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Thread ID: 62345	2005-10-04 23:32:00	The VCR just died...	Tony (4941)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
393433	2005-10-05 20:41:00	Tony, is there really a need to have such a good VHS, one with 6 heads and NICAM stereo? We have an 8 yr old VHS and record mostly BBC news, documentaries, and the weather. Unless you record lots of movies off the TV, I don't see the need for a top level machine. DVD movies are so much better than those off the telly; no need to deal with adverts, and the picture and audio clarity is so much better, plus you get director's (etc) commentaries on DVD. But if you really do want VHS with stereo, I've seen some good deals sub-$200, DSE and elsewhere.	Strommer (42)
393434	2005-10-05 23:50:00	Steve, thanks for your considered responses. It is all going to come down to how much the repair is quoted at. You are quite right in everything you say, and I just wish the vcr had waited maybe 6 months before giving up, when I think the whole exercise would have been much more straightforward. I think part of my conflict is that I hate seeing stuff just getting heaved on the tip when it is probably repairable.	Tony (4941)
393435	2005-10-06 05:13:00	I know how you feel Tony. I've been in a similar situation when one of my two Panasonic NV F-70 hifi VCR's packed up. They are getting old, and have been repaired previously. They have been useful for copying/dubbing & I value the quality hifi sound. A service dept quoted $195 to repair. A power supply problem involving replacing electrolytic caps. Seemed a hellav price for doing that. And as Steve_L mentioned it would still have the old heads. Replacing those can even more expensive. I am writing to confirm Trev's advice regarding the Sanyo VK910A/NZ VCR from the Warehouse. Some months ago, I was lucky to spot this on special for $149, usual retail $250, more lately $196 as Trev states. It is an excellent 6 head HiFi VCR in all respects. Measures up to the Panasonics I had. If it's still available Tony, it would be a good option, rather than paying about $200 to repair an older VCR.	Bazza (407)
393436	2005-10-06 07:57:00	Tony! The only replacement is a new DVD player . I just moved house and I trashed all my old VCR movies and even the fantastic rugby stuff I had video'd . You can get a reliable player from anywhere from under a hundred bucks .	Greg (193)
393437	2005-10-12 07:51:00	Just got the VCR back from the repairer. It was $130, he says the heads are in good condition and it should be good for a few more years. It is certainly working great at the moment. So it looks like the great upgrade debate has been postponed for a while at least. With a bit of luck next time it raises it's ugly head we will be getting HDD recorders for $99 with several terabytes of storage, blu-ray DVDs and 50" flat-panel TVs for $500. (or maybe not). Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. :thumbs:	Tony (4941)
393438	2005-10-12 08:42:00	Come on Tony, splurge and get a cheap DVD player . Unless I missed something in this thread, you are still back in last century with only a VHS . . . . I had a friend who held out for two years, saying he would not get a DVD player until he could get a DVD player/recorder combo, cheap . I told him he was nuts (in a nice way) but he still held out for two years . Then lo and behold a year ago he got one, and today he came over (for some USB stick data swapping) and told me he has finally cleaned out nearly all of his VHS tapes . But maybe you don't watch movies . . . . only Coro St tapes?!?	Strommer (42)
393439	2005-10-12 09:43:00	But maybe you don't watch movies....only Coro St tapes?!?Who told you??? :blush: Actually, that's not far from the truth. I can't remember the last time we hired a video, and that's why I don't feel any desperate urge to get a DVD player/recorder. If the VCR had completely died or been more expensive to repair it would have been a different story, but as it is I think I have better uses for the money. PS. Who else offered a silent prayer that Dev, Sunita and Maya would all go to that great theatre in the sky for chronic over-actors? :)	Tony (4941)
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