To VCR, or not to VCR?

[LanMan]

I have a 4 year old VCR that just died. It replaced my GE VCR that I got in 1982 that lasted 18 years and was still working when I replaced it, but I guess that they don't mak'em like that any more. My question is, should I buy another stand-alone VCR or not? I have a DVD player on this TV, and I use the VCR connected to this system as my main recording VCR. The VCR on this system is also the unit that my 2 year old uses to watch Clifford and Mr. Rogers tapes. Should I go ahead and replace the dead VCR with a $60 unit, or wait until later this year to check DVD-R's?

I should probably replace the VCR, but I would take recommendations on units. There aren't many non-combo VCR's anymore. I could only find three on Best Buy's page. A Magnavox (which I am replacing and won't buy one of those), a Panasonic, and a Sony.

[strider_mt2k]

I like Panasonic stuff. I like Sony stuff.
I can't afford Sorny, so I run Panaphonics at home.
I also use and recommend them at work, but that's the pro line stuff for surveillance applications.

Tapes are cheap, so if you aren't a videophile stick with VHS for now.

Keep an eye open, but ride VHS out beacuse it's cheap, and very likely the last "open" recording medium with digital being here.

[LanMan]

I like Panasonic stuff. I like Sony stuff.
I can't afford Sorny, so I run Panaphonics at home.
I also use and recommend them at work, but that's the pro line stuff for surveillance applications.

Tapes are cheap, so if you aren't a videophile stick with VHS for now.

Keep an eye open, but ride VHS out beacuse it's cheap, and very likely the last "open" recording medium with digital being here.

Yeah, the Panasonic looks like it has all of the features that the Sony has (except S-VHS which I don't need) and is $20 cheaper.

[strider_mt2k]

When our old Panasonic VCR died, we went to BJ's wholesale club and found one for exactly 60.00. We didn't even have to program the uber remote, the codes were the same!
(My only complaint with Panasonic is their remotes. non-ergonomic as they get :p

[SamuraiCatJB]

After going DVR, I would never go back to tape.... :) ahhhhh....

[LanMan]

After going DVR, I would never go back to tape.... :) ahhhhh....

I would love to try DVR, but I can't stomach the monthly fees.

[strider_mt2k]

I bought a Hauppauge PVR 350 Personal Video Recorder Card (http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvr350_datasheet.htm) for my PC and recently upgraded my burner drive to DVD, so I've taken some first steps to digital.

The change will come to the household in time, most likely 3 weeks prior to another paradigm shift. :rolleyes:

[LanMan]

I bought a Hauppauge PVR 350 Personal Video Recorder Card (http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvr350_datasheet.htm) for my PC and recently upgraded my burner drive to DVD, so I've taken some first steps to digital.

The change will come to the household in time, most likely 3 weeks prior to another paradigm shift. :rolleyes:

Sounds great, but I will have to upgrade my PII 350MHz for that kind of setup. I'd better just buy the $60 VCR. ;)

[TheBigBradWolf]

well...I found (this was awhile ago when DVDs were new tech) that you can't plug the DVD player into the VCR; you have to plug the VCR into the DVD;(or both directly into the TV if you have the ports)...some *jerk* decided that it was an important means of copyright protection to set it up that way...so, if you have a DVD player with analog *in* then it's fine...but you may want a VCR with digital out...or DVD plugged in with the 3 color cables and the vcr with coax and what not.

[LanMan]

:confused: Okay, I went to Best Buy last night, and was thinking about getting a Panasonic VCR (only VHS @ $65) when I saw that they were running a sale on Samsung DVD-V4600 DVD/VCR combo's for only $100. We have a Samsung DVD-V2500 that has worked well for 2+ years and I'm thinking about spending an extra $35 for the Samsung DVD-V4600 over the Panasonic VCR. However, I was looking at reviews at Amazon and epinions and the DVD-V4600 isn't getting very good reviews. Does anyone here have experience with either the DVD-V4600 or DVD-V4800 (same but with memory card slots)? If so, would you mind telling me about your experience with it? :confused:

[Gizmo]

I would avoid a combo simply from a maintenance standpoint. If one stops working, you will not be able to use either if you have to take it somewhere to be fixed.

Just a thought.

[SamuraiCatJB]

I would avoid a combo simply from a maintenance standpoint. If one stops working, you will not be able to use either if you have to take it somewhere to be fixed.

Just a thought.

that is my preference too.... seperate but replaceable. :)

[LanMan]

Yes, and I have had the same thought myself. However, I have a second/spare DVD player as well as another combo unit, so should this combo fail I won't be completly without entertainment resources. I almost didn't buy my first Samsung combo (DVD-V2500) because of this thought process, but the oak cabinet that I wanted it to fit in was 80's era and wouldn't accommodate two devices. So I bought my first combo with extended warranty and have been happy with it. Plus the prices of the combo's these days will pretty much make them as "disposable" as VCR's. I will not bother with an extended warranty for either a VCR or combo unit today. So I won't NOT consider a combo simply because it's a combo. My specific request at this time is if anyone has real experience with the Samsung DVD-V4600 combo unit?

[mr nutso]

:confused: Okay, I went to Best Buy last night, and was thinking about getting a Panasonic VCR (only VHS @ $65) when I saw that they were running a sale on Samsung DVD-V4600 DVD/VCR combo's for only $100. We have a Samsung DVD-V2500 that has worked well for 2+ years and I'm thinking about spending an extra $35 for the Samsung DVD-V4600 over the Panasonic VCR. However, I was looking at reviews at Amazon and epinions and the DVD-V4600 isn't getting very good reviews. Does anyone here have experience with either the DVD-V4600 or DVD-V4800 (same but with memory card slots)? If so, would you mind telling me about your experience with it? :confused:

Don't know about the Samsung, but our last Panasonic VCR (only) crapped out after only 2 years. We have always bought Panasonic, so this was a dissapointment. At the time we got our combo 2 years ago, JVC was the best rated. I'm very happy with both VCR and DVD functions.