I got a DVD/VCR recording combo this Christmas, so I was finally able to record all twelve episodes of VOY I'd ever want to re-watch again to DVD and compress space. The only thing I use my VCR feature for is to record my soap operas--'cause that shit ain't worth wasting a DVD on. I've seen at least three models of stand-alone VHS players at Target myself for around 30 to 50 dollars apiece.
I recently watched a tape I recorded in 1986 or so..Witchboard off HBO. The quality was okay still. I also watched a tape that had the Paul McGann Doctor Who movie from 1996. That one was just fine. The movie is ... not the best, but the tape was fine. I forgot how shitty the Master was in that movie until I rewatched it.
With my recent purchase of the 1940s MGM version of The Three Musketeers, I think only Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze keeps me from a complete switchover to DVD.
Well, it kind of is. It's good for recording still, since most DVD recorders out the are pretty temperamental POS, particularly at the lower end of the price range. But I wouldn't stay solely with the VHS myself. DVD's are as cheap as they've ever been, and it's only a matter of time before DVD recording technology improves and get even cheaper and eventually bitchslap the VHS into the history books along side the typewriter, fax machine and Betamax tapes.
Not really...all those shows you see on TV? Tape. If there was more on TV to tape that I felt like keeping, I might invest. There isn't. Tivo is a joke.
Except for tapes and time rewinding, fast forwarding, pausing for commercials, etc. Even if I didn't have that, I could use the VIVO function on my video card to record it to my HD. I think shooter would know better than most how most TV Shows are stored at the studio anymore. I doubt it's on VHS, lol.
I can also set my DVR to record a whole season of a show, with the click of a button. Can your VCR do that?
No, it can not. Not without remembering to stick in a new tape each time. Nor will it skip commercials for you. I can wait for the whole season to air, then watch them all over the course of a few days, without commercials. VCRs, while still marginally useful, don't hold a candle to a DVR.
I don't understand this business of recording shows. If I don't manage to watch it when it airs, I'm not going to find the time to do it later.
Oh, well I'm not around on Friday nights at 8 to watch say Stargate. I am around the next morning to however. I mean, do you ever watch DVDs?
Yes, I watch DVDs. I'll put it this way -- hardly anything on broadcast TV is worth watching unless it happens to be on when I sit my ass on the couch at the end of the day.
Yep...I only tape something to watch later if I'm not going to be home and I really really want to watch it. These days, seldom.
I honestly can't remember the last time I recorded something from TV to watch again or later I've got a couple of VHS tapes from 1994 that still seem to work ok... and occasionally I'll do a workout video from the early 90s which is really crackly but watchable. Mainly because I've done it that often over the years I know the moves off by heart.
How long can you keep the recorded show? My wife and I are currently watching some episodes of the Tracy Ullman show we recorded about 20 years ago.
$10? Is not an expense. That is the same amount you'd spend on VCR upkeep and tapes to tape a season worth of shows. Pushing one button, is no effort at all. There are plenty of good shows on TV. Hell, you can record a season's worth of Histories Mysteries if you prefer. VCRs pale in comparison to DVRs.
As long as you want? I can also run it to my PC to record on DVD, or just use a DVD recorder. Techman can keep dreaming if he believes his VCR can hold a candle to a DVR.
Your opinion, not mine. /shrug There are plenty of shows I very much enjoy watching, that I can never catch when they're broadcasted. My DVR takes care of this for me, for whole seasons of shows, and I never have to worry about forgetting to switch a tape, programming the wrong time, fast forwarding thru commercials, etc. I can record movies from all of the movie channels, or get programming "on-demand" which makes it so I don't have to use Netflix or go to the movie store. $10 a month for such a service, is wonderful and saves a lot of otherwise spent money. Yet, Techman wants to seem to keep arguing with me that his VCR can serve the same purpose with just as little hassle. He's full of it, so to speak. Oh yeah and I never have to worry about the machine 'eating' my tape, as there is no need for a tape.
All those shows you see on TV? Not recorded on or played back from VHS. No, not really. I held off on buying one until a couple of years ago (and it was essentially "free"--cost me $100 and DirecTV gave me a $100 rebate) and have never regretted it. No more tapes cluttering up the entertainment center and I spend less on TiVo per year than I did on tapes. I didn't buy cheapo VCRs or tapes because I can't stand watching creased tapes. I'm actually considering getting a second TiVo.