For all of those who don't have a DVD player or have never seen a DVD movie

[UncleKyle]

In light of the question of who doesn't own DVD players. I thought some people would find this article interesting. I couldn't believe how fast DVDs have grown compared to VCRs! Here are some interesting pieces from the article in USA Today.

DVDs conquer the movie world

Goodbye, VHS

DVD is now sounding the death knell for VHS. Circuit City in June became the first major retailer to announce the phase-out of pre-recorded videotapes in stores.

Blockbuster Video is in the process of reducing one-fourth of its VHS library to devote more space to DVD.

The public's affection for the 5-inch disc has flourished more quickly than it did with CD or color TV. Those technologies took eight and 17 years, respectively, to sell 30 million, a mark the DVD surpassed in only four.

Further evidence of the boom:

In nearly one-third of U.S. homes, a DVD player is the video component of choice, having pushed aside the VCR. By the end of this year, about 37 million DVD players will have been sold in the USA, Adams Media estimates. An additional 55 million PCs and video game systems also play DVDs.

Because DVD movies look twice as good as those on videocassette and have surround soundtracks, many living rooms are sporting new big-screen digital TVs and home theater sound systems.

It's funny though...I'm the biggest movie buff you could meet. To date I own somewhere around 80 DVDs. My parents on the other hand have never set foot in a Blockbuster and don't even use their VCR.


forgot to add the link! lol I edited it though :

 

[Keli]

It will be hard for people like me to completely give up vcrs though because how would we view all of those home videos we've taken over the years? I kinda figure everyone will keep their vcrs and get dvd players too.

 

[DocRafiki]

Yeah I noticed there are no old videos in Blockbuster any more.

I'll be holding onto my VCR for sure... It will be a while until I get those home videos transferred, plus I tape TV shows and have all these Disney videos! But I'm buying DVDs now instead of videos. Buying videos now just is a bad investment, it seems.

 

[EROS]

Keli, we too have a number of tapes from our camcorder. I would guess that people will eventually have them recorded on to DVDs in the same fashion that many transferred their old 8mm home movies to VHS tape.

I'll be happy to pick up a DVD player/recorder when the price comes down. Right now they're retailing at around $1,000 .....

 

[UncleKyle]

That might be an interesting business to get in the next few years. Converting tape to DVD

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Yup, VHS tapes are about to go the way of audio cassettes.

We got a DVD player in '98 (actually it was a DIVX...bad move Dad! ) & haven't looked back since. I'll still use blank VHS tapes when I'll miss a show, but I heard that PS2s will soon have an adapter to record shows (like Tivo) & after that point, I think our VCR will be collecting dust.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I read that earlier this week, Kyle, interesting story. We have not purchased a video tape in 3 years, and do little off-TV recording. We do have a good deal of video from when the kids were little, school, trips, etc, and with the limited life span of tapes (10-30 years, per Kodak) and the quickly dropping prices of recordable DVD players ($550-750), I can see a recordable DVD in our future not too far off. And also just read of the pending demise of TiVo, a product that never quite took off, albeit a unique one it was.

 

[goofygirl]

I dont have a DVD player, except for the one built into my computer's CDROM. I never use it.

I have watched DVDs at a friend's house, and I really dont see what the big deal is. I am not a big movie buyer, so I guess thats why I dont get much out of it.


A good idea for VHS tape buyers would be for them to purchase VHS films now while they still can. They are also dropping in price because of the DVDs. Better buy them NOW before they disappear!

 

[shep]

I've heard that about VCR's too...
DW doesn't want to give hers up though...she wants to get something that plays DVD's & VHS tapes...
I am trying to secretly preorder the new disney videos on DVD, even though we don't have one hooked to the tv yet...

 

[Amy]

We finally took the plunge and bought a DVD player last weekend. We also ended up buying a new tv, too!!! I simply asked DH if we could have both the VCR and DVD connected to the tv at the same time, along with the satellite; he checked our "old" tv (it was only about 5 years old) and it didn't have enough connections in the back. So we got a new tv, too! Fortunately, we can program 2 of the remotes to control everything, so it's not too bad. Santa came early this year!