Panasonic DMR-EX88 DVD/HDD Recorder Comments

Question: Planning on buying Panasonic plasma and HDD/DVD - do I need to keep screen on constant standby in order to record?

Can you please clarify whether the EX88 will record Freesat images obtained from the tuner in a Panasonic TH-46PZ81B at the higher Freesat HD resolution (obviously the programme being recorded will need to be broadcast in HD). The recorder connects to the plasma TV via SCART and Viera link and will record direct from the TV's freesat tuner.

I own a Panasonic DMR-EH50 DVD recorder. On the basis of this, which was fairly good, I purchased a DMR-EX88 recorder. I found out (after the fact) that I cannot save titles (which I regularly record) to a playlist. I have to therefore laboriously type in the name of the program every time I record it. I contacted Panasonic and their answer was "This feature is not available on this model" Why not?
It is an "okay" recorder, but I would think twice before you but it.

Panasonic can issue software updates and have done so for their LCDs... Strange that they cannot issue an update for this device... Seems like someone simply forgot to carry over that bit of code from the previous model to the new models.

I recently bought a Panasonic LCD and Cinema system thinking that Viera link would mean I could work the two devices with one controller! How naive was that of me! It is not much better than my old Sony set up which was user vicious needing separate controllers to work the system. Switch on the TV on one controller and use the other to make any changes on the cinema system / dvd player. Pain in the neck. Wouldn't be awesome if they invested in offering a touch screen universal device for the entire system? Doing that they would certainly get one up on their competitors.

1. The DMR EX88 cannot fast dub/copy a DVD to HDD, one has to watch the video and any fast forward or other actions will not be recorded.

2. It cannot play unfinalised camcorder or other DVD's.

3. It cannot unfinalise a DVD+-R so video cannot be added. Have to format & start again.

4. Auto finalises DVD at end of copy from HDD.

5. Not all digital terrestrial channels picked up..very fussy or what.

Why are none of these cons are mentioned in the review. This recorder is not a patch on my Sony RDR-HXD910 which is easy to use and does all of the above.

The Panasonic does not deserve to be in the sam class as the Sony.