The Panasonic DMRE50EBS DVD Recorder supports DVD-RAM which offers the benefits of total flexibility and convenience. It's not simply VHS in DVD form, but a format that provides increased user access to programmes, convenient playback and recording functions, all on a durable disc which offers large storage capacity. It's a format that delivers a host of exciting and meaningful benefits designed to meet consumers' demands and expectations in the digital age.

The Panasonic DMRE50EBS allows users to record superb digital video onto both DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. The ability to record/playback on both DVD-RAM and DVD-R media provides the best of both worlds: DVD-R for the highest compatibility, allowing users to playback recordings on virtually any DVD player; and DVD-RAM for re-writability and advanced functions such as Time Slip for chasing playback and simultaneous record/playback.

DVD-RAM technology offers the perfect solution for recording and re-recording favourite programs - over a 100,000 times on the same disc - and provides huge storage capacity of 4.7 to 9.6GB per disc. In EP mode, up to 12 hours (6 hours per side) recording time is available on a 9.4GB double-sided disc, while a 4.7GB DVD-R disc in EP mode offers 6 hours recording time. On the Panasonic DMRE50EBS there is a choice of four recording modes or alternatively users can choose the FR mode which automatically selects the optimum recording time with the best picture quality taking into consideration the remaining space on disc.

The machine has a built in analogue tuner, as per normal VCRs. I have a digital tuner, and this gives me digital signals onto a digital disc. The quality is amazing. As good (if not better) than the original at two hours recording on to a disc.

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Tuesday, 23 December 2003

I think that I have cracked it! Bought my Panasonic DMR-E50 from Tesco for £249 delivered about two weeks ago. Other than a cock up by that inefficient courier Amtrak, all went well.

I bought DVD-Rs from Maplin, £50 for 50 discs, and a Panasonic cartridge DVD-RAM from DABS £15.

Did a few experimental runs to familiarise myself with the machine, and found the following.

The 'cheap' DVD-Rs did everything that the manual said they should do. (Used all the formats supported.) Played back on the machine,

my computer DVD player, and a friend's player. All good? Not quite! They did NOT play on another friend's player.

Thinking, as per above advice, that the prob may be the 'cheap' discs, I bought four TDK DVD-R discs from Novatech for £3.75 each.

Sadly, the results were EXACTLY the same.

What is amazing tho', is that the player that did NOT play my DVD-Rs, DOES play my MP3s, VCDs, and SVCDs! The player that DID

play my DVD-Rs will NOT play my VCDs and SVCDs! So! What about that?

So ........ it does not seem to be the disc quality that causes the prob.

Being a very intelligent person (IQ 154, but modest & senile!) I think that there is a minor difference in the 'leader' of the

finalised DVD-R discs, and that of commercial discs. This minor difference causes some players to 'cough' and not recognise the

finalised disc.

This could be due to the newness of the technology. I remember similar probs when CDs came out.

All in all, I am happy with the machine. I have been amazed at the facilities offered by the E50, and am

still mucking about with it. You can catch me at www.TedAylward.com and "Have a laugh, and maybe

shed a few tears."

ATB for the festering season.

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