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Panasonic DMR-EX88EB-K - 400GB HDD - DVD Recorder with Freeview | 
| Brand: Panasonic
Category: CE
Buy New: £305.98
New (12) Used (1) from £270.58
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 1386
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 12.5
Dimensions (in): 20.4 x 17.3 x 6.9
MPN: DMR-EX88EB-K
Model: DMR-EX88EB-K
EAN: 5025232457885
ASIN: B0015M0MZK
Release Date: March 16, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Region - Zone 2 | | • | Standard - B/G, L/L' | | • | DivX/MPEG4 compatible - Yes | | • | Compatible Media - DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-VR, DVD-R/DVD+R / DL JPEG, MP3, CD-DA, Video CD, SVCD | | • | Other - Audio input DV input Viera Link USB port 1080p upscaling Deep Colour Juke Box function |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Panasonic DMR-EX88 stores over 700 hours of programmes in EP mode. Its equipped with a 400 GB hard drive and is compatible with DivX, meaning you can enjoy your favourite multimedia and get rid of bulky recording equipment. In addition to a 1080p upscaling function, the DMR-EX88 renders videos in Full HD quality using its HDMI connection, while its Juke Box function and USB port keep you entertained with sound and images. The DMR-EX88 also displays ID3 tag information and comes with a DV input that makes archiving data to a DVD extremely easy. Thanks to its Pause Live programme, you can even record an episode of your favourite TV series while watching the beginning of it. The Home Cinema experience is made accessible to all, thanks to the DMR-EX88!
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| Customer Reviews:
 Brilliant, but flawed. September 27, 2008
Terry Broome (Wakefield, W Yorks)
The is a step up from the previous model, with a larger hard drive and the ability to add CD albums, whose titles can be fetched with Gracenote (so you don't have to type them in yourself).
It's an excellent recorder, but has some serious limitations. The first is that you can't back up the hard drive. You can put your entire music collection on here, but if the drive fails, you will lose everything. The usb connection is simply for adding mp3 tracks - you can't connect an external hard drive and record onto it.
The second also involves the music recording side. Whilst you can create your own "groups" of tracks from mp3 files, you can't from CDs. This means you cannot pick and choose which tracks from your CDs you want to record. It's the whole CD or nothing, with no facility to combine recordings - so you cannot create your own playlists. The documentation is fairly misleading on this, so take note.
I bought the previous model, but only recently had cause to burn some DVD discs. I burnt around a dozen, before the RAM drive failed. By this time it was out of warranty, and the cost of repair is greater than buying a new machine. I'm still waiting to see if Panasonic will pay for the repair, as Amazon failed to respond to my complaint about it.
However, I was able to save the tv recordings on the hard drive by hooking it up to the new model with a scart cable and setting the new machine to record from the input from the old machine. But you loose all chapters, thumbnails & titles and have to divide the recording into the separate programmes manually - very time consuming, but at least it is possible.
I hope that the problem with the RAM drive is a one-off, but we'll see.
The ability to group tv recordings is a vast improvement on the old model, as it allows much easier transfer of an entire series to DVD and you can now record entire series in one go (although there are limitations to this). Saying that, the EPG is not nearly as good as the previous model, as the window has been squeezed to allow targetted advertising. It is difficult to read what day it's on when setting up a recording because it's now badly squashed, even on a 32" tv.
Panasonic isn't alone in not offering a facility to back up the hard drive (presumably copy-protection limitations enforced by the industry), but this lack seriously hampers HDD recorders, particularly ones with Jukebox facilities. It would be nice to see this rectified in future, along with the other shortcomings and with the ability to mix mp3 and cd tracks added.
Finally, if the artist/tracks are not on the Gracenotes database, you're forced to add them manually. This also means adding the Artist repeatedly for each track - there is no facility to group tracks and add the artist once for them all, another irritating flaw.
I would also hope the next machine would have a high definition tuner built-in.
Saying all that, it is still one of the better machines in a very small market at this price point.
 THE NEW GENERATION OF HDD/DVD RECORDERS. September 25, 2008
NEO (orpington kent)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This new machine has one of the largest HDD I have ever seen to store TV and even Music. It comes in a sleek black but isn't the best looking of unit's and tends to look retro. Performance isn't bad and it offers a clear picture from the HDD in EP mode and from a Dvd. The Remote is well designed and easy to use as are the on-screen displays. It get's quite noisy and hot after some time in operation which can be distracting. Also the DVD loading door is a plastic flap which reverse hinges. This can be opened easily and I can imagine a child flipping this open and breaking it off. Or even worse pushing a sweet etc into the gap which could make the DVD draw fail to operate. The biggest flaw is the single tuner ! Why Why ?? , it limits what this can do and what you can watch. And long term I doubt it's longevity as I had the previous model to this one and the Tv Tuner died after just two years. I had it insured so I got this new model for free via an insurance claim so I am very happy. The Gracenote media is a good idea but in practical terms and 'DRM' it could prove a problem to, get your music to your iPod via a Memory stick or SD card. All in all a good but expensive buy , But I would look to Sony before buying this unit.
 Absolutely excellent DVD recorder with hard drive September 19, 2008
I. J. Elliott
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I own a Panasonic Viera TV so I am really into Panasonic now. My old DVD recorder with hard drive (JVC) purchased 4 years ago blew up so I needed a new one. This one ticked all the boxes and since it arrived I have been so pleased with it. It is so easy to use and the upgrading is excellent. When I play Sky through it - even that looks more colourful. The navigation is simple and recording - I would definitely recommend this.
DMR-EX88 - Outstanding Excellence July 20, 2008
Mr. John Williams (Enfield in North London)
19 out of 19 found this review helpful
Well I have to say after two weeks of use I'm absolutely knocked out by it's performance. The picture quality is superb and the copy quality from the Hard Drive is the best I've seen. Having had two previous Panasonic recorder/hdd combo's this really is their best yet.
As a previous reviewer noted the instruction details could do with a user friendly tweak, but that aside I have yet to see a better machine.
If you use and record from a HD source you will require calming measures as the end product should carry a Government health warning.
So should you be in the market for a dvd/hdd recorder look no further.
Highly recommended.
5 star performer July 11, 2008
chuteman (scotland)
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
HAVE HAD DMR-EX88EB A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW AND I FIND ITS RECORDING QUALITY EXCELLENT EVEN ON FREEVIEW ,ITS 400GB HARDDRIVE IS GIGANTIC AND EASY TO USE.ONE LITTLE SUGGESTION TO PANASONIC THOUGH,THE INSTRUCTON MANUAL WHILE LARGE AND CONTAINING MANY HELPFUL TIPS IS HARD READING AT BEST,THE BACK PAGE INDEX REALLY NEEDS TO BE BETTER LAYED OUT FOR THE ODD TIME USER(YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).A REALLY GOOD RECORDER.
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