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I tossed out hundreds of VHS (gave them away at work) when my JVC ultra S-VHS player developed a problem. Instead of fixing the player I decided the format was not worth keeping. I would tape stuff just to tape.. then never watch it!!!! When Blockbuster rented LD, I taped at least a hundred of 'em... And rewatched maybe TEN! What a waste. With DVD the picture is so razor sharp and so filmlike... Now VHS is just for timeshifting TV programs... And I never did that anyway. (Even LD is now only a poor stepchild of DVD. I have a large LD collection and a Pioneer3070 player and even an Elite S2 I picked up for a song. Some of the LD discs are gems, like the museum discs... irreplaceable. But any LDs I can find on DVD in an anamorphic or enhanced for 16:9... The LD is replaced.) So... how do YOU "view" (pun intended) the old video formats? As landfill fodder? or...?
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I never really got into collecting videotape movies. I think I bought 4 or 5 had another 4 or 5 given as presents. I did do some time shifting for favourite programmes. I found the dropouts on tape a pain. I never got into LD. Too expensive and too small a market. Besides I already have one "dead" technology (vinyl!) and don't want to get into more! I am waiting for recordable DVD to come down in price so that I send the vcr to the electronics dump in the sky. Afterall, one still needs to time shift programmes.
Hi Elizabeth, I actually buy DVD's too, but only the ones that I know I'll want the full surround effects for. Otherwise, I rent them and back them up to SVHS. The quality of the SVHS tapes IMO are quite good (SVHS=400 lines of resolution versus DVD's 500). So until the DVD burners come WAY down in price, I guess my SVHS collection will continue to grow !! Come to think of it, the "old video format" is alive and well in my household !!
The picture is about 10 times better (on Best Quality recording setting) and the convenience, well it's just out of this world.
Does this thing require some sort of subscription, or do you just buy the thing, set it up, and get ready for some hardcore ass-on-couch laziness?
Yes the TIVO requires either $10 a month or $200 for life time. I got a $100 rebate so my lifetime cost $100.You can think of it as a subscription to TV Guide because that's what you really get- info on every program on every cable or satellite system you specify.The Panasonic Replay unit (no longer made) cost a lot more but had no subscription. Ultimate TV (Microsoft's version) also requires a subscription.
If you don't subscribe you can still use TIVO but you have to perform everything manually just like the old VCR.
Alas, I have some material archived (mainly live performance ballet, music, drama) that cannot be replaced in any format. Also, BBC is very slow to release Brit classics on DVD...so...the VCR will remain in the system. Also have some rare LDs that I'll keep. But I plan to get rid of VHS movies, junk, stuff we never watch. It's time. Amazing how many tapes you can accumulate.
HiI have purchased a few operas, ballets etc from HMV. Their service is OK but I have no idea if they are the best place to shop. Prices are higher than the US but the extra quality of PAL over NTSC is worth a premium IMO.
Any suggestions?
John
We use tape a lot here and my jaw still drops sometimes at the quality we can get from a top broadcast - and therein lies the rub as these are very variable, particularly free to air. Some tapes made (for time shifting) from digital satellite broadcasts are better than many LDs & DVDs in our collection. Remember we have the PAL broadcast system here. I use good quality VHS tapes with the best recordings via an SVHS recorder. All recorders in this house are Panasonic.Now this is not refuting claims that DVDs can be the best and LDs can be very satisfying, more so now we have a Pioneer HLD-X9 installed. I purchased heaps of movies at rock bottom prices as DVDs swung in and still have a lot of these to look at. Half the LD collection is of musical nature (opera, ballet, concerts etc) and the best of these are viewed repeatedly.
However I am also guilty of taping material rarely or never looked at - broadcasts of operas and other music material. However we rely on our videorecoder for much of our entertainment and that fast forward button saves sitting through a lot of ads and fill up junk between programs.
Horses for courses, we all have heaps of brilliant choices for home entertainment.
John
I never really got on the VHS bandwagon and went from SuperBeta to DVD. Still have a few VHS or Beta tapes for things I just had to have like Atomic Cafe, Freaks, Eraserhead etc. but not many. Thought of getting an LD player to take advantage of imports and the stuff everyone else is dumping.
I picked up a Pioneer Elite S2 originally $3,500 for $150 and a broken (good as a doorstop) preamp. It weighs 70lbs! Some prices are in la-la land but some have them for sale at really low prices.
really used tape and with the exception of 4 discs I bought for comparison purposes when DVD first came out, I never buy a DVD of something I already own on laserdisc. Good laserdiscs still look pretty good if your display is adjusted for them.
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