I have decided to purchase one of the Panasonic DVD recorders. My main purposes are: (1) to copy my old VHS tapes onto blank DVDs ; (2) to watch pre-recorded DVDs.

I will either buy the Panasonic EZ-38, which has a VHS player inside, or
I will need to buy BOTH the Panasonic EZ-18 and a separate VHS player.

Is there an advantage to buying a separate VHS player?

Any help is appreciated.

If you still have your old vcr, then you may not need the combo unit, unless you need to save on space. Your tapes will playback best on the vcr that made them. We are getting way too many boxes piling up in the entertainment center to watch a couple of hours of tv each night. Please note that the EZ38 does not have a tuner, so you'll wind up having to run a cable box, or your old vcr to it, in order to record any tv programming.
If you don't plan on recording alot of tv, then the EZ18 would be the cheaper option.

Thanks. I have the Dish Network, so I assume I don't need a DVD recorder that has a tuner.

I believe the models you're talking about would be the tunerless DVDR EA-18 and tunerless DVDR/VHS EA-38. Only the tuner models use the EZ nomenclature. If you're in Canada I believe they have the ES-18 and ES-38 which do have tuners but are based on the older ES-15 analog design. Canada has the EZ-28 and EZ-48 similar to the US line.
As mentioned most people find little advantage to combo units and find separates much easier and flexible to use. Again as mentioned the original unit that recorded the tapes are usually the best for playing back on.
I think their is also the misconception that combo units will provide a better PQ since they are copying internally. I have not found this the case and think basically the VHS and DVDR(of a combo unit) are probably connected internally with a connection no better than a external composite video connection.

Yes. You are right. I meant the ES-18 and ES-38. Thaks for the advice.

Sorry again - that should read EA-18 and EA-38 (it's been a long day).