Panasonic DIGA DMR-EX300 and Diga DMR-EX100 HDD DVD recorders

[Steve_P]

i4u Link

Panasonic announced the Diga DMR-EX300 and Diga DMR-EX100 HDD DVD recorders in Japan.

Both new DVD recorder have a digital tuner and are Hi-Vision compatible.
The DMR-EX300 features a 400GB hard-drive, whereas the DMR-EX100 has a 250GB HDD. EPG comes from Gemstar.
Panasonic will start shipping the new recorders starting mid July. No price set yet.
More details in Panasonic press-release.

So it looks like the EX300 will be the E500 replacement. Anyone read Japanese then?

S.

[Steve_P]

Some more piccies of the DMR-EX300 (DMR-E500 replacement) and a Googlised Japanese link

Google translated link

Translated Panasonic press release

Click the images to enlarge:


The 'Direct Record' (DR) mode sounds interesting... only 36 hours capacity on a 400GB HDD (HD material @ up to 24mbps bitrate).

S.

[Rasczak]

I'm surprised they haven't added BluRay recording to the EX300. After all that is what BluRay is for and it's not as if they don't already have a BluRay recorder out there - the E700 looks like it will remain Panasonic's only BluRay recorder for now. It just seems odd they release a high def recorder without the ability to dub to removeable media in high def.

[Steve_P]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

I'm surprised they haven't added BluRay recording to the EX300. After all that is what BluRay is for and it's not as if they don't already have a BluRay recorder out there - the E700 looks like it will remain Panasonic's only BluRay recorder for now. It just seems odd they release a high def recorder without the ability to dub to removeable media in high def.

Perhaps the E700's replacement will just be a BluRay'ed version of the E300, much like the E500 and E700 at present? *EDIT* Ahh I see the E700 doesn't include a HDD, it's just a BD Rewriteable/DVD-RAM/DVD-R recorder.

S.

Does anybody know when these are likely to hit the UK?

[Petrushka]

What kind of digital tuner would be in that machine? Is that a Freeview (UK only) thing or will they accomodate other systems as well? I'd be mighty interested in such a recorder, although I might wait a few months more until they include BlueRay in their recorders.