Video Asylum

which to buy - VCR or DVD?

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Hi, my VCR is acting up and I need to get a new one. But my questions is what do I get? VCR or DVD. I tape alot of tv shows etc, can you do this with DVD
thanks for you help,
dale

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Re: which to buy - VCR or DVD? Tommart 14:28:53 02/09/01 (0)
You need both. Buy a $100-$150 VCR, and depending on your tastes and budget, buy the best DVD player to suit your needs, desires, and pocketbook. I just replaced my Sony 300 (it's probably similar to today's $179 players). I wanted to spend about $600, but ended up spending $1,300 on a Sony S9000ES which I love. With my neighbor, I recommended that they buy the $250 Sony 360. This week I saw it on sale for $199--a steal.
Re: which to buy - VCR or DVD? GL 03:27:26 02/09/01 (0)
No- you can't record anything on a standard DVD player.
There are some DVD home recorders just being released, as well as digital video recorders which will record onto a HDD much like your PC.
Like most things- your choices are limited by your budget.
Depends on your priorities John C. - Aussie 16:51:35 02/08/01 (0)
If you do a lot of time shifting and find heaps from cable etc of interest to you then go for a VCR (and I'm a Panasonic fan - quality tuner, reliable etc).
However if you want the ultimate in quality then a good DVD player cannot be beaten by any VCR.
But, if you do not have a big screen or a highly resolving video system you may not notice a big quality drop comparing the two.
Having said that we do a lot of time shifting using VCRs. Recorded off satellite (digital transmission), PAL transmissions (the standard used here and in Europe) are very acceptable blown up on our 112 inch screen. Not as good as direct, but close. However a good PAL or NTSC DVD or laserdisc is much better. Unfortunately not all are good and it is frustrating to encounter samples which yield pictures inferior to what can be recorded on lowly videotape!! Same problem as audio, the quality of the result is very software dependent.
John
Re: which to buy - VCR or DVD? ETCpfd 15:04:40 02/08/01 (0)
If I were you, I'd get a DVD player only because of the much higher quality in picture and sound. I once saw a DVD player that can record from cds and TV shows, but it was like $5000 so I dont know what you want to do. I think it was from JVC, but I'm probably wrong.

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