Panasonic DMR-EA18K

Pros: The remote
Zoom
HQ widescreen recording with all media
DVD-RAM recording
Double Layer disc recording
HQ 2 hour recordings
USB music and pix
SD cards compatible
FireWire port
S-Video in front and back
CD and CDrw playback

Cons: no eject on remote
no component in
HDMI out ony
price might be a bit high
no Divx playback
no hard disc recording
no tuner
Some computer recordings cause the unit to freeze and require an unplug and restart meaning the clock must be reset

Summary: After trying and returning lesser DVDR units (some more expensive too) I am more than thrilled at the quality of the recordings I've made. Widescreen recording IS possible in every DVD format using a S-video cable if your cable box allows it. My cable box allows me to set the aspect ratio 4:3 or 16:9 (or 480P, 720P, 1080i/P) Yes, those pricey HDMI and component cables are only allowed for video out, but not video in. I almost didn't buy the Panasonic DMR-EA18k DVD recorder because of the 2 star review that claimed that HQ widescreen recording was possible only using RAM Discs. Wrong, despite what the manual says. I've used DVD-/+R, DVD-/+RW and DVD-R DL discs with excellent widescreen results. I record widescreen programs off of Comcast Cable's HD DVR with HQ results. Here's how: connect the S-video cable to the S-vid out on the cable or satellite DVR then connect the other end to the S-video in on your HDTV. Choose whichever recording mode you like from 1 hour to 6 (8 hours with DL discs ) 1 to 2 hours has the best quality IMO. Make sure the aspect ratio is 16:9 and the 720P or 1080i/P is correct. Choose the program you want to save and then press the record button on the remote or the unit itself. Be sure to press pause to filter out commercials and unwanted programing then press pause again to restart recording at the proper time. I use the HDMI out from the DVDR to the HDMI in on the TV (no audio cable needed, of course). This connection upconverts the 480i/p standard TV output as well to look even more fantastic on a HDTV. The EA18K also upconverts homemade DVDs and TV signals using the component cables (though not commercial DVDs). Most other DVDR's don't do this directly for TV programs using HDMI or component cables! That's a major plus in my book. I have not tried to record directly from the TV.
To review my connections, the Panasonic EA18k is connected to the HD cable box using the S-video cable and RCA composit audio cables with HDMI connected to HDMI 2 on my TV. DVDR must be turned on to view TV when not recording. On my TV's HDMI 1 I have a direct connection to the HD cable box HDMI out to get the full 1080P viewing experience when not recording.