Panasonic has announced that they will launch the DMR-BR630V in Japan which will feature support for all mainstream video formats (sorry LaserDisc owners - no soup for you). The player will feature a 6X Blu-ray Burner with support for Blu-ray, DVD, and CD, as well as a VHS deck. Additionally, it will feature a 320GB hard drive so you can easily transfer video from one format to the other.
If you're reading this wondering "why would they do that?", you're not alone. The simplest explanation is that it is being marketed to Japan, and unless you are one of our Japanese readers (Konnichiha!), then its probably not for you. Regardless, if you ever spent countless hours struggling with video connections between your VHS deck and Blu-ray recorder, this devise is for you.
Actually some great VHS movies were never transferred to dvd. I'm sure the same thing will happen with dvd movies to Blu. This is a cool idea, wish they'd bring it over here. But owning seperate machines still seems the most logical idea to me.
This makes perfect sense for the Japanese market, and it could work just as well for anyone who might be hanging onto an extensive VHS collection. For the Japanese, space is pretty much non-existent. Having a single player that replaces two or three separate players will sell well. Also, if it allows one- touch recording of VHS tapes to Blu-ray, then people can get rid of VHS tapes, which are huge space wasters.
I wish JVC would make a BLU-RAY/D-VHS combo deck that would allow consumers to dub standard VHS, S-VHS, and 1080I D-VHS tapes to BLU-RAY. It is stupid to make a BLU-RAY recorder with a built in standard VHS. At least make it an S-VHS or better yet a D-VHS.
I am glad this is only for Japan market. I would rather own a standalone BLU-RAY recorder and hook up a standalone D-VHS machine to do direct digital to digital dubbing.
keesvandijkh, my mother is an actress and I often get prescreeners of movies 4-5 months before they come out to the public. They are all on DVD. What they do is they have a digital mark on it to prevent duplication or to at least be able to track any copies if they are made. During the movie every so often they have a disclamer come up. Being able to digitally mark and track a movie would not be possible with VHS.
My Mother will be exstatic!! In all my efforts to rid her VHS tapes (including the countless tapes that she has multiple movies/shows recorded on) from her home, she just cant part with all of them for the reason that some things were not released on DVD. SO NOW, I will finally be able to get her one player and only have to deal with a few wires rather than the 'miles length' amount that is back there now from the multiple players she has. Hopefully this comes to the states, cause this player to her is the equivelant of "Transformers" to us. LOL This will definately make her giddy like a kid. LOLOL
If it had a PS3 inside too, I might consider it no matter what the price! The thing doesn't play games. Why would anyone want it? And a 320GB HD? No one can use more than a 60, err I mean 20, err, 80, err 40, err, 80 (again), err 120GB.
This will be a great replacement for my Panasonic DVD \ VHS \ HDD recorder, which I have 2 of, so as soon as they want to bring this machine to the US they can count on me for 2 of them. I love the fact that the HDD will be 320 gigs.
To me it is a logical step forward from the DVD / VHS combo units.
Another step forward would be a portable Blu-ray player to replace portable DVD players. I know that on a small screen Blu-ray vs DVD doesn't matter. However since I'm selling off all of my DVDs as I upgrade to Blu-ray, I'd like a (cheap) portable unit that can accept Blu-ray disks.
So a $200 portable Blu-ray player would help me.
And a $300 Blu-ray / VHS combo player for the basement would help me too.
I know I can't buy such things right now at these prices but when these price points arrive I'll be tempted.
VHS looks better 'cause it's analog, none of that digital crap. More true to life man!
They shoulda put Beta, HDDVD and LD in there too, so it could be a complete format solution.
Again, I will repeat what has already been said.. VHS????
Well that is the strangest choice for a deck like this. How many people will be converting their VHS
library into anything? Most people have everything they care about on DVD by now.
I can see this selling to many homes where people have a stash of VHS, home movies, some DVDs and do a good deal of renting. There have to be a few households left who don't troll blu-ray.com.
Bootlegs vhs tapes i have, Sabbath's last show, Slayer 87 at Olypmic Paladium....Zeppelin
07 London, Tool 96 SF i think, and countless others....Trust me guys we want these on blu
ray....Some of the tapes i have could be remastered to sick levels of greatness...
I want a BD recorder BAD!!!! Bring one of these to the U.S. & sell a million , Panasonic!!!!! Your
the best panny!!! "We" are waiting to throw our $$$$$$ at you!!! :-)
Ha! I can finally film vhs copies of borrowed/rented blu rays from the sofa with my 1993 camcorder, burn them to VCD, consolidate multiple VCDs to a DVD, and then burn multiple DVD's to Blu. At the end, I'll have an entire collection of BD movies on 1 BD! Muaaahahahaha!
LOL VHS IS BEST LEFT IN THAT PLACE CALLED OLD SCHOOL. WHO IN THEIR RITE MIND WOULD CONTINUE WATCHING VHS WHEN THERES BLU RAY HOVERING NEAR BY. mAN I HOPE THIS THING UPSCALES VHS TO 1080P THAT WAY WE WILL NEVER NEED BLU RAY OR DVD. JUST THROW IN A VHS TAPE AND ENJOY! nothing against vhs but isnt time to move on?
I'm really digging on this.. I hope it comes out in America soon.. I have some old ECW PPV's on VHS that I just couldn't throw away and would love to transfer them to a BD..
Panasonic has announced that they will launch the DMR-BR630V in Japan which will feature support for all mainstream video formats (sorry LaserDisc owners - no soup for you). The player will feature a 6X Blu-ray Burner with support for Blu-ray, DVD, and CD, as well as a VHS deck. Additionally, it will feature a 320GB hard drive so you can easily transfer video from one format to the other.
Just for the cool side of it - best of old gen and next gen. 
