Opinions on the Panasonic DMR-PWT550GZ?

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Declan224

41 posts

Geek

#188979 12-Dec-2015 12:00

Hi guys, new poster here.
I am looking at getting this Panasonic Smart Blu-ray player. I want to get it for my family because it has a hard-drive, MyFreeview HD and the Netflix app. I know it's also upgrading to Freeview Plus early next year and might possibly get a Lightbox app. Does anyone have any experience with this device that they could share? Any opinions, recommendations or warnings?

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1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1449161 12-Dec-2015 12:59

It only has HDMI and Coax Audio out plus no inputs to record from external equipment such as an older Sky box.
So it's somewhat limited in that you can't connect to an older TV without an HDMI input and you cant record from external equipment.
May be OK for your needs but IMO is severely limited.
My BWT720 is much more versatile and current equivalent model is not much more expensive. IMO Freeview Plus is currently very buggy, unreliable, and of no use to me anyway.

Declan224

41 posts

Geek

#1449167 12-Dec-2015 13:23

I have never seen the BWT720 in shops anywhere. Is that the same as the BWT840GZ? Because I know that one doesn't have apps. Recording from an external source doesn't bother us, because we are getting rid of sky so we don't need to input from it.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1449333 12-Dec-2015 19:36

Declan224: Hi guys, new poster here.
I am looking at getting this Panasonic Smart Blu-ray player. I want to get it for my family because it has a hard-drive, MyFreeview HD and the Netflix app. I know it's also upgrading to Freeview Plus early next year and might possibly get a Lightbox app. Does anyone have any experience with this device that they could share? Any opinions, recommendations or warnings?

The 550GZ has met all my needs very well so far. The apps also include Quickflix and many others such as Youtube. The recording quality is excellent, but it is a pity that there has been such a long delay in the Freeview Plus upgrade being available. The 550GZ recognises and plays 4K video OK, so this is a plus and overall I would recommend it as a sound purchase.

Regards
Fred

cleggy2

166 posts

Master Geek

#1449339 12-Dec-2015 19:45

Good 3d player. Bad as a recordable tuner. If I'm recording two channels at once it you are locked to watching those channels. I use it to stream videos, but I can't do it when recording. I can't cancel a programme that's still recording until it's finished which is weird.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1449394 12-Dec-2015 21:49

Declan224: I have never seen the BWT720 in shops anywhere. Is that the same as the BWT840GZ? Because I know that one doesn't have apps. Recording from an external source doesn't bother us, because we are getting rid of sky so we don't need to input from it.

An older model, similar specs to the 840.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1449395 12-Dec-2015 21:54

cleggy2: Good 3d player. Bad as a recordable tuner. If I'm recording two channels at once it you are locked to watching those channels. I use it to stream videos, but I can't do it when recording. I can't cancel a programme that's still recording until it's finished which is weird.

Well on my BWT720 I just need to press the 'Stop' button to stop recording at any time. If 2 programs are recording, after pressing 'Stop' you have a choice of which one you want to stop recording.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1449396 12-Dec-2015 21:55

cleggy2: Good 3d player. Bad as a recordable tuner. If I'm recording two channels at once it you are locked to watching those channels. I use it to stream videos, but I can't do it when recording. I can't cancel a programme that's still recording until it's finished which is weird.

Agreed.
The Smart implementation is pretty poor and really, 3 tuners are required.

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Declan224

41 posts

Geek

#1449403 12-Dec-2015 22:17

Does the BWT720 have apps like netflix? It probably doesn't even matter, I can't find any place that sells the 720.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#1449550 13-Dec-2015 09:01

Declan224: Does the BWT720 have apps like netflix? It probably doesn't even matter, I can't find any place that sells the 720.

No you won't find it on sale anywhere now. As I said it's an older model from 2012 pre-Smart TV days and the very few Internet capabilities are extremely basic and really slow. The BWT840 is the latest equivalent model. The latest models specs are like comparing a Ferrari to my Model T. I just have no need to update mine to a new model yet. Maybe when they make really smart ones that work like a True Home Theatre System I'll think about it.
IMO the BWT840 is well worth the extra dollars over the PWT550

Declan224

41 posts

Geek

#1449553 13-Dec-2015 09:11

If what I have been told elsewhere is correct the 840 doesn't have the apps I want though.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1449555 13-Dec-2015 09:27

Declan224: If what I have been told elsewhere is correct the 840 doesn't have the apps I want though.

Also, the 840 doesn't have Freeview Plus and I was told that there will not be a future software upgrade to provide Freeview Plus either. This upgrade is coming with the 550GZ, hopefully, early next year!

If you want something better than the 550GZ, I suggest you wait for the replacement model for the 840 which should be available next year some time. There's not much point (IMHO) in buying outdated technology!

Fred

Declan224

41 posts

Geek

#1449556 13-Dec-2015 09:28

But what about Netflix?

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1449560 13-Dec-2015 09:34

Declan224: But what about Netflix?

Another way of watching Netflix or all the others, is to set up the apps on your mobile phone and cast the image on to your TV via Chromecast etc.

Fred

Declan224

41 posts

Geek

#1449565 13-Dec-2015 09:41

Screw that, that's nowhere near as useful. I am the only one in my house that has a Chromecast compatible device, so if I've gone out that means my mum can't watch anything.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1449566 13-Dec-2015 09:43

Declan224: Screw that, that's nowhere near as useful. I am the only one in my house that has a Chromecast compatible device, so if I've gone out that means my mum can't watch anything.

Well, many TVs these days have a "smart hub" which have all the main apps, so perhaps a smart TV is the way to go.

Fred

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