I have a Panasonic DVD recorder (250gb), owned it since December '09 and it gets used everyday consistently, my son is consistently recording his shows, it also serves as a tuner for our 2006 Pioneer plasma that doesn't have a digital tuner. This DVD recorder has NEVER let us down once. All still works perfectly, except the disc drawer is a little squeaky. I also have the first Panasonic Blu-Ray recorder (500gb), purchased in July '09 - doesn't get used that much as it's in the media room, but is used for recording Countdown onto DVD - and again that unit has been bullet proof and is almost 10 years old. Back then it cost a whopping $1300!!