Panasonic DMR E100H Review

Here's a Panasonic DMR E100H review of the DVD recorder that has been available in stores since June 29, 2004. Compares features, value for money, and gives pointers to the competitive DVD recorders.

The DMR 100H is a DVD recorder with built-in HDD (Hard Drive Disk) unit, with 120 GB capacity. Those 120GBs are good for around 150 hours of recording.

The HDD DVD recorders have proven to be very popular, with an estimated 50% of the DVD recorders sold this year will have a built-in HDD.

In addition to the hard drive, the E100H can also record onto DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. These two formats complement each other nicely.

The DVD-RAM feature allows for great features, such as the Time Slip feature (watch the beginning of a program, while the recorder records the end), but is the least compatible of the available DVD formats with existing DVD players and DVD drives in computers.

That's why Panasonic has added support for DVD-R, which is reportedly the most backwards compatible DVD format available.

Panasonic DMR E100H Review - Features

Because the DMR E100 is so versatile DVD recorder, with support for HDD/DVD-R/DVD-RAM recording, the recorder also comes with an impressive array of features.

For example, the Panasonic invention of Hybrid variable bit rate technology allows you to record up to 6 hours of programming to a 4.7 GB DVD-RAM disc (in EP mode).

The DMR E100H also provides excellent, HDTV ready DVD playback, with progressive scan.

If you still have an old VCR and tapes that need to be transferred to DVD format, the DMR E100H has ample connections for easily dubbing content from VCR to DVD.

There's also a DV (IEEE 1394, FireWire) link for connecting your digital video camcorder to the DVD recorder.

Other features include:

* Playback support for DVD-Video (NTSC), DVD-R, DVD-RAM, red book CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD, and TIFF and JPEG images (media card reader)
* One-touch recording
* Simulated surround sound (Advanced surround)
* Multi-angle viewing
* DV inputs (IEEE 1394/FireWire)

Panasonic DMR E100H Review - Competition

The competitive DVD recorders with similar features include:

* Toshiba RS-TX20 (available in stores since September 22, 2004)
* Philips HDRW720 (available in stores since September 20, 2004)

Both of these competitors' models have a 120 GB HDD unit included.

The Toshiba RS-TX20 is best known for the free TiVo basic service that comes with the DVD recorder. Supported DVD media recording formats for the RS-TX20 are DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM.

The Philips HDRW720, meanwhile, records to DVD+R or DVD+RW in addition to the HDD unit. Has an electronic program guide, the TV Guide onscreen, which allows for point-and-click TV recording.



From Panasonic DMR E100H Review page to Broadband Guide index