saw this at avs forum


New Panny DVD recorders announced!
PANASONIC AFFIRMS INDUSTRY-LEADING POSITION
WITH GLOBAL LAUNCH OF NEW DIGA LINE OF DVD RECORDERS

Select Models add EPG To Already Feature-Rich Products
That Let You Make Your Own DVDs


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (January 7, 2004)— Building on its technological strengths and leading market position in recordable DVD products, Panasonic introduces four new DVD recorders to its popular DIGAÔ line. Two of the models, DMR-E85H and DMR-E65 feature the TV Guide On ScreenÒ (TVGOS) Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), while the DMR-E75 marks the debut of a dual DVD Recorder/VHS deck to the Panasonic DIGA family. Continuing its innovative approach to DVD recorders the 2004 DIGA line marks Panasonic’s fifth generation of DVD recorders. The top-of-the line DMR-E85H, with a built-in 120 GB hard drive, can record 284 hours* of programming on its hard disk drive. The DMR-E55 completes the DIGA line. This year’s DIGA models feature a new Direct Navigator that simplifies the process of previewing recorded programs. All DIGA DVD recorders support recordable DVD-RAM and DVD-R1, and will also play back DVD-Video, music CDs, video CDs and CD-R/CD-RW2, and MP3 formatted discs. Panasonic estimates that by 2005 there will be 6.5 million DVD recorders in the marketplace and the DIGA line is positioned in a leadership role.

The DMR-E85H builds upon the success of the DMR-E80H – the number one selling unit in the industry3. The DMR-E85H features a built-in 120 GB hard drive and can also record onto DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. It is ideal for compiling personal movie libraries or for archiving, preserving, cataloging and enjoying favorite videos. In order to make programming easier, the DMR-E85H adds the TV Guide On Screen EPG to the feature mix. “We are always listening to the comments of the consumer,” said Alberto Reggiani, Panasonic’s national marketing manager for DVD. “Panasonic was the first to incorporate a built-in hard disk drive, giving consumers greater flexibility and longer recording time. Now, in order to make the DVD recording experience easier for the end-user, we added the EPG and increased the transfer speed.”

One touch of a button is all it takes to record data from the DMR-E85H's hard disk drive to a DVD-RAM or DVD-R4 disc at high speeds5. Recording goes at a quick 12x normal speed to a DVD-RAM disc or 24x normal speed to DVD-R6 (both in EP mode). For example, a one-hour program can be recorded to DVD-RAM in just 5 minutes or to DVD-R in just 2.5 minutes. It has an MSRP** of $799.95

Model DMR-E65 carries an MSRP** of $599.95 and includes SD and PCMCIA slots, enabling faster, easier networking and file sharing between the DVD recorder and other devices, such as personal computers, digital still and video cameras. The DMR-E65 also features the TV Guide On Screen EPG.

The DMR-E55 has an MSRP** of $449.95 and, like all of the DIGA models, records onto both DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs. The entire DIGA line increases the DVD-RAM recording time to 16 hours in the EP mode on a 9.4 GB double-sided disc (from 12 hours last year).

Panasonic’s DMR-E75V is the company’s first dual deck DVD video recorder/VHS recorder in the United States market, combining the features and benefits of the two technologies. “Our research has shown that one of the major uses of DVD recorders by consumers is the transfer of VHS tapes to the more durable, higher picture quality DVD format,” added Reggiani. “With that in mind, we developed the dual deck unit, giving users the ability to easily dub their home movies and recorded VHS tapes onto either a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc, and from a DVD disc back to a VHS tape. The dual deck also includes one touch dubbing, another feature geared to make the process truly consumer friendly. The consumer also has the option of watching VHS tapes or DVDs on a space saving combination product.” The unit has a MSRP** of $599.95.

The 2004 DIGA line continues many of the features that have contributed to Panasonic’s number one position in the market, including Time SlipÔ, Chasing Playback, Simultaneous Record & Play, One Touch Two-Way Dubbing, and Relief Recording (on the hard disk drive models). The Time Slipä feature allows viewers to replay a scene recorded 30 seconds earlier without disrupting the recording process, simply by touching a button on the remote. With Chasing Playback, users can also view the recorded portion of a live program, from the beginning, while continuing to record that program until its completion. Simultaneous Record & Play lets users view a previously recorded program on a DVD-RAM disc or the hard disk drive while simultaneously recording a different program. Relief Recording automatically checks the remaining disc space when recording onto a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc. If there’s not enough space, the DIGA video recorder shifts the recording to the hard drive. PVR functions such as Time Slip, Chasing Playback and Simultaneous Record & Play are available when using either the hard disk drive or DVD-RAM.

All of the Panasonic DIGA DVD Video Recorders are also Progressive Scan7 players, which ensures optimum picture quality when viewing DVD movies. A thumbnail display of contents is also possible for recording to a DVD-RAM or DVD-R4 disc. Since each scene is displayed with a thumbnail image, it’s easy for users to select the sequence of scenes they want to playback.

The DVD video recording technology used in the DIGA DVD Video Recorders complies with the DVD-RAM recording formats standardized by the DVD Forum. DVD-RAM provides a single format for computer and video-based applications. The format offers high storage capacity on removable media, high-speed data transmission, exceptional picture and sound quality, fast random-access memory, and rewritability up to 100,000 times.







Model
Features Availability
MSRP**

DMR-E85H
TV Guide On Screen EPG; 120 GB built-in hard drive; Time Slip; Chasing Playback; Simultaneous Record & Playback; 32x High-speed recording from hard drive to DVD-R; 24x high-speed recording from hard disk to RAM; Supports DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-Video, music CDs, video CDs, CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 and DVD-Audio
May, 2004
$799.95

DMR-E65
TV Guide On Screen EPG; Time Slip; Chasing Playback; Simultaneous Record & Playback; SD and PCMCIA Memory Card slots; Records onto DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs; Supports DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-Video, music CDs, video CDs, CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 and DVD-Audio
June, 2004
$599.95

DMR-E55
Records onto DVD-RAM and DVD-R discs; Time Slip; Chasing Playback; Simultaneous Record & Playback; Supports DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-Video, music CDs, video CDs, CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 and DVD-Audio
April, 2004
$449.95

DMR-E75V
Dual deck DVD video recorder/VHS recorder; One touch 2-way dubbing; Time Slip; Chasing Playback; Simultaneous Record & Playback; Supports DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-Video, music CDs, video CDs, CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 and DVD-Audio
May, 2004
$599.95




1 DVD-R media is recognized as being compatible with most existing DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives. Ability to play back DVD-R discs is dependent on the condition of the recording and the disc itself.

2 For CD-DA format audio CD-R and CD-RW discs. May not be able to play some CD-R or CD-RW discs due to the condition of the recording.

3 Based on Intellect figures

4 DVD-R media is recognized as being compatible with most existing DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives. Ability to play back DVD-R discs is dependent on the condition of the recording and the disc itself.

5 Recording from the Hard Disk to a DVD-RAM or DVD-R Disc cannot be used with images for which only single-generation recording is allowed. When recording these images to a DVD-RAM disc, the original image on the hard disk is erased.

6 Finalizing DVD-R discs is necessary.

7 To enjoy the full benefits of a progressive-scan picture, a TV with progressive capabilities must be used.

* In the EP mode

** Manufacturer’s suggested retail price. All prices are in U.S. dollars.