WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

[wildmaninal]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

Another thing is DVD's and players. DVD's like CD's don't last long. And seems any CD player I have, or had, last awhile, then stops working/skips/Laser's go bad. Puter Burner lasted a year..(I just use Flash Drives now..burning CDs for storing anything are in the garbage)

It depends on how well you store your cds or dvds. I have dvds and cds that I have had for years, sense the mid 90's. Now not all of my cds and dvds are in great condition because I screwed up and stuck them in a spot where they could get damaged. Some may notice how well a scratched cd will play in a computer compared to a cd player in a car, I always take advantage of it and burn a copy using my computer before the original cd hits the trash. Another thing to, have you tried to clean a VHS tape? They are a PITA, as for a CD just take a fine cloth and some rubbing alcohol and 90% of the time you got a clean cd or DVD.

And how long before DVD's are obsolete? Electronics moving ahead at lightning speed, and seems anything I finally get set up with, a day later, they don't make them anymore!

Blue Ray by sony I think was or is trying to out do DVD.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

Got a feeling that "outlawed" is a bit of an exaggeration. But I can understand why there is absolutely no demand for the units anymore. After, the VCR has been replaced most comparatively with the DVD recorder. If you want a new VCR, just buy a new DVD recorder.

They work the same as a VCR, they have the inputs you seek and desire, they have the benefit of rewind/fast forward being almost instantaneous. And the quality/longevity of recordings is better.

The on-screen programming is the same as you're used to, and they work great. And blank DVD's are cheaper to buy than blank VHS tapes.

I guess I simply don't see the problem...

But frankly, my DVD recorder (now about 8 years old), hasn't been used in quite some time. Now I got me a DVR. Takes most of the programming right out of the equation, simplifying it even FURTHER by only recording NEW episodes of whatever you like...and copmletely skipping any reruns. And it is a WONDERFUL tool for just recording and watching TV shows if that's you're objective. Of course it costs a few bucks a month, and most old people usually don't like that either.

So that takes us back to a DVD recorder.

Good luck with the next 20 years, as technology accellerates even FASTER!

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

VHS? Last I heard, that was a disease affecting fish around here, not a media format.. Seirously though, VHS is a dated and inefficient technology; it and the cassette tape will soon be as desireable as 8-tracks and betamax.. Even DVDs are dying. Blue Ray may prolong its life but not for long.
There will be a point where none of these individual data storage devices are necessary. Digital file transfers will replace DVD's, Memory cards, and the like. It may be a frustrating transition to keep up with but the end result is a much easier, less cluttered, and more convient system.

 

[mscher]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

C'mon now, at age 58, you should still be "hip".

Probably back in the 50's, there probably was some grumpy OB, complaining about the newfangled "television", ruining reading by the fireside.

New VCR's or not, eventually you will have to "move it or lose it" anywat, if you want to keep your valuable video footage. Magnetic tape degrades over time and can be easily damaged by other sources.

Since you are not doing anything this winter, why not take a few weekends and convert the tapes to DVD?

You will get to enjoy footage you may not have seen in years, plus, it will be preserved for later years, to be enjoyed by yourself and others.

Enough with the technophobic, grumpy old man thing!

My dad was a Radio repairman, then TV showed up, and fixed those in the 50's on..closed the shop and retired in the 70's. So ya know where I'm coming from here. Been the block, got the T-Shirt.
Anyway,VHS players/recorders are not made anymore. Anyone know WHY?.
Yeah, there are the DVD/VCR Combo's, but they have ZIP of straight in, cable plugs...ones with Dig tuners or not..like the Coax from my cable...no boxes ..expanded basic, 55 channels of junk..(ab rockers, Billy Mays..ugghh)
New players (combo) have ZERO "old style screw in/push in inputs".
I just want to record the NHRA races ESPN2, rest..whatever.
Anyway, I have 100'eds of tapes, month long motorcycle cross country rides made, air shows (Oshkosh), etc.
This is silly, and has zip to do with the 2009/Feb TV to Dig.
I'm down to my last 2 VCR's, retired and living cheap. (required to stay that way)..
All sold now are Refurbed junk on Overstock, or junk from ebay...same crap.
Guess the best I can say, is the endless spam/virus junk/daily updates sucking puter time.. on the puter, the endless zero junk of 55 channels. the cost to upgrade to "Dig"..(4 tv's in diff rooms..plus 2 in the shop..lease the box'es and remote..$100 a month..?
Sorry here, but ready to give up, and go float the boats..M/C rides in the mountains...probably miss zip.
The new "Ipod, internet phone, with camera, the DVD players in cars, soon next its internet access at 70 mph, idiots text messaging tail gating in the rain.
Not me.. and not fun anymore.
Think I need to get some new digs, farther out in the mountains..away from the "masses"..and just "ignore reality".
Seems I get pissed off everyday, internet, simple freaking TV, et al.
Progress, my collective rear..just sane simple old school that always worked, made SOOO "difficult"
Nuff the rant..whip up something on the grill, go chase a deer with the mutt..enjoy the silence here..very rural, but electrically connected..
Only 58, retired 14 years..sick of the "new"..not working my end..(getting "grumpy"?..probably..)
Thoughts welcome...
PS..thinking Tivo, but a grand a year.(cable/Tivo).. to watch the tube my time?..thats boat gas bucks better spent..maybe time to "drop out totally..saw the beginning of TV..might just see the end)

 

[Philthyphil]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

Got a buddy I sled with.....real audiophyle.....guess what....vinyl is back....new turntables, you can not beat the sound from a record......now for your tv.... Go to your local craigs list and buy 10 VCR's for 10 bucks each, then go buy 100 VCR tapes for 20 bucks at Wally mart.....that should last you for 20 more years. then figure it out. In the mean time go ride your bike in the vintage class. Or if your like me with 7 bikes you can ride the vintage class on one of your old bikes, or use a modern bike and ride the plus 60 class.....with us old farts......cheers

 

[Splat]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

Bet you were really pizzed when they stopped selling new Edison Gold Molded wax cylinders....

I didn't think anybody else in the world knew what those were. My dad is a antique phonograph colector, he's got hundreds of the wax cylinders, as well as a growing collection of the Diamond Records, these are the very early records that they used a reproducer to still create the sound, they are super thick to help cope with the weight.


Bill

 

[Scaaty]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

Got a buddy I sled with.....real audiophyle.....guess what....vinyl is back....new turntables, you can not beat the sound from a record......now for your tv.... Go to your local craigs list and buy 10 VCR's for 10 bucks each, then go buy 100 VCR tapes for 20 bucks at Wally mart.....that should last you for 20 more years. then figure it out. In the mean time go ride your bike in the vintage class. Or if your like me with 7 bikes you can ride the vintage class on one of your old bikes, or use a modern bike and ride the plus 60 class.....with us old farts......cheers

(Craigslist used junk VCR's....and have 2 HD'ds ready for Antique plates..and a smoking 150hp rear wheel dyno CBR1000 rocket)..read on..


Guy down the street has over 1800 old "vinyls', and a super sound system..him and the wife Pro dancers .. and I have a "needle" that plays my collection..(around 200) of the old 50's/60's/70's ..REAL ROCK BANDS..not the blowhards with shorts on there ankles..grabbing there crotch..sideways hat nowadays.
YOU know where I'm coming from here dude. Thanks.
Rest of ya that want me to put major bucks into copying "Billy Mays" pushing INS now off the junk tube...well, guess ya missed what life was all about a short time ago..and what I am talking about.
I got hundreds of cassettes too..OLD "Blues"..like from the 30's on. The "Beginning of "Rock and Roll"..should I toss out my old "Elmore James" tapes, my 'Robert Johnson" from decades ago tapes?. Some scratchy old junk to some, but it was the beginning of "Rock and Roll.
Anyone under 50 (maybe) know what I talk about? Cassette players last for ever..as the tapes.
Seems my point here is lost on those that spend 10 hours a day working, little time, (I'm retired 14 years, and still a punk..4 more to the SS check at 62).
If those younger can see through the "fog", of the new, and PLANNED obsolescence of anything of the BILLIONS of hours HISTORY on those old VCR tapes..(by the way..Goodwill here has a LINE to check out old Vinyl/8 Tracks/cassettes here, that came before you. Still popular as all get up.)
I just grabbed Stevie Ray Vaughn, and brother Jimmy.."Family Style"..one of his first..scratch less..(and I was at Alpine Valley, when SRV's "copter" crashed into the ski mountain in the fog ..sad day..dude ROCKED!)
I will leave at it this, and those with a touch of reality will see, that the thing I am saying is you are burning books in a library more or less..history shoved in the garbage.!
Do I care? Hell no. But those with the ""Tunnel Vision"..and the next thing is the latest Blutooth crap..well, you are burying those from the past, with many "mems"..on tape/vinyl/cassette..that got us where we are today..burn history..its what the Gestopo Gov wants anyway..(whoops..this will get locked now..good..I"m back to logged off and the rural weeds..sorry I brought it up)

 

[rwise]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

vinyl rules! you simply cannot get the sound from digital,,,, don't have a count but I'd bet there are at east 500 in collection,,,,

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

Al Bundy bought betamax. And we all know where he ended up.

 

[mainexile]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

vinyl rules! you simply cannot get the sound from digital,,,, don't have a count but I'd bet there are at east 500 in collection,,,,

Yesterday, I was cleaning out my garage where I have my 70's era stereo set up. I turned on the McIntosh Class A amplifier and the Sansui preamp, removed the cover from the AR turntable (strictly manual, belt drive), took an album out of its dust cover and cued it up. Then I cranked the volume through the OHM C+ speakers and rocked out to Deep Purple's "Machine Head". "Highway Star" will absolutely get your blood pumping.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

And you can't buy just a good, plain AM radio anymore without that FM stuff combined with it.

 

[tomatolord]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

You young whipper snappers with your color tv's and automatic transmissions.

Simple...no demand ...no supply

They predicted for a long time that tape only machines were going to die, becuase given a choice people would buy dvd's.

That a certain devices like tv's with built in tape drives would continue because of niche markets.

8 years ago i had no dvd's and all tape
today i have all dvd's and no tape.

Like jb i transferred it all over and now it is digital on a disk drive, not stored on any 1 medium, like a dvd, cd, tape...

tomatolord

 

[mthieme]

Re: WHY are VHS Recorders/Players..OUTLAWED??

I miss Laserdiscs and my tube radio too.