Panasonic DMR-XW480

AN ECCENTRIC PRODUCT – While the product has a number of good qualities, it's inability to play MPEG4 channels is frustrating. Worse still is its refusal to play many DVDs, giving the message it could not detect a DVD or any programs on same. Trying the DVDs on the computer as well as older and later models showed there were no problems with the DVD. And yes, I cleaned the laser and the DVDs with no result. Will not buy a similar model again.

DMR-XW480 GLK Review - after 12 months of use – This DMR-XW480 GLK has been around our place for a year now and was itself a replacement for a DMR-XW380. Pretty much all the same features and comments as per my DMR-XW380 review. Nice improvements were the larger HDD and a few simplified and streamlined menus for editing and copying from HDD to DVD. These new units seem much more capable at… Read more ·  1

automatically reformatting recordings done in DR mode into more space efficient EP or LP recording modes. So far the DVD burner has not given any trouble at all. The unit has not had to be reset or rebooted and has operated exactly as expected. I have found the EPG a little "borky" and incomplete at various times but I am sure this is the Australian FTA TV stations not maintaining their EPG's properly rather than any fault of the Panasonic unit.

If you are still recording from FTA TV and need fast and reliable burning to DVD plus the ability to record 2 television shows at the same time this unit is still worthwhile considering.