEG/WMA• Records in DVD-R/-RW formats• Drive record speed x 2• MPEG2 recording upto 8 hrs per disc in EP• XP/SP/LP/EP modes.
Panasonic DMR-EX75EB-S - DVD Recorder with 160GB Hard Disk - Freeview Tuner - and HDMI With 1080i Upscaling 
With the DMREX75 DVD player you can save up to 248 hours of TV or video programmes on its hard disk that has an internal capacity of 160 GB.The DMREX75 has a built-in digital tuner so that you can receive digital television programmes as well.If you wish to file on DVD support, the DMREX75 has a multistandard writer that accepts all writable standards.You could also view images from your digital camera as the DMREX75 has an SD memory card slot as well as a camcorder DV input.The DMREX75 has a TimeSlip function on hard disk and incorporates a progressive PAL mode for better picture quality.In order to give you exceptional picture quality, it has High Definition images thanks to the digital HDMI connection.The DMREX75 DVD writer player is your complete digital entertainment partner.
Used Price: ?195.00
Customer Review: Over-rated and very annoying to use
This is my 5th dvd player having previously used 2 Pioneer DVD-Rs, a Mitsubishi Black Diamond and a Chinese generic brand. All the ratings and mags rave about Panasonics, but this machine has been disappointing. I use this side-by-side with a Pioneer DVD-R and am consistently unimpressedd. The upscaled picture is not what I expected - I run DVDs through my old Pioneer using component cables and it is better than the Panasonic though the HDMI. The on-screen menus are horrible - very hard to follow and not intuitive at all. It takes forever to do anything like editing a recording, or trying to record from HDD to DVD. The Pioneer is much clearer and easier to use - a real delight of sensible design. The controller is also awful - very clunky and stiff. Buttons often do not respond until they have been depressed firmly for the 10th time. It takes ages to do anything using the controller as it is so poor. It is also very badly set out and requires constant reference to the guide book to know what to do. It is also unattractive to look at, though this is a minor point, but is consistent with the poor design throughout.
Customer Review: Remember playback
I love many features on this recorder the hard drive is brill, I have a few problems though but a no one has mentioned them so am not sure if it is just me not able to find them. This machine always starts a DVD from the beginning it does not remember where I was up to some machines remember the last 20 DVDs that were played so when you put them in it starts where you left off and gives you the option to go to the start if you wanted to. I can’t find how to turn on the VPS/PDC, I find the manual not very good not as good as the recorder.
Ellion DTR-850D 160GB HDD DVD Recorder with DivX and Freeview 
Amazon Price: ?164.99
Customer Review: Great Spec - Appalling Implementation
The user interface is one of the worst I have ever had the misfortune to use. 4 separate button presses and 40 sec wait to get to a Freeview channel from standby. The 7 day EPG takes 7 minutes to load - for each channel!!! Persistent random freezes and hangs. Totaly unusable. Returned to supplier within a week.
Customer Review: No technical support
As with other reviews this looks great on paper but doesn’t live up to its billing, especially in the DTV area - continually freezing, loss of digital channels, etc. At first only occasionally, but recently it happens all the time. Per the warranty sheet I called Goodies Enterprise who told me they no longer support these machines if they are bought from Amazon, and that Amazon themselves will support them. I wonder if Amazon know this, as there appears to be no technical support pages or contacts on the web site. The callback facility just gets you through to a non-technical call centre in the USA. They arranged a replacement and hopefully this will work a little better, but the lack of support is worrying.
