A moment of silence...

[bicker]

Here Lies the VCR
Born in 1972 in England, the VCR had a decent life, all right. But it's now time to make way for digital video recording for all. If you know someone who is still stuck in the video stone age, here are a few fun facts to help get him/her back on the (digital) record:

• Word is that many consumer electronics manufacturers are starting to halt production and sales of the VCR altogether!
• Turns out 2006 will be the last year for VHS releases.
• In 2001, VHS tapes accounted for 90 percent of all video rentals nationally. By 2003, VHS rentals had fallen to just below 50 percent, with DVD rentals grabbing almost 60 percent of the market share.

 

[Kitty 34]

Gosh and I just figured out how to use the VCR!!!

 

[escape]

Such a sad story. I can still remember my first VCR, old Bertha as I called her. (Don't ask). She cost me $600. I thought she was the greatest thing...2 heads, a remote control that turned her on and off. Wow, I was in heaven. VHS tapes at that time cost $15 .... for one single tape. When they came down to around $8 I was so happy.

My latest VCR cost me under $200 and did much more than Bertha could ever do but it didn't bring me the same 'high' Bertha did.

RIP dear Bertha and other VCRs. You done good!

 

[pixiemomma]

I haven't had a VCR since 1999. My children look at VCRs like they are the cutting edge of technology since we have only had DVD players during their lives.

 

[Spinning]

ugh! I better go and buy some blank tapes! I record my soap every day! What will I do it my VCR dies!!?!?!

 

[geniegirl]

ugh! I better go and buy some blank tapes! I record my soap every day! What will I do it my VCR dies!!?!?!

You need a DVR - like TIVO it is the best thing since sliced bread!!!

 

[Kitty 34]

You need a DVR - like TIVO it is the best thing since sliced bread!!!

Do you have to pay a monthly payment, tho for TIVO? Sounds like that could get expensive.

 

[bicker]

But majorly worth it.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I have a entire season of Lost on videotape

 

[ChrisnSteph]

We still have our VCR, and I still use it for many of the kids Disney videos. Frankly, DVD is great, but my kids have cost me too much money by ruining their DVD's. I have a Toy Story tape that's been kicked, tossed, stepped on, and has seen better days, but I can pop that bad boy in and it still works as good as the day I bought it! One scratch and their DVD's are ruined for good.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

ugh! I better go and buy some blank tapes! I record my soap every day! What will I do it my VCR dies!!?!?!

Ebay yourself a new one! Or better yet, stock up now so that you'll have an endless supply!

 

[cardaway]

Don't freak out. You can still buy new laser disc players and laser discs.

But you do have to wonder if some of the better VHS players and movies will go up in price like their laser disc counterparts did. Maybe not the VHS movies, but I can see the higher end VHS players going up in price once they become rare.

 

[cardaway]

One scratch and their DVD's are ruined for good.

If you didn't throw them away search for tips on fixing them. Many times it can be done.

 

[eclectics]

Some of my friends bought a new VCR and put it on a basement shelf unopened. That way when they need a new one and none are in the stores anymore, they have one. I also have a ton of stuff on VHS that I don't love enough to replace on DVD (not to mention the cost). My first VCR was a Beta. Thank God I didn't spend a fortune on Beta tapes! I went through this with the record album-cassette-cd and I'll be damned if I'm going to replace all my VHS tapes. Now they are touting this new mini dvd. What if they replace all the dvd's with the new mini ones and stop making dvd players? I'm all for technology, but give me a break!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

If you didn't throw them away search for tips on fixing them. Many times it can be done.

Believe me, I've tried. They're goners. I've only been successful fixing one DVD, and it would have been cheaper to go out and buy a new one than what I paid for the kit to fix it!

 

[goofygirl]

I still have 3 VCRs in use in my house! And I REFUSE to upgrade to DVD until I really HAVE to!!

 

[ead79]

I saw that the folks at TiVo had a funeral for the VCR--too funny!

While I do still have one VCR (to save things to tape from off my TiVo or watch some of my old VCR tapes occasionally), I just don't know what I'd do without my TiVo. It really is the best thing since indoor plumbing and air conditioning!

 

[bicker]

It didn't take long for LPs to be replaced by CDs... it makes sense that the follow-up technology to VHS will take even less time.

 

[shortbun]

It didn't take long for LPs to be replaced by CDs... it makes sense that the follow-up technology to VHS will take even less time.

Haven't you heard? Turntables are back! They are retro and expensive!!! We still have and use ours. We have a VCR in the box, unopened and one hooked up to our our upstairs TV. We also have and use one for our car although it's now being used as a TV in the basementand defers to the more popular car DVD player. Yes, we have CD and DVD players as well. We are now on to MP3 players, matter of fact. Children's entertainment stays much safer on VHS. Those discs get damaged so quickly. I have all the Disney early releases on VHS.

 

[eclectics]

Haven't you heard? Turntables are back! They are retro and expensive!!! We still have and use ours. We have a VCR in the box, unopened and one hooked up to our our upstairs TV. We also have and use one for our car although it's now being used as a TV in the basementand defers to the more popular car DVD player. Yes, we have CD and DVD players as well. We are now on to MP3 players, matter of fact. Children's entertainment stays much safer on VHS. Those discs get damaged so quickly. I have all the Disney early releases on VHS.

I have a beautiful Blaupunkt Hi Fi Console from 1959 that I still use. I have some LP's that were never made in to cassettes or cd's. It's my only way to listen to them! Vinyl has it's own unique sound. I enjoy listening to records.