Panasonic DMR-EX99VEBK 250GB HDD DVD/VHS Recorder with Freeview+

MC

at 11:33 am

I received my new machine (a replacement for a different product) and it is everything that it says it is – ie, `does what it says on the tin’.

It copies well from VHS-HDD-DVD which was my main purpose for buying this particular model.

I already have the Panasonic DMR-EX78EB-K – 250GB HDD – DVD Recorder and have had for approx. 20 months. It has been a very sturdy machine which records series of programmes – and it links them together so that you don’t have to go all over the HDD to find each episode (something that my sister says she has to do with her machine which is a different brand). This in itself is a very valuable tool.

You can edit the programme, ie. if it is on a commercial channel – you can remove the adverts, which makes the programme shorter (example – a 2 hour programme will condense to about 1 ½ hours) and therefore if later copying onto a DVD it means you can record more onto your disc.

Once recorded, you can then play in any DVD player – something I couldn’t do with the Toshiba that I reviewed earlier.

The reason I wanted this particular model – apart from I like my `toys’ – was that it has a VHS recorder. I can now record my personal videos onto the HDD or onto a DVD.

I have tried doing this and it really was easy to do and the quality very good.

It has an EPG (electronic programme guide) which means that you do not have to worry about inputting your own times etc., and one of the really interesting things it does is that if your programme, as frequently happens, is cancelled or moved to a later time – the intelligent timer knows this and will `find’ it and record when the programme transmits, so not like the days when you set your video and would miss either the beginning or end or indeed a totally different programme than you were expecting. The other thing – along the same lines – that it does is that if say a set of 6 programmes are interrupted by a week because of some event – the machine `holds’ the information and when the next episode airs it will automatically start recording it for you, so no danger of you `forgetting’ and missing an episode.

When I received the machine, the user guide advises that you read it thoroughly. However, when I plugged it in, before I consulted the guide – it started locating the channels and installed itself with no input from me.

I am very happy with all the functions that this product performs and would be confident in recommending it to other users.

Yes it is slightly more expensive than some other similar products on the market, but I feel it is money well spent.

If you are able to stretch to paying a little more, then I feel you would be happy with the cost for the additional functions it affords you.

I have learned from my own mistakes from buying cheaper in the past, and in the end it really boils down to the often uttered comment `you get what you pay for’.

If you choose to opt for this product, I believe that you will not be disappointed. Happy recording!

08.05.2010

Since I wrote my last review, I have subsequently discovered that although I bought this machine to record my own personl VHS tapes, that it will also record pre-recorded tapes either onto your hard disc or directly onto a DVD, so if you have VHS tapes of films/pogrammes that you bought, then you can record these too and keep in your collection on DVD. Please beware of the copyright laws – these are recorded for my sole use and not as a means to distribution.
Rating: 5 / 5

Dr. J. I. Currie

at 12:43 pm

This recorder does what it claims and what I needed.

HOWEVER, the instruction booklet is opaque and clearly written by someone who expected the reader to be as technically knowledgeable as himself.
Rating: 4 / 5