lute@abnjh.UUCP (01/30/84)
I have received many requests for the results of my inquiry on Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs). Therefore, I am posting the responses I received. Also, because of the information I was given in the past few weeks I was better able to make a decision regarding the purchase of my own VCR. The one I chose was a GE, 4-head, 14-day, 2-event, dolby stereo, cable-ready, wireless remote. I bought it at Crazy Eddie's for under $600. I hope the information in this article will help the rest of you make decisions that you are happy with. Jim Collymore ******************************************************************************* Date: Saturday, 7 Jan 84 09:21:21 PST Subject: Re: Information on VCR's In-Reply-To: your article <379@abnjh.UUCP> I recently bought a GE 4002X made by Matsushita (Panasonic) for $439. I am completely satisfied with the unit. It has good sharpness and clarity to the colors and very little "snow". I was disappointed with the audio quality of most rental video tapes, however. The VCR is specd for 100 - 8KHz audio response, but some tapes sound very "fuzzy". I heard that a stereo VHS format was going to be announced this year, which may be an improvement, while obsoleting existing VCR's. By the way, reguardless of the brand, there are only four manufacturers of VCR's: Matsushita, Sony, Japan Victor Corp (JVC), and Hitachi. Date: 7 Jan 84 00:17:21 EST (Sat) Subject: Re: Information on VCR's References: <379@abnjh.UUCP> I bought the then-bottom of the line Panasonic, PV1275, in 8/83. Paid $475 for it (should have paid about $400). Consumers Reports says, and I believe, that they ALL have about the same video quality, so you can shop for price, go by features, etc. Without 4 heads you can't freeze-frame a SP tape and get a good image--too bad, because it is nice to freeze-frame a prerecorded tape. But it ups the cost now, and (I predict) it will increase the cost on that horrible day that you have to replace the head assembly. Portable vs tabletop is a hard choice. My officemate cheaped out, and now he regrets it. My wife HATES high tech things. We had a few cool days when I bought the VCR. But, as predicted by a friend, SHE is now the major user-- it has permitted her to both have a career and become a Soap addict! I don't know anybody who regrets getting a VCR. The County library lends tapes free; the local library charges $1. Selection is not bad. What they don't have you can rent commercially. It used to be obvious to choose VHS over Beta. But the Beta people have a real coup in their new "Beta HiFi" sound format. The VHS people may have something similar this summer--then again, they may not. Stores: You might as well shop for price--once you figure out what you really want. I'll quit now--but always happy to be a missionary for VCRs! Date: 6 Jan 84 20:02:33 EST (Fri) Subject: Re: Information on VCR's References: <379@abnjh.UUCP> I own a Panasonic VHS VCR with two heads. My main use for it is playing rented movies and recording shows for deferred viewing. Its operation is satisfactory. The stop motion has a poor picture, but I seldom use it. I have connected the VCR audio output to my stereo in order to get the best possible sound out of PBS concert type programs. I turn down the TV sound and receive the program through the VCR. I have had mine for nearly a year. It continues to serve as a means of watching programs I would otherwise miss. I continue to rent movies, but not as many as I used to. (I have been through my rental operator's library to my satisfaction.) Initially, I questioned the outlay, but I think it has been worth it. Date: 14 Jan 84 15:00:50 CST (Sat) Subject: Re: Information on VCR's I took am in the market. I'm looking for a vcr/camera combination. I think panasonic, jvc and sony make all machines. I've kind of narrowed down my choice to the 4 head panasonic pv6600 and pk957 camera. follow the ads in the sunday NY times for prices. To: lute Subject: Re: Information on VCR's References: <379@abnjh.UUCP> In response to your questions about VCR's. Having just purchased an RCA portable perhaps I can give you some help. I got mine about 2 months ago and I LOVE IT! not only does it help me catch many of my favorite programs that I would normally miss but it seems to clean up the transmission of my local cable company thereby giving me a better picture. One word of advice though, get a 4 or 5 head machine (better reproduction). Additionally, I would spend the extra bucks and get a portable up front that way next year when you want a camera (and you will) you don't have to invest for a new VCR. If you have any questions please respond over the net. Subject: Re: Further Inquiry about VCRs References: <412@abnjh.UUCP> I just bought a Quasar VH5635 at TOPS. It was a demonstrator model so I got a $1400 (list), $900 (standard discount) machine for $700. I decided to go with a top-of-the-line machine since by the time I got 4 head VHS with a 10-pin camera plug (necessary if you're going to use a camera), it wasn't that much more expensive to get Dolby stereo, variable speed slow motion, frame advance, infrared remote, 2 wk, 8 event programming, forward and reverse scan, special effects (slow and freeze motion) on both SP and SLP (many are only on SLP) ... I've had it less than a week, but I'm happy with being able to timeshift programs that I would have otherwise missed. I decided to save money by getting a table model instead of a portable. My reasoning is to wait for the "camrecorders" which are cameras that are totally self-contained (like a movie camera). They're supposed to hit in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, I'll rent or borrow a camera to take pictures of my daughter. To: houxm!mhuxl!abnjh!lute Subject: Re: Responses to my VCR query References: <411@abnjh.UUCP> TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION OF RESPONSES: I bought my first VCR, a bottom-of-the-line Beta, last Feb when it went on sale at Sears ($400). They were in such demand that stores in my area couldn't stock them and a few weeks later the same unit appeared in a catalog sale for an additional $10 off. The unit started making a grinding noise a couple of weeks after I got it and, once in a while, made a glitch in a recording. The repair shop, after 6 weeks, gave up trying to get the part because "the machine was such a new model that replacement parts were not listed yet." The manager of the store finally gave me my money back. In the meantime I bought a soon-to-be-discontinued-model portable Panasonic VHS and wonder now how I ever got along without it. I've had it cleaned twice [as part of the maintenance agreement though it didn't need it] and will probably have the heads replaced before the contract expires. I did buy couple of movies from a chain store in Woodbridge and they said that they no longer carry Beta any longer because they couldn't sell enough. [I switched because a friend has 2 VHS machines (1 rented) and can make copies for me.] 4 heads are nice, but I'm not interested enough in watching at other-than-normal speed, so the 2 heads in my machine are fine. The cord on my remote control is a pain and if I get another VCR, it will be wireless. I also like the idea of having the tape counter in large LEDs instead of the small LCD display [necessary because it's portable]. I haven't done any recent research on the latest models available and would be interested to learn what you decide to buy.