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Panasonic DMR-HW100 HDD DVR

3D-savvy telly timeshifter

Review Panasonic returns to the UK DVR market after an abortive early foray, with a 3D-enabled, media-streaming TV recorder. Rather more convincing than the brand’s first generation model, the DMR-HW100 offers access to the online VieraCast portal, has jukebox functionality and is only slightly bonkers.

Panasonic DMR-HW100 3D-compatible DVR

Panasonic's DMR-HW100 offers one way of getting your 3D photos up on the screen

Panasonic’s Blu-ray recorders, while technically impressive, seem almost wilfully complicated in this era of Sky+ and TiVo. Thankfully, this Freeview HD DVR is significantly more approachable. It doesn’t baffle with a multitude of recording modes, for one.

Indeed, timeshifting is a doddle. Simply select what you want from the EPG or catch it when it happens. The DMR-HW100 will prompt you to opt for HD should a programme you want to record be available in high definition. The deck has a 320GB hard drive, not exactly generous but enough to store nearly 80 hours of hi-def.

Panasonic DMR-HW100 3D-compatible DVR

Convenient front-mounted USB and SD card slots

The unit has twin Freeview HD tuners, enabling you to record two channels simultaneously. You can also play back recordings before they’ve finished, view media on USB, and look at other DLNA devices on your network.

The programme guide is Panasonic’s standard Gemstar/Rovi offering, so disliked on the brand’s TV range. It has advertising slots - which Rovi, rather than Panasonic, benefits from - and doesn’t offer much of a view when you want to scout for upcoming shows. On the plus side, all the usual Freeview+ HD functionality is here, including Series Linking and timer padding.

Panasonic DMR-HW100 3D-compatible DVR

The HDMI output is 3D-compatible

Recorded image quality is true to the original transmission, with no extraneous artefacts. Naturally, hi-def recordings look immeasurably better than Freeview’s blocky SD fare. There are also a number of advanced picture processing tweaks on hand, should you feel the need.

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