DMR-E80 Vs. DMR-E80HS, what's the differance? (Also DMR-HS2)

[Cyrax9]

Ok, guys, I need your help here as I am now THROUGHLY confused and wondering whether or not to get a new DVD Writer since I was a putz who plunked down $850 on a DMR-HS2 last November.

About two months ago I noticed they were "Discontinuing" the DMR-HS2 -- apprently to make room for the shiny new DMR-E50S, DMR-E80H, and DMR-E80HS models. Now I see these models are on the market, the E50 replacing the aging E30's, and the E80H and E80HS replacing the DMR-HS2. My question is, what's the DIFFERANCE Between the DMR-E80H and the DMR-E80HS!?!?! Why does Panasonic have such a simple model numbering system that they complicate with fancy letters? Seriously, is there any diferance between the DMR0E80H and the DMR-E80HS?

Here's what I do koiw so I don't look like a complete fool in the DMR-HS2 Vs. the DMR E80H/E80HS topic here:

DMR-HS2:
-2002 Model

-Black Level "Bug" unresolved, although I didn't notice it until I looked for it.

-3 Line-Inputs 1 on the front, and two on the rear of the unit, as well as a 4th "Component" Video Input.

- 2 Line Outputs in the rear, and a third that does "Component Video" output.

- DVD-RAM/DVD-R Support

- Cumbersome Remote Control

- 40GB HDD

- MSRP of $1000, now discontinued.

DMR- E80/E80HS:
-2003 Model

-Black Level "Bug" is now resolved.

-3 Line-Inputs 1 on the front, and two on the rear of the unit, as well as a 4th "Component" Video Input from most "Articles" on the unit.

- 2 Line Outputs in the rear, and a third that does "Component Video" output. Apparently Identical to the HS2's outputs as well.

- DVD-RAM/DVD-R Support again identical to the HS2.

- Slightly more Aerodynamic Remote Control -- apparently a lot of HS2 users weren't sdatisfied with the "Infa-red brick" that came with their unit.

- 80GB HDD, double that of the HS2

- MSRP of $700, in stock NOW.

Here's what I do NOT know:

- Do any of the units have a TBC device built in? (My Sony VCR has something called APC, I think it's the Sony Brand-name for TBC but I could be wrong)

- Is the DMR-E80H and the E80HS the exact same machine with two different MOdel Numbers? You can find the DMR-E80HS at www.Pcmall.com so you know what I'm talking about.

- The DMR-E80H "Sacrifices" a DV Input port that the HS2 had built-in, does the DMR-80HS have this port?

- Is it worth dropping yet another $700 on a DVD Writer this year, or should I save up, wait and buy the 2004 model which will probably be much cheaper, like around $400 instead of $700?

- Have the "Chapter Menu's" been improved in any way yet, or do the still look like MS-DOS Windows (These drive me nuts, it's like looking at a text-based OS instead of a DVD)

- Is their a unit that is currently out, or coming soon from Panasonic thathas ALL the features of the DMR-HS2, including the DV Input that's missing from the DMR-E80H as well as new features like the "Black Level Bug" fix, and if so, what's the model number?

- Is the DMR-E80H and the DMR-E80HS the same unit, or are they different in some subtle way?

- Is ANYBODY planning on making a DVD Writer -- set top or PC that reads/writes ALL FIVE DVD formats, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, or are the format wars going to continue until someone wakes up and makes a set-top version of Sony's DVD Writer's for the PC that do all formats except DVD-RAM?

- Are the new DMR-E80H and DMR-E80HS units going to drop in price before Christmas, or are they going to stay around the $700 line?

- Finally, if I decide to wait until 2004 before buying another DVD Writer, will their be huge benefits over waiting a generation and skipping the E80H/E80HS and keeping my HS2, or will it basically be the same unit, with a few tweaks here and there?

Any help is appreciated, as I'd like to kowif the DMR-E80H and DMR-E80HS are the same thing, or not, and, if they're worth using alongside my DMR-HS2.

[bnbhoha]

The S usually means that the product is silver in color. If there's no S then its generally black. Most of them will have an S.

Also, Panasonic is coming out w/ the E100H that will have firewire in and a (I think it was 80 or 100gb HD) It will also have thumbnails for the menu.

Pioneer is coming out w/ the 002h (I think that's the model #) in the Fall. It's a dvd-r/dvd-rw recorder that will have a bi-directional firewire and 80gb hard drive. Traditionally, Pioneer has had the best pic because they they buy their encoding chip from a respected company (I forget their name) and panasonic has their own in house encoding chip. I am waiting to see a shoot out or feed back from people to see which is the better of these two here in the upcoming months. Panasonic will seel for around $800 bucks and the Pioneer too.

[piano632]

Panasonic's numbering system isn't that hard to figure out. If it has an "S" in the model number, it is silver in color as opposed to black (as previously mentioned). If it has an "H" in the model number, then it has a hard drive included. Some dealers just leave off the H and/or S from the model number, which can make it confusing. There is only 1 model DMR-E80 (80 GB hard drive & no firewire) which should technically have the HS after it. If you want a firewire port and a hard drive, you have to wait for the DMR-E100HS which will be considerably more expensive.

I believe all of the Panasonic models have input TBC. APC (Adaptive Picture Control) on Sony VCR's is not a time base corrector. JVC has the same thing on some of their VCR's, only they call it Active Video Calibration. What they both do is test the blank tape for a few seconds before recording and then equalize the recorded signal to get the best quality from that particular tape. A TBC is different - it corrects unstable video that's already been recorded on tape, such as: images that "roll" or bend at the top of the frame, color flicker, and other irregularities in the picture.

I haven't seen any plans by any manufacturer to make a 5-format recorder. If it ever happens, I'm sure it will be plenty expensive. I doubt there will be any major advances in dvd recorders any time soon - just small ones. My guess is the next "evolution" of the dvd recorder will be to make dual-drive standalones so it will be easy to make copies.

[Tearren]

Hello!

About the recorder for the PC, IOMEGA has a burner coming out sometime in the middle of September in the US. It is the IOMEGA SUPER DVD Writer, it will support all formats. You can find it at

http://www.pcnation.com/asp/details.asp?item=854176

It is $283 w/ free shipping. I would get Model # 32679. That is what is on the Iomega website.

I know it is not as fast as the plextor coming out, but it has decent burn speed and supports all the formats.

As far a the HS2, I love it and have gotten a lot of use out of it. Why not just keep it for a while longer? Do you really need more HD space? I find 40G more than suffiecient. I just burn stuff I want to keep on DVD-R and delete the rest.

Later,
Tearren

[Tearren]

Here is another option on the burner...I just found this

http://www.accupc.com/itemDetail.jsp?pid=drgsa4040bi

LG Super-Multi 4x DVD+/-/Ram/CDRW (Retail Box)

$223.00 + $6 shipping. I am going to get either of these.

Tearren