QuAcKeR

I'm looking for web pages that discuss and report how people use their VCRs to record and playback television shows (not movie rentals).

Also, do YOU use your VCR for this purpose, or are you a DVD purist?



(no I'm not bored outta my mind asking boring survey questions-- this is for school).

--

As for MY answer: I do NOT use a VCR anymore... mine broke and I don't really want to buy one... I'd rather have a digital recorder, so for now I just download the shows I miss.

BigDave

I have a VCR, but I rarely use it now. I own a Tivo, so I use that to record shows. About the only thing I use my VCR for is to watch home movies.

Once you DVD, you can never go back.

Iron Chef

Purist.

My VCR is in the closet.

OldDude

Use it to record things that are not convenient to watch at the time they are on, whether it is timeshifting, two good things on at once, or the fact that sometimes I have a life and have something better to do.

jonw9

I have only used my VCR to transfer tapes from the mini camcorder to regular VHS. I don't really ever tape TV.

The main reason I keep it plugged in is for the clock.

jpolce

i still use my vcr to watch movies and record programs that are on when i wont be home.

Mitsurugi

Really I dont care about archiving tv shows, if I did Id probably record via svhs. Also I plan on getting a tivo so I wont need to own a vcr to record shows. But I would by my favorite tv shows on DVD though. X-fjiles, Simpsons, etc.

QuAcKeR, remember your posting this a dvd forum so results may be slightly biased.

Illinois Enema Bandit

What is this VCR thingy you speak of?

- the Illinois Purist Bandit

joltaddict

Homemade porn thats about it. The GF records her soaps though.

namja

I recently gave my VCR away. Was thinking of a TiVo, but don't got one yet.

icondude

I use my VCR to tape shows, and if I like the show I record it into my computer and make a VCD.

Cheddarmuff

I have been using my VCR to record Friends/Survivor but that's because I cancelled my TiVo service for my cable and am awaiting my PVR from DISH....

DaveNinja

I used the VCR to only archieve things from my Dishplayer PVR. Usually it's things like MST3K episodes that i wont get time to watch before the 35 hours of space on the Dishplayer is used up. Also things like Up the Academy which i cant find on laserdisc and its not out on DVD.

daveninja.com

renaldow

I use the VCR to record shows I want to watch but can't. I do not archive them or anything. I just have a blank tape in it, and once a show gets watched I rewind and record over it again.

HN

Monday--Record Angel and Road Rules while watching Raw

Tuesday--Watch Buffy, record It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (tonight only)

Wednesday--no conflicting shows!

Thursday--Watch Smackdown, record Survivor on VCR, Record Friends and Will & Grace on computer.

Friday--watch T.V.?

Saturday--see Friday

Sunday--Record Alias, Watch Band of Brothers

--HN

ellone

I use my VCR to record shows that aren't on at convenient times.

RandyC

I never rented movies. I have 3 VCRs. They get a lot less use now that I have a Tivo.

Main use of the VCR was to timeshift television. I hardly ever watched TV in real time, because I could skip commercials and because I could watch at my convenience. However, I never had as much time as I wished and I started taping back around 1981. I still have hundreds of tapes full of crap that I will probably never watch now.

I also used the VCR to archive movies from Laserdisc. It was the only way to share widescreen movies 10 years ago, if your friends did not have a laserdisc player. It also meant I could make backup copies of rare laserdiscs like Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii, or whatever...

I used the VCR sometimes for compiling from a camcorder, though in the last year that has shifted to a computer.

I have one VCR in my office that mainly functions as a tuner because the TV in the office does not have a remote.

I use the VCR to transfer from the TiVo to share with people.

Lastly and rarely, I use it for the few movies I can't get on DVD or laserdisc. I recently watched Fortress (Rachel Ward) for example. Can't find it except on VHS.

Wait..should this be in Home Theater? Why yes... it should. If I move it, you won't start an "Idiot Moderators" thread, will you?

grrrah

I have a vcr in my tv stand, but its not plugged in(not enough room in my surge protector).... Right now its only purpose is to prop up my satellite receiver another 3 inches so that its easier to use my remote control (the infared beam sometimes gets cut off by the corner of my bed .

QuAcKeR

randyc you're right... move the thread if you like. It was early and I was bleary eyed whilst attempting to post.

Thanks for all the replies everybody!!

As for those of you who dump your vhs to your computers, which capture cards / units do you recommend?

looking for something to capture directly to mpeg1 for vcd creation

like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?sku=D450-1008

Dr. Dean

My VCR is in my bedroom where my wife is forced to watch her daily soaps on a 19 inch TV with antenna reception on a tape that has been recorded over and over more than 600 times...I don't like to have the VCR close to my home theater where it can spread its analog cooties.

Scott

The last time I touched my VCR was to change the time. Before that.... uhhh...... maybe my granddaughter watched one of her movies a year ago?

DVDs and TiVo! What a combination!

My advice to those of you thinking about getting a TiVo - don't wait. Once you see how it changes your viewing habits, you'll wonder why you waited this long.

And, of course, we all know the benefits of DVD.

edclem

i'm basically a DVD purist. The only time I ever stray is when I get the urge to watch one of the Star Wars trilogy.

I can't remember the last time I taped anything.

BDB

I only ever use it if someone I know wants me to record something on a channel they don't have like HBO or Speedvision.

I use my Tivo and dump to VCR for them


Tivo is un freaking real, I love it, it is my favorite thing.

Rand

I record and archive television series with an SVHS vcr.

DeadGnat

I have 3 vcrs and a replaytv unit. The replay is used for most daily recording of tv shows-stuff I want to watch, but not keep.

2 of the vcrs are from sony professional-and I have the edit controller to go with it. I use these to record stuff I want to keep (sporting events), edit stuff for archival purposes and to watch the occasional movie I can't get on dvd (star wars trilogy).

The other vcr's primary purpose is as a clock since it's the only one with a lit display-the sonys are only backlit when on, so you can't tell the time off of them.