Panasonic DMR-EX88 400Gb DVD Rec with Freeview and Jukebox

marty2005 · 25-02-2008, 4:35 AM

Just spotted a new Panasonic dvd recorder. (top range model) 400GB £424.
Different model no. to the one at avland.

http://www.shop.bt.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4ZGS

March release date.

DMR-EX78 is £350 with 250GB hdd.

Strange that the highest capacity model has a lower model no.

Hal_loe · 25-02-2008, 7:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty2005

Just spotted a new Panasonic dvd recorder. (top range model) 400GB £424.
Different model no. to the one at avland.

http://www.shop.bt.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4ZGS

March release date.

DMR-EX78 is £350 with 250GB hdd.

Strange that the highest capacity model has a lower model no.

It's a typo the thread title on BT Shop says...

BT Shop - Panasonic DMR-EX48 400Gb DVD Rec with Freeview and Jukebox (DMR-EX88EBK)

Then also says

mfr#: DMR-EX88EBK

**Gavtech** · 25-02-2008, 8:27 AM

As previously discussed, there appears to be very little change in the new range ... No twin tuners. No mention of Freeview Playback facilities.

This info below from HCN:

* DMR-EX98V: DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner, VHS VCR, SD Memory Card Slot, USB Terminal and 250GB HDD
* DMR-EX88: DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner, SD Memory Card Slot, USB Terminal and 400GB HDD
* DMR-EX78: DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner, USB Terminal and 250GB HDD
* DMR-EX768: DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner and 160GB HDD
* DMR-EZ48V: DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner and VHS VCR
* DMR-EZ28: DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner

The USB socket is also an important feature in the new music-jukebox capabilities of the HDD models - not only so you can transfer digital music files to the recorder, but so you can (via downloads from the Panasonic website) update the Gracenote database of track information that comes preloaded on these machines.

Pop a CD into the recorder and it'll give you the option to play or rip the disc in uncompressed Linear PCM format, adding full track information where available (and with the Gracenote database including information on 350,000 albums, there's a fair chance of that). You can then browse and playback your collection, plus archive to DVD if needed.

Currently PCM and MP3 are the only music formats the Panasonic recorders support - so best to keeping backing up any AAC-based iTunes collections via your computer!

All the 2008 recorders offer "majorly improved" 1080p DVD upscaling, and also feature an enhanced version of Panasonic's Viera Link system, which enables them to be controlled via the remote control of any Panasonic Viera flatscreen TV. Features of the enhanced system include the ability to pause live TV (hard-disk models) or simply start a recording without having to switch on the DVD recorder - it will be automatically roused and returned to standby as needed.

Finally, going back to Blu-ray, Panasonic confirmed both HD players unveiled at CES - the DMP-BD30 and DMP-BD50 - will make it to the UK. The DMP-DB50 is already available for £299 (we'll be testing it in our April issue, out March 6th) while the 'B550 will be available later in the year at a 'premium price'.

Also coming our way is the SC-BT100 Blu-ray home cinema system - news on that and other Panasonic home cinema in a box options coming in a separate story shortly.

Apologies for no more exact UK pricing and availability details in these updates, by the way - very frustrating all round. We've been promised more later this week, once Panasonic's dealers have pored over the products long enough to know what they'll be stocking when/for how much....

**Gavtech** · 25-02-2008, 8:53 AM

No mention of the DivX issue either in the above specifications- so I guess we'll have to wait for better detailing.

marty2005 · 25-02-2008, 2:37 PM

Can a Mod modify the thread title "48" to "88".

marty2005 · 25-02-2008, 2:49 PM

I wouldn't buy this even if it had divx until the Sony dvd recorder specs. are known.

I have the Sony hxd970, it's a good machine but let down by a 1980's interface that is only slight better than a video recorder. A few things are missing like hdd playlists, markers, counter, reset counter and time display.

I wouldn't call it a GUI but a TUI.

The only dvd rec. with a good gui is the LG's but the machine has to be in standby before it can record.

My next machine is either:

Sony, Panasonic or LG (no standby).

But if Sony has the overlayed xmb then that will sway me.

Bob_W · 28-02-2008, 3:22 PM

How does model fit in the range? Sounds like the EX98v above that Gavtech mentions

http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/dmrxp22v/dmrxp22v.htm

BobW

marty2005 · 28-02-2008, 3:41 PM

The EX22 has been on avland for a while - it is the same model no. that is out in Japan. The Japan model has far greater specs.

avland probably have made a mistake, it'll probably change to 78/88 soon.

Chances are that we'll get the same models as last year but a number higher. ie. 77 to 78.

Divx? If they don't do it again this year then it'll be a big dissapointment again. The rest of Europe gets it though.

I'm more interested in what Sony do this year especially if we get xmb. If you look at the Japanese Sony specs. for their latest model the specs. are out of this world.

**Gavtech** · 28-02-2008, 4:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob_W

How does model fit in the range? Sounds like the EX98v above that Gavtech mentions

http://www.avland.co.uk/panasonic/dmrxp22v/dmrxp22v.htm

BobW

See also:

Panasonic DMR-XP12 HDD/DVD Recorder - High Def MPEG4 Recording?

dam2040 · 13-03-2008, 2:09 PM

sorry if this has already been posted but I just spoke to panasonic about the new models
and the lady was very helpful and said they do have the freeview playback facility.

**Gavtech** · 13-03-2008, 2:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dam2040

sorry if this has already been posted but I just spoke to panasonic about the new models
and the lady was very helpful and said they do have the freeview playback facility.

Thanks for posting the information.

I'm surprised they are not promoting that more obviously in the pre-release news.

Halloween · 14-03-2008, 7:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty2005

I wouldn't buy this even if it had divx until the Sony dvd recorder specs. are known.

I have the Sony hxd970, it's a good machine but let down by a 1980's interface that is only slight better than a video recorder. A few things are missing like hdd playlists, markers, counter, reset counter and time display.

I wouldn't call it a GUI but a TUI.

The only dvd rec. with a good gui is the LG's but the machine has to be in standby before it can record.

My next machine is either:

Sony, Panasonic or LG (no standby).

But if Sony has the overlayed xmb then that will sway me.

Hi Marty do you mean the unit's actual GUI? Or the EPG and other menu's. I'm not bothered too much about the GUI but EPG etc is important to me. ANyone got any pictures of the EPG and other menu's etc. Cheers in advance.

marty2005 · 14-03-2008, 8:15 PM

I mean the whole machine's interface. Look and feel.

Menus and osd.

marty2005 · 19-03-2008, 1:37 AM

http://www.hifisuppliers.co.uk/websi...ic-dmrex78.htm

Lists divx.

**Gavtech** · 19-03-2008, 8:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty2005

Lists divx.

... from USB too.

It is also confirming Freeview Playback features and what one assumes is true 'Pause Live TV'.

marty2005 · 19-03-2008, 2:59 PM

It plays mp3, jpg and divx from usb.

You can transfer mp3 and jpg to hdd but looks like you can't transfer divx.

Supposed to have an improved user interface.

Cheapelectricals have the new Sony dvd recorders listed and their prices seem cheap.

It looks like we should see the new Panas anytime now.

We need the manual.

I have the Sony hxd970, I wonder if the the Panas will be better?

Pana must have realised that every other brand does divx in the uk and more people are buying divx machines because of that.

JSM15 · 19-03-2008, 7:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gavtech

... from USB too.

It is also confirming Freeview Playback features and what one assumes is true 'Pause Live TV'.

Spoke to Panasonic today and they confirmed Divx and USB.

marty2005 · 19-03-2008, 7:14 PM

Some pics on this site.
http://avmania.zive.cz/Default.aspx?...=1&article=784

How do these display pics compare to the older ex77/87 models?

marty2005 · 20-03-2008, 3:09 AM

Seems about the same with graphics (like pic. of hdd) made out of two text characters.

Also the same as the Sonys.

LG use proper graphics that look like what they are rather than a line drawing.

The LG menus also fade in.

JohnG · 20-03-2008, 6:57 AM

Sounds very interesting, I wonder if the model with the smaller hard drive will have the same features ?

**Gavtech** · 20-03-2008, 8:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

Sounds very interesting, I wonder if the model with the smaller hard drive will have the same features ?

Obviously cannot be sure yet... but the information I've seen elsewhere is that the hard drive machines will have similar specifications (as each other) as the range does now... but the non-hard drive versions will be missing some significant features.

Hal_loe · 20-03-2008, 8:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnG

Sounds very interesting, I wonder if the model with the smaller hard drive will have the same features ?

Of the previous models the EX87 had DVD-Audio playback but the EX77 didn't. I'm sure there was a couple of other things too.

**Gavtech** · 20-03-2008, 8:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal_loe

Of the previous models the EX87 had DVD-Audio playback but the EX77 didn't. I'm sure there was a couple of other things too.

Hi Phil - AFAIK, That was the single and only difference... [apart for a while when stocks diminished and only one colour machine was available ]

JohnG · 20-03-2008, 8:52 AM

Depending on how these machines perform I think I'll be tempted to upgrade from my old E85

marty2005 · 20-03-2008, 1:59 PM

Divx ultra would have been nice.

marty2005 · 21-03-2008, 5:38 PM

Due in 3-4 days.

http://www.shop.bt.com/productview.a...224,4294956401

alex_av2008 · 22-03-2008, 2:13 PM

It looks like Comet started selling new Panasonics online. They also list the features in detail.

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/pro...ification#spec

marty2005 · 22-03-2008, 4:51 PM

Typical Comet prices.

marty2005 · 26-03-2008, 1:45 AM

In stock if anyone wants to be the first. £319.99

http://www.jxl.co.uk/SearchResults.asp

It says in stock soon but on their eBay site they have 2 in stock.