Panasonic unveils two new DVRs with DVD, VHS, and SD

We all know Panasonic likes to mix it up by giving us a dash of something fresh with a pinch of something retro -- at least that's definitely happening in its new convergence recording devices. The two newest productions in the DMR lineup have everybody from HD junkies to their mother's grandma covered, as they give three alternatives on which to record your standard and Hi-Vision (1080i in Japan) television broadcasts. Of course, the obligatory hard drive is here, but you also get a DVD burner and VHS deck, you know, so you have choices when recording two anime episodes simultaneously via the dual ISDB-T digital tuners. While both units make use of the included SD reader by playing back previously stored video files on your TV, the high-end model (DMR-XW40V) rocks a 400GB hard drive and includes an "SD Music" function that makes ripping CDs, acquiring ID3 tags, and transferring them to SD a painless procedure; the DMR-XP20V sports a 250GB HDD and forgoes the extra functionality on its SD slot. While we aren't sure what these new DVRs will run you when they drop in October, it's always nice to see a blast from the past, and hey, the death of VHS gets put on hold just a bit longer if nothing else, eh?

[Via Impress]

[Eve @ Aug 22nd 2006 7:42PM]

Very neat product, love your site, thanks for the info!

[redpill @ Aug 22nd 2006 7:43PM]

does anyone still use vhs ????


I havent owned a vhs recorder/player for about 3-4 years

does anyone really need this ???

[MadScientist @ Aug 22nd 2006 8:29PM]

Think conversion for your parents. They can play the VHS tapes they have, since they refuse to upgrade to DVD, and learn to use a DVR by recording the VHS on the HDD. Once they learn that, they can learn to rip them to DVD and get rid of the VHS.
This could be percieved as a copyright holders nightmare, I am surprised the MPAA or the RIAA have not sued.

[JP @ Aug 22nd 2006 8:33PM]

forget how much it actually costs. imagine what it would cost if it was stripped of archaic hardware and ancient functions. forget a combo with VHS. by the time they drop, most of the people who are comfortable with good old fashinoned technology will be dead.

[Tony Rayo @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:02PM]

"This could be percieved as a copyright holders nightmare, I am surprised the MPAA or the RIAA have not sued."

It's because these are Japanese devices =) and will likely stay Japanese-only devices (the tuners would have to change if they came to the US at least).

- Tony R.

[Michael @ Aug 22nd 2006 9:17PM]

I still use vhs. Infact I only made the conversion to DVD a little over a year ago. I'm glad that vhs hasnt been totally phased out yet.

[Perrey Z. @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:08PM]

The Current U.S. version, the DIGA DMR-EH75VS when opened have the capacity of re-installing the 4-RF Coaxial tuners on the printed board and the option of re-activate them using the service menu. Not to difficult if you have patience and the appropriate spare parts. There's another one Engadget didn't mention the Full HD 1080p DIGA DVD recorder/HDD combos with 6-RF coaxial tuners just like their DMR-EH55S DVD recorder/HDD version.

[redpill @ Aug 23rd 2006 4:03AM]

"Think conversion for your parents. They can play the VHS tapes they have, since they refuse to upgrade to DVD, and learn to use a DVR by recording the VHS on the HDD. Once they learn that, they can learn to rip them to DVD and get rid of the VHS."

My father is 66yrs old and i bought him a dvd tv recorder almost two years ago and since then he hasnt gone back to using VHS.

I say ditch VHS already were about to leap into another generation with HDDVD/BLURAY VHS is sooooo early 90s

but i personaly have a Media Centre shuttle with dual freeview tuners and dvdrw dual lyer drive i either store tv on the centre of download from the net which is the future. "even though that in its self has been around for years"