Panasonic DMR-EZ48V: Release .97?
(PeteCresswell)
I've had a similar box (DMR-ES35V) for a few years.
Since I know the UI pretty well - and it's still acting a little
goofey, I have to wonder if it's a very early release and really
does have some bugs in it.
Anybody got a feel for how rigorous an outfit like Panasonic is
with their pre-release testing.
Three obvious things about the new box:
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1) When going from one channel to another, sometimes the
new channel's info is rendered right away, but other times
another channel's info is rendered for maybe 3/4 of a second
before the correct info appears.
2) I've been trying for over a week to get it to put four hours
of programming on a DVD-R disc. LP, the same as with the
analog unit... but the most I can get is maybe an hour's
programming. Even if I schedule the first three hours
at EP, it still doesn't record all the scheduled progs.
The UI for this is identical to my analog unit - so I
don't *think* RCI is a factor.
3) When finished scheduling, the device issues a misspelled
prompt: Something like "Tum off the device to enabled
scheduled recording..." (i.e. "Tum" instead of "Turn".
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My kneejerk is to return it and wait a few months hoping to buy
the same make/model box, but with some bug fixes in the firmware.
But to the mfrs of these things even *do* bug fix releases?
Anybody got a feeling for stuff like this?
OTOH, maybe it *is* RCI..... Could an hour of digital recording
take up more DVD space than an hour of analog? Doesn't seem
like it should bco the standard format.
--
PeteCresswell
Pete C.
Panasonic (matsuSHITa) is notorious for loading a product up with a lot
of bells and whistles and rushing it to market full of bugs, bypassing
proper testing. I spent a number of years dealing with those issues in
their industrial video line, the consumer market is even worse, since by
the time a product reaches the US, it's long out of production and
they're on to the next piece of crap. There is little chance there will
ever be a version shipping with the bugs fixed.
Mike Ray
I your looking to buy, I have had good luck with a DMR-EZ47K (US). I
burn disk every week (DVD-RAM only) and have had few problems in ~12
months. I did need to reset the unit twice when it got into a funny
state. I have only had is not record once (could of be me). I burned
last year's entire Grey's, Hero's and many House episodes. Been using it
right out of the box. I have not even check for software updates.
dmaster
I've been using an EZ17 for over a year and have burned over 100 DVD-R
disks without a problem. All the recordings are from OTA digital
sources and quite a few have been 4 hours long. I've just started
using an EZ28 (same model year as your EZ48) but haven't needed to do
a 4 hour recording yet. I've noticed the goofy channel change
behaviour on the EZ17, but not on the EZ28. It seems to be related to
changing past a weak signal quickly, but that could just be a
coincidence. I've never seen the misspelled prompt. I'd be tempted
to return the unit for a replacement, perhaps with a newer firmware
revision.
Dan (Woj...)
(PeteCresswell)
> I've noticed the goofy channel change
>behaviour on the EZ17, but not on the EZ28. It seems to be related to
>changing past a weak signal quickly, but that could just be a
>coincidence. I've never seen the misspelled prompt. I'd be tempted
>to return the unit for a replacement, perhaps with a newer firmware
>revision.
How about the ability to begin scheduled recording when the unit
is turned on?
My analog version does that transparently.
The supposedly new-and-improved digital version won't record a
scheduled show unless one remembers to power it off beforehand.
I guess there are pluses and minuses to that "feature"... but I
prefer the older version.
--
PeteCresswell
dmaster
Both the EZ17 and EZ28 require the unit to be off to begin recording.
I don't know if this holds true for DVD-RAM disks, since I know DVD-
RAM can be used for chasing playback.
Dan (Woj...)
vel
98% of what I watch (on DVD-RAM) to avoid commercials.
When the EZ17 was about 5 months old, it began to act up in several
different ways, pulling the power cord or pushing the reset button would
only bring it back temporarily.
I went to Panasonic.com, found the warranty section and asked for help.
They sent a prepaid shipping label, I sent it to a repair center in
Illinois, took about 3 weeks -- has been working perfectly since.
Supposedly, it was "reprogrammed and updated." (no cost to me
whatsoever)
Vel