Editorial Review:

Item Description:


Amazon.com Item Description:
Panasonic's fourth-generation DMR-E50K DVD recorder sports many of the features and technology benefits people expect from digital recording and merges them with a user-friendly interface and an unexpectedly low price. The DMR-E50K's joint support of DVD-RAM and DVD-R media provides the best of both worlds: DVD-R for the highest compatibility (letting you share video recordings with virtually anyone with a DVD player) and DVD-RAM (for rewritability and benefits like Time Slip, chasing playback, and simultaneous play and record). DVD-RAM offers the perfect solution for recording and re-recording favorite programs--over 100,000 times on the same disc.

In addition to an attractive price tag, the feature-rich DMR-E50K offers the benefits of progressive scan (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs), MP3 playback, enhanced time-shifting, instant access, and on-disc video editing. When connected to home theater components, you'll enjoy playback of multiple digital entertainment formats, including DVD Video, CDs, and audio CD-R/CD-RW discs.

With instant recording onto a DVD disc, there's no need to have to find blank space, as with a VHS tape. Just press record and the unit automatically finds space on the disc, much like a computer's disk drive. Panasonic's Time Slip feature lets you replay a scene recorded earlier while a program is still in progress, without disrupting the recording process. And chasing playback makes it possible to watch from the beginning a show whose recording is still in progress. It's also simple to transfer favorite VHS tape recordings to space-saving discs, and personal movie libraries and family videos can be archived, preserved, cataloged, and accessed.



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• Basic DVD Hook-up Kit for Dummies (DUMBDVD1)
• Basic DVD Hook-up Kit for Dummies (DUMBDVD2)
• DVA20 Koskin DVD Album (20-Disc Capacity)
• Memorex 9.4GB Double-Sided DVD-RAM (Single)
• Memorex 4.7GB 4x DVD-R Media (10-Pack)

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Rating: - * Lousy DVD recorder ... I have the earlier DMR E50 and I have just taken the lid off to see if there is anything an engineer can fix in the troublesome peice of expensive kit. Its sort of reassuring to see so many others here who had had EXACTLY the same problems...the machine crashes, locks up, can't recover even by pulling the power out, just because it dosn't like a disc, but then it won't let you get the disc out. It has consumed hours and hours of my time. It will only work with Panasonic discs..nothing else.... but now after 12 months it is just more and more choosy about exactly which disc...indeed it is now no use at all. £400 down the drain, I used to like Panasonic. Don't buy it. Rating: - * Ability to record gets worse and worse ... I bought this recorder to keep movies and shows I had recorded from my Ultimate TV (similar to TIVO). At first it did okay, failing about 25% of the time. It started having a higher and higher failure rate using the same types of discs. I have tried many brands of disc and had the same results. It is especially bad with long recordings over 3 hours. The failure rate now is probably 80-90%. I will not be buying another Panasonic audio/video product. Rating: - * Excellent DVD Recorder, ... Easy to use and record. The quality of the recording is perfect. I converted all my Hi8 tapes to DVD and able to play on all kind of DVD players. I was also able to create the menu on my recorded Disk. It won't record the movies, If they are copy protected, otherwise you can record the movies from TV. Rating: - * Worthless ... I have owned this recorder for several months and found it to be the most frustrating piece of electronics I own (including my computers). I finally took a hammer to the unit and it felt so good! I have on several occasions tried to record long movies and have this unit "crash" near the very end (forcing me to re-record the movie and spending another 3 hours). I have often spent much time getting this unit to record to a disc -- restarting the recording process after a crash -- perhaps as much as one out of four recrodings. Often I cannot get the unit to open and give access to discs that have crashed. (The on/off button has no over-ride, like a computer, to reset memory.) I have been using Memorix blank DVD's and would suspect that they are of fairly good quality -- yet I probably lose 10 to 20 out of a 100. I must wonder if the hard drive isn't just too wimpy to be a good recorder. The manual says that it may be necessary to clean the lens for the laser. I ordered a panasonic lens cleaner for over $30 (they sell the same type of device at Wal-Mart for $9) and cleaning the lens has no effect on performance. I will not be buying any more Panasonic products for some time to come. This is a rip-off. Mike in Buchanan, MI Rating: - * WORTHLESS!!! ... I had my unit for several months and I finally took a hammer to it. It is a shame that our government can't protect the consumer from being exploited by companies like Panasonic that make crap like this DVD recorder. It often would "hang-up" and impossible to get the discs in or out -- the little door simple would not open. I have spent up to 30 minutes tryng to get it to record on a disc and ended in failure. I have recorded on several occasions long movies only to have the unit crash near the end and have to re-record my program (another 3 hours). It is the most frustrating piece of electronics I have ever owned. It is a rip-off !