Editorial Review:

Item Description:
Watch your favorite TV showsor save your precious home movies on compact on durable DVD discs. This recorder is easy to use with User-friendly features that make it even easier to use with superior picture quality and playback. You can record to a permanent, write-once DVD-R disc or erasable, rewriteable DVD-RW disc. Use DVD-Rs for programs you want to keep forever, like a favorite TV series. DVD-RAMs are perfect for shows you want to watch once or twice and then erase. You can do all that while watching the start of the program while recording. 4x Natural Gradation 2x LP Horizontal Resolution (500 Lines) 1 Second Quick Start for Recording Plays pre-recorded DVD's&CD's Chasing playback allows you to watch the start of a program while recording Non-linear editing MP3 Playback 2 CH DVD-Audio Playback Records on DVD-RAM&lower cost DVD-R Will make discs that will play in most existing DVD players Simultaneous playback while recording is possible Uses the single layer 4.7GB DVD-R system and DVD-RAM 4.7GB systems Records in real-time using MPEG2 compression, Up to 8 hours per disc Quick recording function automatically finds the blank part of the disc Variable Data rate settings Flexible recording mode for optimized bitrate Built-in time base corrector that delivers highly stable, natural images Front A/V input Full RGB in and out IEEE1394 Firewire Port Flexible recording mode allows you to manually a time for recording and the player will set the best possible bit rate NTSC Progressive Scan Output Region R1 Compatible Playable Formats - DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD Video, VCD CD-R, VCD CD-RW, MP3 CD Recording Formats - DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R Video&Audio Recording system - MPEG2 (Hybrid-VBR)&Dolby Digital 2ch Power consumption - 23W Dimensions - Width 430mm x Height 63mm x Depth 337mm Weight - 3.5 kg

Amazon.com Item Description:
Record your home movies and your favorite TV programs easily to DVD disc with the Panasonic DMR-ES20 progressive scan recorder/player, which can record to write-once DVD+R and DVD-R media or rewritable DVD-RW and DVD-RAM discs (the latter being a great choice for temporary storage of recorded material as it can be rewritten more than DVD-RW). It's easy to record TV programming with the built-in analog TV tuner with RF pass-through and seven-day electronic programming guide (EPG). In addition to standard DVD movie and CD audio discs and its compatible recordable formats, the DMR-ES20 can play back DVD+RW, CD-R/RW, VCD, JPEG, and MP3.

Panasonic's Time Slip function consists of two features designed to give you added flexibility and control when making DVD recordings: Chasing Playback and Simultaneous Record & Play. With Chasing Playback, you don't have to wait for an entire program to be recorded before watching it from beginning to end. This feature allows you to watch a program that's currently being recorded from any point that's already been recorded--while continuing to record the live program in progress. Simultaneous Record & Play allows you to record a program onto a disc while simultaneously watching any other program that's previously been recorded on the same disc.

You can set your recorder to one of five different recording speeds, each varying in recording quality and length. EP mode yields the most recording time, LP & SP modes provide less recording time with higher quality recording, and XP mode gives you the highest quality recording. There's also the FR (Flexible Recording) mode that lets you record with the best picture quality possible for the recording time and remaining space on the disc.

The Direct Navigator feature makes it easy to find a previously recorded program on a disc. A list of recording dates, times, channels and (user-entered) titles are shown on screen. With the Playlist Playback function, you can perform simple non-linear video editing using, such as rearranging the order of scenes, skipping over unwanted scenes, or copying selections

Jump directly to any spot on a disc and begin playback or recording right away with the Rapid Random Access function. Even if there is no sequential area of empty space available, this DVD recorder can record data on available space throughout the rest of the disc. You will also avoid searching for a blank spot to start recording, or accidentally recording over desired material.

It offers an optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound and a Firewire (also known as IEEE1394 or i.Link) for direct connection to a digital video camcorder. This recorder/player also offers the following connection options:

• Composite video Input: 2 (1 front)
• Composite audio (L/R) Input: 2 pair (1 front)
• S-Video Input: 2 (1 front)
• RF Input: 1

What's in the Box
DVD recorder/player, remote control (with batteries), AV cable, RF cable, power cord, printed operating instructions



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Rating: - * Very disappointing Panasonic product ... We had this product long enough for the warranty to expire, which is about the same time it stopped working, except for the clock. We missed a lot of shows because this thing would randomly malfunction, sometimes working great, sometimes freezing up completely so that the only way to reset it was to unplug and start over. I've had good experience with Panasonic in the past, so this was an unpleasant surprise. Luckily, our credit card covered the purchase so now we can buy another product, from another company of course. This market is way too competitive for low quality mess like this. Don't waste your money. Rating: - * Irritating, aggrivating, tempermental, dust catcher., ... It is my opinion one star is really about two too many but they made me do it. I have two of these Panasonic crazy makers. An ES-20 and an ES-10. I've fought with both of them and missed numerous recordings over the last two and three years respectively. The absolute worst part is when they pretend to be recording and then crash at the end of the program. I bought the ES-20 when the ES-10 died and was sent it off for repair. I guess that equates to shooting myself in both feet. They have both been nothing but trouble. They are extremely tempermental. In fact, the ES-10 just quit recognizing the DVDRAM, grunts, groans displays self check, and refuses to open. Bottom line, I think this week I'm either going Tivo or Cable DVR. Maybe I can use these "dvd recorders" as wheel chocks. Rating: - * recordable dvd player ... I have had this for over year now. I just love it. I wouldn't know what to do with out it now. I have recorded so many tv shows & movies with it. I have recorded every one of my favorite TV shows, so when I go to the lake where my travel trailer is set up I can catch up on my shows at night or when its raining. It is easy to use & set up. You do have to buy the right kind of dvds (DVD-R) so you can finalze & use on the other dvds. Rating: - * half dead after 1 year of use ... Worked great for the first few months. Then random freezes started popping up. Now it freezes every 5 minutes while recording to DVD-RAM or DVD-RW. I now save every 2 to 3 minutes while transferring video from my camcorder. Picture quality, even on the component outputs, was poor from day 1. So I record on this, then play on my Toshiba SD9200. Panasonic has some great products, this is definitely not one of them. In fact, today I visited their website to check for firmware updates for this model, and saw that the webpage is a mess too. I select the DMR-ES20.EXE file for download, and after accepting the Lic agreement, am provided the DMR-E100.EXE for download !!!! That is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as support goes Panasonic..wake up !! Rating: - * Good Features, But Not for Heavy Use! ... I bought this unit late in 2005. I really put it to heavy use, converting my VHS library, and burning a lot of other stuff to DVD. Before it finally broke down, it began to make audible noises whenever it was powered up, it also began to freeze up often, and had to be rebooted. A couple of days ago, it threw an error, after failing to read a previously burned DVD. It froze up, and had to be rebooted. After restarting, I now get a fuzzy split screen image, instead of my normal satellite TV images. It appears the units primary video outputs have been fried. This unit has some good features like ease of use, and "flexible recording". This allows you to automatically record programs over 2hrs., at the best mode, on a single DVD. If you're looking for a heavy use DVD recording unit, this is not the one!