Not sure which to get, I have a Panasonic 32" LCD with Viera Link, I'm edging towards Panasonic HDD DVD recorder, anyone any advice please?

Steve

I have a Panasonic EX85 and recently got a Pioneer 550. They are both good for what I want which is recording from freeview and dubbing things to keep to DVD. I do not use DIVX so that does not matter to me.

I am using scart not HDMI and they both give a good picture.

The Pioneer has series link which the Panasonic doesnt and it is quite handy but you definitely have to keep an eye on the timer. My only quibble with the Pioneer is that although I have set it up so it will do high speed dubbing. Sometimes when you edit recordings it comes up with "this recording cannot be dubbed at high speed". I have no idea why it does it sometimes and not others.

I also have a Sony 770 which is very similar to the Pioneer but it has high speed dubbed everything I have asked it to. They are the same to edit and set up recordings. The Sony uses the word dub in its commands and the Pioneer states copy but otherwise the same.

I got the Pioneer from Priceless Ltd and it cost £229 which seems to be the cheapest around. E-buyer want £401 for it and most seem to sell it for £300 upwards. Even Amazon have it for £287.

RosemaryP

Thanks Rosemary you've been a great help.

Steve

Recently purchased a Panny ex77 160gb HDD dvd recorder - getting to grips with it over the past few weeks.

Got it for £198 - richer sounds - price matched against online availability.

On the whole I am very pleased with it.

Are Pioneer better than Panasonic?

No..... but neither are they worse.