Editorial Review:

Item Description:
It's a digital world. A world where sound surrounds you and pictures dazzle the imagination. It's a world where the excitement of the movies is captured and brought to life on a simple five-inch disc - the size of a CD. Welcome to the incredible world of DVD. As a leader in digital technology, Panasonic made possible and forever changed the face of home theatre. Panasonic has packed big-screen excitement into the world's smallest and lightest DVD player. Come and experience the ultimate in home theatre entertainment.PRODUCT FEATURES:DVD RAM recordings up to 16 hours (EP Mode, 9.4GB Disc);DVD-R recordings up to 8 hours (EP Mode, 4.7GB Disc);Time Slip Function;Chasing Playback;Simultaneous Play & Record;One Touch Record & Play;Direct Navigator;Play list;NTSC Tuner with VHF, UHF, CATV Coverage.

Amazon.com Item Description:
Panasonic's DMR-E55S DVD player/recorder grants unprecedented recording time on double-sided 9.4 GB recordable DVDs--up to 16 hours, or 8 hours per side (and on standard 4.7 GB discs, in EP mode). The DMR-E55S'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 TimeSlip, chasing playback, and simultaneous play and record). DVD-RAM offers the perfect method for recording and rerecording favorite programs--over 100,000 times on the same disc. Using DVD-RAM, you can also edit your videos on a multi-media computer with video editing/production software.

You can take DVD-RAM discs out of their protective cartridges and play them on PCs equipped with a 4.7 GB/9.4 GB DVD-RAM drive or DVD-ROM drive that's compatible with 4.7 GB/9.4 GB DVD-RAM. In addition to an attractive price tag, the feature-rich DMR-E55S offers the benefits of progressive scan video playback (for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs), MP3 CD playback, enhanced time-shifting, and instant access times.

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 will automatically find 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 lets you watch from the beginning a show whose recording is still in progress.

You can easily transfer your favorite VHS tape recordings to space-saving discs. Personal movie libraries and family videos can be archived, preserved, easily cataloged and accessed, and even edited right from the disc.

Input TBC (time base corrector) removes jitter from the input signal, while 3D Y/C separation circuitry precisely separates the luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) portions of the video signal to minimize dot crawl and color smearing caused by interference between the video signal's Y and C color subcomponents. These functions are particularly effective when recording from analog video sources such as a conventional VCR and camcorder. Combined with the 3D DNR applied during playback, the result can be a surprising restoration of image quality from old videocassettes.

About Progressive Scanning
As a player, the DMR-E55K offers a progressive-scan video output for optimum picture quality when viewing a DVD movie on a high-definition or HD-ready TV. With standard interlaced signals (480i), it takes two passes to build one frame of video: first the even scan lines, then the odd. Progressive scanning doubles the scan lines of an interlaced signal by scanning all 525 lines in 1/60 of a second for each full pass. The higher-density video signal creates film-like DVD images with rich detail, extraordinary depth of field, and precise color reproduction.

Connections include component-, composite-, and S-video outputs, multiple composite- and S-video inputs, an optical digital-audio output for surround-sound passthrough to a compatible (Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1) audio/video surround receiver, and RCA stereo analog audio inputs.

What's in the Box
DVD player/recorder, remote control, remote batteries, user's manual, and a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable.

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Rating: - * Panasonic DVD recorder. ... I have 6 of these DVD recorders. It is so user friendly. Panasonic sent me a disc update to increase the speed of the drive to 8X. No one was selling the 4X discs anymore. I was in a total panic. I tried a Toshiba DVD recorder and it took a rocket scientist to figure it out and I still had major problems. Needless to say, I returned it. I highly recommed a Panasonic. Rating: - * Worth it ... This is a simple and complex machine. Simple in the way of how easy it is to use. Just press the REC button and you are done. And complex with all the useful features like MP3 player, CD player, DVD player, and my most surprised feature RF. If you are watching T.V. downstairs and recording upstairs, just press stop on the remote whenever within about 100 ft. Rating: - * Doesn't hold up ... This should say it all: I just came back from the repair shop. When they saw me walk in with the unit the clerk said, "I can't believe how many of these units come in." This very model. I used it for a few months, made 20 or 30 recordings, then it just failed. I called tech report, told them the error message I was getting and they told me to bring it in. I have a feeling I'll be returning it often till the warranty expires and then I'll throw it out. For what it's worth it worked well until its demise. Rating: - * Highly recommended ... I purchased the DMR-E55 in May 2004 & have nothing but praise for this machine and I think the DVD-RAM format is so good because I am able to record my favourite tv shows in DVD-RAM Format in XP or Flexible record mode then simply erase the commercials leaving just the tv show then play the Ram disc back in my Panasonic S27 player and record to DVD-R to keep for future viewing anytime I wish to watch them. I also have backed up many VHS tapes & home movies to DVD-R. The only problem I have ever come across with this recorder is that on the odd occasion after finalizing a DVD-R the menu has not been completely created even though all chapters buttons work fine the menu is not in full view but maybe that has been more a faulty disc than the machine itself but even so these few discs still play fine. I would highly recommend this machine to anyone who is looking for a good DVD recorder. Rating: - * Consider the highly improved replacement, Panasonic DMR-ES10 ... The Panasonic DMR-E55 is highly rated, but with some limitations, and I was considering getting one. But Panasonic just came out with a replacement, the DMR-ES10, which not only fixes most of the problems/limitations of the E55 but is also a mind-bendingly reasonable $200 list price. It just hit the shelves a few days ago, and I was lucky enough to be there at the right time and ended up with a unit. I love it. See the review I'm writing under the ES10. Even if you find a good deal on a used/refurbished/closeout E55, you might at least want to consider the ES10 for its improved functionality. [I gave the E55 a 4* rating to avoid skewing the ratings. I've noticed that when people don't rate a product, that counts as 0 *'s]