I notice that the prices of VCR's have really hit rock bottom as of late, as well as the movies. Also, with some exception, new movies are being released on DVD first, usually with the VHS copy folloowing a couple of months later.

I read an article earlier this week that suggested that in another year or so, DVD burners will be affordable.

So, I guess the question is, how much longer will VCRs be around, and after that, the movies?

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Artist formerly known as Reindeer

I am thinking the VCR is already dead to Many people. I only use mine for tapes I currently own, and recording off of the TV. I have a DvD at home and one in my computer, and rent/buy only DvDs now.

DvD drives are GETTING affordable, and DvD 'writers' are even being shipping in some 2000 dollar systems. The hard part right now is the media, a blank DvD is like 10 bucks. But still, thats not that bad...

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Manu Narayan

It's the same thing that happened with CD/R/W/RW a few years ago. I mean, back then before writers became workable, there were ZIP and Jazz and all. Now, most everybody I know has dust on their Zip drives. I own maybe 3 floppy disks to my name . . . I used to have well over 1000.

I figure DVD will do the same thing.

I actually still use my Paralell zip a lot...mostly for DOS stuff...

DVD RAMs are basically affordable. 10 bucks for a DvD (4.7 gigs of data)...

and a lot of new macs and some gateways, compaqs, and hps come with DvD writeables standard...

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Manu Narayan

Using a VCR for watching rented movies is already becoming rare, but until there's a good alternative on which you can record, it'll stick around.

I have a superVHS vcr, and its recording good quality. Even when I capture directly to PC, i still record it, just to be sure.... I am not aware of any other good affordable alternative to VCR's in that aspect

Renting VCR tapes is HARDLY rare here, but DVD's are coming on pretty fast.

Ever since my family bought a DvD player 1.5 years ago we haven't rented/bought a video tape.

Tam is right about the recording capabilities. However tam, given the price fo DvD writeables, I think give it a year or two...and we will have the alternative. Even things like TIVO which digital record shows will be taking over...

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Manu Narayan

What do you say to a Vcr/dvd/gaming systme/pc w/ intenet/tivo unit the size of a vcr?

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No Joke

10 buck for a blank DVD?...


where you get those manu...they are like 20 at my work Best Buy....

and for all you thinking you can go make copies of your DVD...if i am not mistaken, there is many encryptions imbeded in them...so you can't.

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"The only thing i know is that i don't know"
-Socrates

and obviously he didn't know...when he drank hemlock. Thanks D Durden :)
http://216.105.37.221/images/gif006.gif

Originally posted by Scott:
10 buck for a blank DVD?...


where you get those manu...they are like 20 at my work Best Buy....

and for all you thinking you can go make copies of your DVD...if i am not mistaken, there is many encryptions imbeded in them...so you can't.



I believe you are mistaken. It isn't easy like copying a CD, but you rip the video and then burn it to a DVD with a menu. ANd im sure in a month or two a crack will be available.


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Manu Narayan

I also heard today that Blockbuster is phasing out VCR tapes. I would get a DVD player but am still waiting for Hollywood to make some decent movies. http://discussanything.com/Ubb/wink.gif

lol. Yup...it seems every other month the Dvd sections grows by a rack and the tape sction dwindles by a rack...

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Manu Narayan

DVDs suck, i hate them. sure, the sound and picture are slightly better, but do i really care? is it really worth the trouble of buying all new equipment? unless youre a film geek or its like a classic movie and you want the "making of" footage, they should just burn them all in one smoldering heap along with the owner of blockbuster video inc. who only allows the rated R version of showgirls.

I have one that isn't even hooked up.. hope to never use it again, except to watch my James Bond collection

Originally posted by AverageJoe
DVDs suck, i hate them. sure, the sound and picture are slightly better, but do i really care? is it really worth the trouble of buying all new equipment? unless youre a film geek or its like a classic movie and you want the "making of" footage, they should just burn them all in one smoldering heap along with the owner of blockbuster video inc. who only allows the rated R version of showgirls.



ah...showgirls..the death of a Saved By the Bell diva

Originally posted by AverageJoe
DVDs suck, i hate them. sure, the sound and picture are slightly better, but do i really care? is it really worth the trouble of buying all new equipment? unless youre a film geek or its like a classic movie and you want the "making of" footage, they should just burn them all in one smoldering heap along with the owner of blockbuster video inc. who only allows the rated R version of showgirls.

I assume you use only a cassette player?

CDs suck, i hate them. sure, the sound is slightly better, but do i really care? is it really worth the trouble of getting all new equipment? unless youre a music geek or want to pop 'em into your computer for the 'cd extra' part, they should just burn them all in one smoldering heap along with the owner of wal mart inc. who only allows the censored version system of a down.

Um, I think you guys are being a little hasty when you say VHS isn't going to be around much longer. I mean, ****, CDs have dominated the music industry for a decade now, and people still buy tape-only decks for their cars, and people still buy tapes. I mean, every time you see a cheesy compilation of '80s music on an infomercial late night on TV, they offer both a cd and tape. Do you think they just offer tapes for the kick of it? No, people still buy them. And hell, until DVDs cost 50 cents each and are as easy to record a football game or favorite show as a VHS is, they will still be around. For a while.

hey well at least you can still find cassettes if you want to. also, the benefit of CDs is you can skip right to the song you want without having to wait. sure, there were some tape decks that would fast forward to the next song, but they were few and far between, and you still had to wait.

Originally posted by ResidentRice
Um, I think you guys are being a little hasty when you say VHS isn't going to be around much longer. I mean, ****, CDs have dominated the music industry for a decade now, and people still buy tape-only decks for their cars, and people still buy tapes. I mean, every time you see a cheesy compilation of '80s music on an infomercial late night on TV, they offer both a cd and tape. Do you think they just offer tapes for the kick of it? No, people still buy them. And hell, until DVDs cost 50 cents each and are as easy to record a football game or favorite show as a VHS is, they will still be around. For a while.

Its nearing the end. All 2002 Ford vehicles come with CD players standard (some with 6 disc changers standard) and no tape players as an option.

Originally posted by AverageJoe
hey well at least you can still find cassettes if you want to. also, the benefit of CDs is you can skip right to the song you want without having to wait. sure, there were some tape decks that would fast forward to the next song, but they were few and far between, and you still had to wait.

What about chapter selection? Episodes of sitcoms on DVD versus tape? DVD Extras? The fact that the only 'added gear' ya need is a 150 dollar DVD player...

i find the ability to skip through songs much more useful than skipping through parts of a movie. with movies you sit down and watch the whole thing at once, with albums you dont always do that. i dont really give a **** if i can skip to the scene where darth vader cuts off luke's hand, its only cool in the context of watching the whole movie.

Originally posted by Contraband
What do you say to a Vcr/dvd/gaming systme/pc w/ intenet/tivo unit the size of a vcr?

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No Joke

I'd say you've got what XBox will be in about a year or two...
Though I'm not sure they'll work a VCR in. They're planning on doing the rest, though.

It takes up less space on our entertainment shelf than a VCR, too.

Originally posted by Snouter
I also heard today that Blockbuster is phasing out VCR tapes. I would get a DVD player but am still waiting for Hollywood to make some decent movies. http://discussanything.com/Ubb/wink.gif

Someone please notify the Blockbusters in my areas! I guess they didn't get the memo :D

VCRs are still upwards of $60, I just purchased one - I can't afford to replace all my collected videos with dvds... not to mention, ever hit up discovery.com and nationalgeographic.com - alot of the documentaries are only on VHS.

the blockbusters here made the change a few months ago. They have lots more DVD's and racks for them now. I was ecstatic!