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DVD-recorders

Panasonic DMR-EZ28K quick take

While CNET has not reviewed the Panasonic DMR-EZ28K, we have reviewed two very similar models, the Panasonic DMR-EZ48VK and Panasonic DMR-EA18K.

The DMR-EZ28K is nearly identical to the DMR-EA18K, except that the DMR-EZ28K adds a digital tuner and DivX playback to the feature set. The DMR-EZ48VK has a digital tuner and DivX support, but it also has a built-in VCR. While both the DMR-EZ28K and DMR-EZ48VK have digital tuners, neither product can output digital broadcasts at high-definition resolutions.

For more information on digital tuners and the DTV transitions, see CNET's Quick Guide to Digital TV.

VHS at CES 2009: Still alive

VHS movies may be disappearing from store shelves, but we saw some evidence at CES 2009 that the VCR just isn't ready to die. In addition to Panasonic's surprising DMP-BD70V--a combo VCR/Blu-ray player--JVC and Toshiba also have new VHS/DVD combos lined up for 2009. Check out the slide show below for a complete comparison.

Sony's VRD-MC10: DVD movies straight from your Handycam

This story has been corrected. The VRD-MC10 will not replace the existing VRD-MC5 model, as stated in a previous version of this blog. Both models will co-exist.

Sony Japan will "soon" release its all-new VRD-MC10 DVD recorder, a device that allows for playing and recording video footage from Handycam camcorders and other sources directly onto a DVD without using a computer.

The VRD-MC10 DVD is a step above Sony's Handycam-to-DVD VRD-MC5 recorder series, which does the same but with limited support for other sources and functionality.

The VRD-MC10 extends its support to more sources, including CompactFlash, Memory … Read more

Toshiba's DVD recorder is basic, but functional

Let's face it, DVD recorders just aren't as useful as they used to be. DVRs are increasingly affordable, and your favorite TV show is likely to be available on DVD with pristine video quality, free of commercials, and onscreen ads. Still, sometimes there are moments you'd like to save yourself without paying for a DVD, like last night's amazing come-from-behind win by the U.S. men's 4x100 meter freestyle relay team. In those cases, a DVD recorder like the Toshiba D-R410 is handy to have around.

Our full take is in the review, but the … Read more

Foreign DVD recorders on sale to meet 'hidden' demand?

Last fall, we noticed that old DVD recorders with hard drives were selling for $1,900 on the Internet, because manufacturers basically stopped making them (with some exceptions) and people still want them. The continued demand for DVD recorders with hard drives isn't surprising--many people want a simple DVR they can own, without a monthly free, that can easy burn their favorite shows to DVDs. It's a killer product, but unless you're willing to set up a home theater PC, you can't have it.

We have noticed, however, that some electronics retailers have been offering foreign DVD recorders with hard drives in the U.S., potentially to meet this hidden demand.… Read more

Is there a subscription-free DVR available?--Ask the Editors

CNET reader Mathias notes:

Just a quick note/observation of mine: I can't find any DVR out there that works without a subscription and has a tuner built in for analog and digital over-the-air television signals. This strikes me as absolutely incredible. I am actually considering buying a VCR, assuming I can find one with a digital tuner. What's going on here?

To paraphrase here, it appears that Mathias gets his TV from an antenna (not cable, satellite, or fiber), and simply wants to be able to record his favorite shows with the convenience offered by a DVR with an electronic programming guide. He's also on track by searching for one with a digital tuner, since over-the-air analog TV is scheduled to shut down in February 2009.

Mathias--and plenty of others--doesn't want to pay a monthly subscription fee, so that rules out the otherwise excellent TiVo HD. So what are the alternatives?… Read more

Plextor's new Blu-ray drives also read HD DVD

Though Toshiba has bowed out of the format race, there're still about 1.5 million HD DVD movies already on the market. This means you can't just ignore them all together. For this reason, it's good news for consumers today that Plextor announced two new internal Blu-ray drives that also read HD DVD.

The first drive--the PX-B920SA--is a Blu-ray recorder capable of recording BD-R media up to 4x (18MB/sec) and BD-RE media up to 2x. The second drive--the PX-B300SA--doesn't have Blu-ray recording capability.

Both drives can read Blu-Ray media up to 4.8x and HD … Read more

Why don't video recorders have HDMI inputs?--Ask the Editors

CNET reader "deesmac" asks:

Why doesn't a DVD recorder have an HDMI in, as well as an HDMI out?

It's a great question. High-Definition Multimedia Interface provides the advantage of passing a high-bandwidth all-digital high-definition video and audio signal on a single cable, as opposed to the tangle of component video plus audio cables that were required for HD. (If those terms are Greek to you, check out the connectivity section of the CNET TV Buying Guide.) HDMI is now the standard connector for HDTVs and all of the HD-capable components that connect to them--DVD players and recorders, DVRs, game consoles, Blu-ray and HD DVD players, and even camcorders and PCs. But all of those are video sources that only have HDMI outputs. You'll find HDMI inputs only on AV receivers, HDMI switchers, and--of course--TVs. So, why the disparity? … Read more