Will VCR become a thing of the past?

[sun]

I have some tapes, from Star Trek New Generation, that I was told would wear out in 10 years..guess what, perfect condition....some toons that I recorded about the same time, are still very good...do you think they will just get rid of VCR machines, and most stores have eleminated the tapes anyway..What do you think, or how do you feel about it? thanks for input-:) Stuart

[Discloner]

Yes.

I honestly can't remember the last time I bought a VHS, and when our VCR broke earlier this year, my family decided to replace it with a DVD player instead. The only thing I used my VCR for anymore is recording TV shows.

[Artemis]

VCRs are only good for recording shows for cheap now, but once DVD-Recording becomes commonplace, VCRs will fade out of existence. Just like the 8-track.

[Czar Gato]

It's been a while since I've bought a VHS tape, and I probably won't get any more. Whatever tapes I have that I think are worth saving I'll probaby have converted to DVD.

[Kury Wagner]

VCRs are only good for recording shows for cheap now.You speak the truth. (Dude! I sound wise!)


VCRs will fade out of existence. Just like the 8-track.The 8 what? Just a little humor. . .:p But, I'm pretty sure you're right. I stopped buying VHS tapes when I got a DVD player (years ago) and I only buy blanks so I can tape things. . . Like the record (kinda), the 8-track, and the cassette, it will slowly die out. Survival of the fittest! Oh wait, that doesn't really apply here. . . darn it! I went from wise to Homer in just a couple of minutes. . . :crying:

[TimTwoFace]

VCRs are only good for recording shows for cheap now, but once DVD-Recording becomes commonplace, VCRs will fade out of existence. Just like the 8-track.
My sentiments exactly. The same thing happened with audio - though CDs were huge from their onset, the cassette tapes didn't become totally outdated until it was easy for the average joe to record something on a CD.

VHS is already the inferior method of video, but until DVDs are recorded easily, the VHS cassettes won't fade away. Not quite yet - I'd say give it maybe 10 years.

-Tim

[Tommy Lawson]

Yes, I feel VCRs are going the way of the dinosaurs. In a couple of years, those $600 DVD Recorders with hard drives will drop to around $200 to $300, activating as both a personal video recorder like Tivo and allowing people to edit their shows instantly. Not only that, but DVD players may soon be replaced in a couple of years. There is now talk of the replacement DVD format, either BD (Blu-ray disc) or HD-DVD. BD will be used in the Playstation 3 by Sony, and HD-DVD is being endorsed by Toshiba for their laptops. It's much like the Beta-VHS format wars of the early 1980s.

[Numbuh 4]

Yes, as soon as DVD recording becomes cheep enough for average joes (like me), then everyone will be done with VCRs. But as Tommy just said, DVDs will fade as well as soon as something even better than it is made available.

~:knd4:
Just like that, I've killed the thread.

[Beat]

VCR's are dying, but in their last days, take solace in the fact that blanks are dirt-cheap.

[Swordfish_II]

I don't think the transition between DVD and whatever high capacity medium wins out will be as drastic as VHS to DVD. The great majority of people probably don't even own a TV that's high-end enough to view regular DVDs well.

[Van Fleihight]

most likely: YES.


do u see many stores having a lot of VHS tapes anymore? not really. like somebody said, DVDs themselves might be replaced someday. Nothing lasts forever. If they change DVDs i will be so pissed :mad: :mad: :mad:

[James]

Yeah, like with audio tapes, still available as they are still used for recording. VCR recordables will last for a while. But yes, I expect entertainment VCRs to die out soon and then the blank ones to follow a few years later. A gradual change. Just look after that VCR player!

[Phantasm]

Yeah.But...I'll miss video tapes and how you don't have to be all that carefull handling those...dvd's are extremly fragile and not exactly long lasting...

[Lord Dalek]

VHS is dying. Unfortunetly there's still a great bit of life still left in it.

[AdamYJ]

Until, 1) there's a new way of recording tv shows to watch later and 2) the entire first season of X-Men is put on DVD, I will have a use for a VCR.

I swear, it took me forever to track down all those X-Men tapes.

[Kurtman]

Too bad they don't have things like Ferret & Parrot on DVD. I REALLY should have taped that when I had the chance. Still,not ALL people have computers or Xbox so they will have to resort to the VCR.

[JDuncan]

I'd say yes. Outside of college application portfolio submissions, I haven't recorded anything on VHS in well over a year. I pretty much only use my VCRs to watch cheap rentals (VHS: 2 for $1 for 7 nights vs. DVD: 1 for $2 for 2 nights) and to tune cable for my video captures. DVD recording will definitely take root in the mainstream once the set-top models come down another $100 or so and consumers realize how much cheaper blank DVDs are than the cheapest blank tapes.

[Kury Wagner]

Until, 1) there's a new way of recording tv shows to watch later and 2) the entire first season of X-Men is put on DVD, I will have a use for a VCR.

I swear, it took me forever to track down all those X-Men tapes.
Well, they have DVRs now (digital video recorders) and I'm pretty sure some of the X-Men TAS is on DVD now. . . so you have no use for a VCR! Look at that! Oh, and for future reference, Amazon.com sells X-Men TAS VHSs and DVDs.

[PRdude]

Of course VHS is dying. I probably won't bother to comment though, since all of you have pretty much spoken my thoughts on the matter.

Once I got a DVD player, I replaced all my VHS movies with their DVD counterparts. Fortunately, I didn't have a whole bunch of VHS movies anyway. Then I managed to sell my VHS copies on amazon.com and half.com. I only buy things on DVD, but I'll buy something on VHS if that's the only format I can get it on. Earlier this year, I bought copies of The Wizard and The Phantom Tollbooth.

The only thing I use a VCR for right now is recording and copying. Once DVD recorders get more affordable, I'll invest in one, and copy all my VHS material onto DVD-R(w)s. I'll still keep the VCR and put it back in its box, and that way it'll be kind of like an antique. Hell I might even have to do that with my DVD player once I get a DVD recorder.

I once did a paper on DVDs and I scored an A. If any of you might be interested in reading it, I can e-mail it to you.

[wrenchien]

i hope not. because i'm not going to be too pleased if i have to record memories onto dvds that may actually be more fragile than a vcr tape with its , ehm, tape it records stuff on.

you could stomp on a vcr tape and it wouldnt' break, yet stomp on a dvd disk and crack, it's gone forever.

just like dishes on the floor.

[Duke]

The thread title is amusing. It's insinuating that VCRs already AREN'T a thing of the past. :sweat:

DVDs aren't as fragile as most people seem to think. As long as you don't break it in half, it should be fine.

[Dirtbag]

Between DVD and Tivo I don't think VCRs will be around much longer. Unless you're dirt cheap/poor (like me) and need to hang onto the VCR because you can't afford Tivo.

[PRdude]

i hope not. because i'm not going to be too pleased if i have to record memories onto dvds that may actually be more fragile than a vcr tape with its , ehm, tape it records stuff on.

you could stomp on a vcr tape and it wouldnt' break, yet stomp on a dvd disk and crack, it's gone forever.

just like dishes on the floor.Seriously, how old are you poeple? I'm thinking the vast majority of people here are old enough to know how to handle things, even if they might be fragile.

And who the hell would stomp on a tape or DVD?


Between DVD and Tivo I don't think VCRs will be around much longer. Unless you're dirt cheap/poor (like me) and need to hang onto the VCR because you can't afford Tivo.
Me, I have digital cable. So I just set the box to change the channel to a show I want recorded, and set the VCR to record the show at whatever time it comes on. I doubt I could afford TiVo, so that's why I'd like a DVD recorder with a hard drive.

[Caffeine King]

Probably not because alot of people still have VCRs (myself included) but we also have a DVD/VHS player (in one.) :)

[Enrique]

ya, all this nonsense about dvds being more fragile than vhs is... well, nonsense. even if you stomp on a dvd it won't break, unless you're standing the dvd on it's edge. plus, all it takes is some heat or a magnet to ruin your precious VHS tapes. so there.

aside from all the things that have been repeated over and over here, there's the whole issue of the equipment manufacturers themselves phasing out VCRs. influenced in part by anti-piracy issues and in part by the attempt by the government to force all TV to go digital, soon VCRs as we have now won't even work with future TV sets, and current TV sets won't work with future broadcast signals.

digital and HD broadcasting comes in thru cable into HDTV's component ports, not thru the antenna nor the RCA ports VCRs use, so any future recording device that will handle digital or HD recording will use component, not RCA.

[Martianinvader]

Yes, I feel VCRs are going the way of the dinosaurs. In a couple of years, those $600 DVD Recorders with hard drives will drop to around $200 to $300, activating as both a personal video recorder like Tivo and allowing people to edit their shows instantly.
I've already seen a DVD player that has a DVD recorder function for $300.

[Mackaybear]

The thing is yes DVD players prices are coming down but prices for blank DVD recording media has only barely started to come down. Once blank DVDs come down in price then I think VHS's days are numbered. When it becomes feasable to record off air directly on DVDs then you'll see the big move to DVD. Especially from Digital TV/HDTV sources since the video quality would be way better from DVD recordings.


A lot of us have large collections of VHS tapes with old movies or off air taping of things. So VHS players/recorders will be still be around for awhile yet.

Tivo/DVR is still too expensive for alot of people. But that too will probably change. Both major satellite services have recievers with built in DVRs. So that will help them get more popular. Cable providers could do the same with their digital cable boxes but so far haven't.

[AdamYJ]

Well, they have DVRs now (digital video recorders) and I'm pretty sure some of the X-Men TAS is on DVD now. . . so you have no use for a VCR! Look at that! Oh, and for future reference, Amazon.com sells X-Men TAS VHSs and DVDs.
Well, I have never actually seen a DVR before (is it one of those Tivo things?). Also, it has to be the a first season set of X-Men. It can't be, like, "The Legend of Wolverine" or some crap like that. I spent so much time collecting the tapes for that specific season. It took me years to find #11, but I finally ended up getting it on e-bay for one dollar.

[Matt-a-Tastic]

When DVD players first came out only a few movies were avalilble on DVD but now the are being more and more 'DVD exclusives' which are fading things out, soon (porabally about a year) practically all TV show DVDs will be DVD exulsive, and then soon enough movies will be DVD exulisive and only really popuar stuff will be on video tape.

This thread is really like saying 'are N64's a thing of the past'

I'd say in 2 years they will have pretty much gone and after 4 or 5: completly gone

[PRdude]

ya, all this nonsense about dvds being more fragile than vhs is... well, nonsense. even if you stomp on a dvd it won't break, unless you're standing the dvd on it's edge. plus, all it takes is some heat or a magnet to ruin your precious VHS tapes. so there.


Yeah I even had this thought. I wonder if the people complaining about the fragility of DVDs even have the same concerns about their music CDs, or PS2 games, Gamecube games, or X-Box games if they have any.

[Mr.LethalWeapon]

...i'm not going to be too pleased if i have to record memories onto dvds that may actually be more fragile than a vcr tape with its , ehm, tape it records stuff on.

you could stomp on a vcr tape and it wouldnt' break, yet stomp on a dvd disk and crack, it's gone forever.

just like dishes on the floor.

Unlike tapes, DVDs won't wear down every time you watch them. Barring carelessness, DVDs can last forever while VHS tapes will degrade even while sitting on a shelf.

[JDuncan]

The thing is yes DVD players prices are coming down but prices for blank DVD recording media has only barely started to come down. Once blank DVDs come down in price then I think VHS's days are numbered. The last time I ordered DVD-Rs I payed $36 for 100 discs, which I think is a more than reasonable price.

[Beat]

Depends on what you're saving onto them. If you're saving .avi files, you can squeeze something around 14 hours onto one. MPEG- Only 2 to 2.5.

[sun]

Unlike tapes, DVDs won't wear down every time you watch them. Barring carelessness, DVDs can last forever while VHS tapes will degrade even while sitting on a shelf.Not mine, they are in a cool, dry area, some from l986, are in perfect condition...I think that was something put out to get people to buy DVDs ,and by they way, it worked, I 've taken out DVDs from the lib, and they have had lots of defects...I do enjoy the extras on DVDs, but the sound as you know on VHS movie tapes, is as good as DVDs...But then I like old movies too...Stuart ps. ever seen "Its a Wonderful Life" director, Frank Capra, who invented the romatic comedy...? Made me cry out of happiness,,,first time in my life...Showed it in my apt, in the late 80s on 16 mm film- 4 reels...know anyone interested in a l6 mm projector ,I got one... Stuart:)

[AnimatedSnow47]

I still use my VCR, primarily for recording and rewatching what I record. My last major VHS project was the Athens 2004 Summer Games, where I got 175 hours across 36 tapes of the Olympics off of the networks of NBC. I plan to eventually transfer that to DVD when I purchase a DVD recorder of my own.

I also plan to transfer personal videos (camcorders), and all shows that do not have DVD releases. I, of course, am already planning for Torino 2006, of course. :D

What's amazing is how cheap Blank VHS tapes. You can get a pack of 10 for less than $9 at Wal-Mart. Astounding!

[Mynd Hed]

I do enjoy the extras on DVDs, but the sound as you know on VHS movie tapes, is as good as DVDs...

Sir, you are factually incorrect. VHS tapes fall victim to the same sort of background hiss as cassette tapes with age, but the real advantage to DVD audio is the capability for 5.1 surround sound, where VHS is limited to stereo sound.
Now, if you're listening to the sound on your movies through the itty bitty stereo (or even mono) speakers that are built into your TV, chances are you can't tell the difference, so DVDs' audio superiority may be immaterial in your personal case. But trust me, the difference is there; you've just got to have the equipment to hear it.

Anyway, I wouldn't count VHS out of the game quite yet. Look at how long it's taken audio cassettes to fade away-- it's been over a decade since CDs really started to come on the scene, and only now are audio cassettes really starting to get completely phased out.

As has been mentioned, before VHS can die, DVD (or its next-gen successor) needs to come up with a method of recording that's comparable in price to VHS recording, and as simple and easy-to-use. When the average joe can record live television onto a DVD with a single button press just as easily as pressing "record" on a VCR, that's when you can sound the death knell on VHS. But even once that happens, I'd predict a "lag" of at least five years (and probably more like ten) while all the late adapters get on the bandwagon with the new technology.

[Supernovametalstar]

I did some research on dvd recorders this past summer. I almost bought one, but the product reviews for the more affordable models were not very promising. Alot of complaints of visual quality being nearly the same, if not worse in longer modes, to the vcr. Naturally, I want to be able to transfer a 6 hour tape to a six hour dvd with the same quality, but unless I had an extra $600, I was out of luck. Plus, there were some that said the players themselves wore out after a couple of uses.

I guess I'm fond of VHS since I got into the game really late (1999), so it still has appeal to me. I don't really like watching DVD's even though the picture quality is better. My television has okay speakers, and I could upgrade to the fabled 5.1 surround sound, but I don't think it's necessary yet.

[Matt-a-Tastic]

I don't know why people think that standing on a DVD will make it break, i mean how can you break something thats allready flat

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

This thread just reminds me that since I now have a DVD-RW in my computer, I gotta get me a video capture dealy to put a bunch of my VHS tapes on DVDs or CD-Rs. I have some stuff that I know will never be released in any other form, so transferring them to disc is pretty important to me.

As for the 'VHS/VCRs becoming a thing of the past' thing, I agree with most everyone that has posted. I still find the format extremely useful for the time being. I will definitely love to have a DVD recorder to tape TV shows when they become affordable and/or reliable, but for now, I make very heavy use of my VCRs. :)

[Mr. Pedro]

I don't know why people think that standing on a DVD will make it break, i mean how can you break something thats allready flat
Standing on a DVD thats on set on it's edge will cause it to break. That's how.

Anywho, the VHS will still be kicking around until DVD recorders become more affordable to the average slob (myself included). I'm giving tapes about another decade before they're gone completely.

[Squall]

do u see many stores having a lot of VHS tapes anymore? not really. like somebody said, DVDs themselves might be replaced someday. Nothing lasts forever. If they change DVDs i will be so pissed :mad: :mad: :mad:
Optically read disks are here to stay as a format. One of the great things about this format (other than the already great attributes of being digital, archival in nature, and able to store mass quantities of data in a small, portable disk) is that technology allows future optical disk formats, while being backward compatible with previous optical disk formats at the same time.

For example, does everyone remember when DVDs came out? CDs had already been around for years. It turned out not to be a problem at all -- every DVD player can easily play any CD. Similarly, the replacement for DVDs (as a format) is already in the testing stages... it's called Blu-Ray Disk (BRD), and will be used for PlayStation 3 games. And, yes, BRD players will easily play both DVDs and CDs... so the backward compatibility of optical disks as a format continues. Even when you buy your first BRD player (which may be a PS3, in some people's cases), it will still play your entire DVD (and CD) collection! So no worries. :)

As others have said, the only thing keeping VCRs alive at all is the fact that it's still the only way to cheaply record stuff off TV. With the advent of TiVo-like devices and cheap DVD-recordable drives, however, the VCR will gasp its last breath.

[Tommy Lawson]

For example, does everyone remember when DVDs came out? CDs had already been around for years. It turned out not to be a problem at all -- every DVD player can easily play any CD. Similarly, the replacement for DVDs (as a format) is already in the testing stages... it's called Blu-Ray Disk (BRD), and will be used for PlayStation 3 games. And, yes, BRD players will easily play both DVDs and CDs... so the backward compatibility of optical disks as a format continues. Even when you buy your first BRD player (which may be a PS3, in some people's cases), it will still play your entire DVD (and CD) collection! So no worries. :) I already mentioned that earlier in the thread, but here's a link to more about Blu-ray:

http://www.blu-ray.com

Also, BD has not been accepted as a finalized standard for the next generation disc, since it's in competition with HD-DVD and Toshiba. HP and Dell have given their support to BD though, so it's likely DVD Writers will be replaced with BD Writers on store shelves in a few years. It'll be even worse than the DvD+RW/DVD-RW battle currently taking place.

[Bic]

Heh, my VCR's only function for the last four years is to be a spacer/clock in my entertainment center.

That reminds me, I probably shouldn't have snapped at the poor woman with a gazillion screaming kids who were taught no social manners what so ever when she picked up a kiddie VHS tape at Walmart the other day. I basically stated, "Why the hell are you buying an oudated mode of visual entertainment. Good god woman, you are depriving your spoiled children the finest form of media the entertainment industry has to offer. Do you take your kids to some doctor-has-been homeless person for a medical checkup, instead of the clinic where the doctor has current medical equipment best suited to serve you as well?" Of course that was to my friend's ears only, because her husband looked like he could lift Semis in his sleep, and I'm a tad bit smaller than a semi. :evil:

All kidding aside, a previous poster was right. DVDs have way more to offer the user than videotape.

-Superior Video
-16:9
-Widescreen
-Anthromorphic Widescreen
-Superior Audio (DTS, DD 5.1 sound) [Once you get digital audio going, you can never go back to analog/mono again, trust me.]
-Extra Features beyond a music video, such as commentaries, featurettes, trailers, MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE TRACK <- Very important
-Less storage space
-Ant colonies don't destroy the media

I will concede that DVDs can not fetch you a twinkie, but last time I recall VHS didn't either.:shrug:

As for DVD recording if a set top recorder is not in your budget, you can get a DVD-+RW for you computer easily for under a $100 (some even go for around $60 at newegg.com for example), get a capture card ($40-100) for a decent low end model, and an 80GB Hard drive (approx. $60 on up depending on brand) for around to store your recordings till you burn them. Media is cheap as another poster stated The last time I ordered DVD-Rs I payed $36 for 100 discs That's $.36 a disc!!! ...and you now have the abilitiy to record data DVDs as well, very handy if you keep a lot of music or images, or the great american novel. ;)

[stwasm]

With the advent of digital cable, it's a distinct possibility. I got digital cable this past summer and I haven't used my VCR since.

[Mynd Hed]

As for DVD recording if a set top recorder is not in your budget, you can get a DVD-+RW for you computer easily for under a $100 (some even go for around $60 at newegg.com for example), get a capture card ($40-100) for a decent low end model, and an 80GB Hard drive (approx. $60 on up depending on brand) for around to store your recordings till you burn them.

Or you could spend forty bucks on a cheap VCR that's more than good enough for recording Adult Swim or whatever's on Comedy Central's Secret Stash while you're asleep. (-:

[Cool Blue]

as soon as they start coming out with DVD players that have a built in recording feature, then VCRs will serve no purpose. They gave us a good run and me many happy days but mine which is still ok in general, I use more than my DVD player as of lately. I'm watching a bunch of movies on VHS and record movies as well, although I do have a DVR so eventually a VCR will be out dated. Just as records were and those massive floppy disc that were actually floppy.

[Bubblegum Girl]

Probably. More and more people are buying DVDs and VHS is going to be like cassettes.

[Psycho Fox]

Probably. More and more people are buying DVDs and VHS is going to be like cassettes.
That is not a fair comparison, cassettes was always crappy media, they were inferior to vinyl. Why anyone bought cassettes for anything other then recording is beyond me.

VHS on the other hand is just old, not crappy. While yes VHS will be pushed out of main stream it will be around for example I don't think schools will get rid of their VCRs till it gets too expensive to maintain them.

[Enrique]

That is not a fair comparison, cassettes was always crappy media, they were inferior to vinyl. Why anyone bought cassettes for anything other then recording is beyond me.

more than likely because there was no such thing as a portable record player. with the advent of walkman and car stereos, cassettes came into huge demand. there's no place for vinyl in a society that's constantly moving, regardless if it's better than cassettes or not.

VHS on the other hand is just old, not crappy. While yes VHS will be pushed out of main stream it will be around for example I don't think schools will get rid of their VCRs till it gets too expensive to maintain them.

not necessarily so. i used to work for a space education group that catered specifically to elementary and middle school students (as well as astronomy clubs and museums). we'd do surveys and visit conventions, and more and more asked for DVD copies from our video library. i'd say as of august '04, a solid fourth of U.S. schools have some kind of DVD-playing capability.

[Psycho Fox]

more than likely because there was no such thing as a portable record player. with the advent of walkman and car stereos, cassettes came into huge demand. there's no place for vinyl in a society that's constantly moving, regardless if it's better than cassettes or not.

That is what the record button is for. People then were so lazy, just pop in a blank cassette push record and start playing the vinyl. You then have a crappy portable cassette and a good vinyl copy.


not necessarily so. i used to work for a space education group that catered specifically to elementary and middle school students (as well as astronomy clubs and museums). we'd do surveys and visit conventions, and more and more asked for DVD copies from our video library. i'd say as of august '04, a solid fourth of U.S. schools have some kind of DVD-playing capability.
Sure DVDs will be added to the schools but since schools have stuff like video year books, to make a complete jump they would have to buy alot of new equipment. With VHS they can edit with just 2 VCRs with DVDs and (S)VCDs they need workstations as it takes alot of processing power to encode. VHS is cheap enough for schools to do their own productions.

[mikestorm]

Are VCRs a thing of the past? I shall find out as come December 25th 2004, I will officially no longer own a VCR. :D

My brother is getting me a Tivo box for X-mas, and I'm paying for the product lifetime membership.

I should note that I own about 15-20 VHS prerecorded movies tops (half of them Star Wars related) and actively use only 1 blank VHS tape which I rerecord over each week. All that being said, I'm not sacrificing a heckuvalot in dropkicking the VCR from my entertainment system. However, all that aside, I still feel a tad nervous about permanently turning my back on something that has been part of my life since the early 80s. It feels like working without a net.

Speaking for Tivo, the main appeal for me is how you schedule shows to record. They have a feature called "season pass" that can be used to record a show ("Smallville" for example) and regardless of schedule changes or even station changes, Tivo finds it, records it, and even (if you ask it to) skips over the repeats.

It also has a feature called "wish list" where you can enter an actor/director etc. (Kevin Smith for example) and it will record anything he is attached to.

Lastly, with a broadband connection, you can program your Tivo box from work on your computer if you were so inclined.

Tivo aside, there are a bunch of open source projects working toward mimicing the features of Tivo...for free (freevo if you will). They offer points towards building a box and even freely distribute the linux-based DVR OS.