15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
DVD / VCR from Panasonic
Date of Review: Sep 11, 2003
The Bottom Line: If you have to consolidate two to one unit, buy this unit. Otherwise, stick to separates.
While looking for a DVD/VCR combo, this is a great buy at only a $150. It is really easy to use and installs easily. However, I found it hard to do the following things:
1> Record from DVD to VCR - There is no option
2> The fact that it can play mp3's but without any sort of track recognition is funny. it's like listening to the radio, but only a little better by pressing the skip/track button - you can listen and navigate your mp3 cd by ear!
3> Navigate through the menu's. It's quite different when you have their 47" widescreen which has great menus and then seeing their dvd/vcr combo menu's which are crap.
4> Display on the unit itself is elementary. Most of the time it just says PLAY or STOP. It's almost for people who don't know anything about electronics. But what happens when you lost the remote?
5> Handle the remote. It's rather large and awkward to use, especially when you have a TV by the same manufacturer. Sometimes it'll turn on both your TV and DVD/VCR units
However, I've found that this unit does provide some of these positive things:
1> The progressive scan button is simply lit when in use and not lit when not. How hard is that. Also, the picture is awesome with progressive. No more need to go to the movies to get that great of a picture.
2> Saves space. I think I cut down the amount of wires and space needed just by reducing this from 2 units to 1.
3> It's reliable. I think it hasn't skipped at all, even on scratched DVD's or CD's.
4> It's ability to play mp3's burned onto a CD. This is something worth getting if you're sick and tired of listening to your mp3's on your computer or simply sick of burning regular CD's just so you can listen to your mp3's at home on the big stereo.
5> The VCR isn't overly stupid. It can be programmed and certainly used with most of a regular stand-alone unit's functions. Most of the time when you get combo units, there's some sacrifice in build and in function. Not this one.
Okay, hopefully this will give you quite some insight into this unit. If you want to be civil about this unit, treat it with respect and it will give you the big bang for the buck. Although it isn't great, it's worth every dollar you spend on it.
