SAVE YOUR MONEY FOR A COMPUTER WITH A BURNER.
Written: Jan 20 '03 (Updated Apr 03 '03)
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Pros: Slim size, Cute looks
Cons: WAY TOO COMPLICATED, TOO MANY LIMITATIONS, WON'T BURN AUDIO CD's
The Bottom Line: SPEND YOUR MONEY ON A PC. WITH A BURNER.
This model is really for the tecno inclined.
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| boywithtoys's Full Review: Panasonic DMR-HS2 (40 GB) DVD Recorder |
Got mine a few days ago...I am a techies techie...BUT THIS THING is WAY overcomplicated.
First of all, IT WILL NOT burn AUDIO CD's, So you can't make disks that will play on a standard CD player.
Second, you can't copy dvd rams to the hard drive and make a copy on the burner.
Third, for an 800+ dollar DIGITAL machine it is a little dumb NOT to have a DIGITAL TUNER built in so it will ONLY record analog. ( I have to use the digital tuner in my dss receiver and record from the input to the dvdr. )
Forth, you can ONLY RECORD on reletivly expensive DVD RAM and DVD R media.
( the unit will supposedly play back dvd ram dvd r dvd v cd a v cd and cd r/rw cd-da video cd formatted disks ) .
I did copy a cd audio to the hard drive in real time and make a copy to a dvd ram in hi speed ( big deal ) but, you will blow a gasket trying to figure this thing out.
Fifth, FORGET ABOUT PANASONIC CUSTOMER SERVICE...for my intents and purposes, IT DOESN'T EXIST.
( call 1-800-211-7262 and see if YOU can get thru !! )
I would box this thing up and can it if I could but I own it now so I will use it.
I am planning on copying my BETA collection the dvd and some home vhs, beta and 8mm media to dvd. Hope I can figure it all out before the second coming of Christ !!
If you buy a computer and equip it, you can do everything this thing does AND copy all the supposed " copy protected " stuff and be way better off.
The internal hard drive will be usefull for time shift recording but I really think this thing is too complex for the average joe to really figure out...
02/04/2003...
After playing with the thing endlessly I would add the folowing...
1) E-mail me ( nectv4me@webtv.net ) if you would like to spend about 500 on a COPYGUARD KILLER...I bought one from an OFFSHORE source and will tell you how to go about getting one...WORKS PERFECTLY BUT, you can still only copy at 2x the play speed AFTER you download to the hard drive, then you can edit title and burn to a disk.
( YOU CAN burn directly to a disc BUT then you only have 1 copy AND YOU CAN'T EDIT B4 YOU BURN THE DISK ).
ONCE ON THE HARD DRIVE YOU COULD TRANSFER TO A PC AND BURN AT 4X WHICH is A TIME SAVINGS.
2) Buy the unit on the net...every local best buy or c city was 999.00 the net WILL save you a PILE of money.
3) IF your PC has a aux. input you could buy the CHEAPER non-hard drive model, go video out thru the cc killer and to the PC hard drive and then burn at 4x on most machines.
Will write more when I play with it more.
This thing is still a PAIN IN THE A-- to operate and has a LONG way to go to be " user friendly "...
4) If you really HATE the puke CHROME front for about 30.00 more get the PRO model
( same machine with a diff. wrnty I think )
But with BLACK FRONT.
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..............UPDATE, 4 / 3 / 03....................
Well after many hours of playing with the unit I still find all the above to be true, I did buy a Sony progressive scan machine to copy dvd's thru to the hard drive which has the cc killer routed in.
The bottom line here anyway is that the machine is a compromise first effort and I am SURE the future releases WILL be WAY better all around machines.
I DO LOVE the DIGITAL rec. over tape...BYE BYE VHS !!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 847.00
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Epinions.com ID:
boywithtoys
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Reviews written: 1
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