Who here still uses VHS?

[Rover_Wow]

Or for that matter, good ol' cassette tapes. (Warning... long!)

These days, both technologies are being taken over by the DVD and CD, incidentally, both from the same technology. But IMO it's still cheaper and/or easier to record using the "old" technologies (esp. when getting high quality is not an issue, and esp. if you've already got the equipment). Besides, aren't CDs actually bigger than audio cassettes? And VHS tapes can hold the same, if not more, than DVDs, can't they?

And yet it's almost as if electronics companies want to force the new tech on us. I go to the electronics department, and all the portable stereos (boom-boxes) I see come with CD players, and only a few have tape decks. Also, I see tons of DVD-VCD players, a few DVD recorders (they're still very expensive), and no VCRs. I'm probably not looking hard enough (I still have a tape-only radio that's quite smaller than a portable stereo), but it looks as if the electronics companies want to screw over the old tech. Profits, I guess? (And this is in a country without Personal Video Recorders to boot.)

Back to the question, I still use VHS (and our house has two radios, each with one tape deck and no CD player, plus a couple of stereos), but recently we had to get a DVD player since our local rental shop stopped carrying movies in VHS. One of my sis' last VHS rentals was "Legally Blonde" (she would later watch the sequel on VCD), and on our rental, there was one scene marred by streaky white lines all over the place. I know now that this is resulting from crumpled tape, and my VCR has a tendency to crumple tape during long stretches of picture seeking (i.e., fast forwarding/rewinding while playing). BTW, another benefit of VHS: on VCDs, the film takes up two discs since each disc only holds an hour. Anyone remember having to flip a Laserdisc? Yeah, kinda like that, except you replace the disc. (For those of you with both a Laserdisc player and a DVD recorder, check this (http://hometheater.about.com/od/laserdiscced/a/lasertodvd.htm) out.)

Okay, your turn.

[KCJ506]

I still use VHS to record TV shows.

[Martianinvader]

I'm in the transition. More things I record to preserve are on DVD now, and I've made over 300 VHS-to-DVD transfers in the year since I got the recorder. Yes, that many.

Nowadays I only use the VHS slot to record something if it's something I don't care to save.

It's hard getting used to saying "record" instead of "tape"...."tape" rolls off the tongue easier.

[Kevin the Geek]

I prefer buying my movies on DVD these days. I still like to record TV shows on VHS, though.

[Bird Boy]

I stopped using VHS four or five years ago. Hell, we only have two VCR's left in this house (the other three or four all started eating tapes) and we never use them.

Besides, aren't CDs actually bigger than audio cassettes? And VHS tapes can hold the same, if not more, than DVDs, can't they?

Like a VHS, it depends on what quality you're putting on the DVD. If you use the lowest setting and a dual layer DVD, I'm pretty sure you can easily surpass what you can put on a VHS.

And yet it's almost as if electronics companies want to force the new tech on us. I go to the electronics department, and all the portable stereos (boom-boxes) I see come with CD players, and only a few have tape decks.

Well, CDs started replacing tapes decades ago. I'm surprised that tapes are still around as they offer no benefits over a CD.

BTW, another benefit of VHS: on VCDs, the film takes up two discs since each disc only holds an hour. Anyone remember having to flip a Laserdisc? Yeah, kinda like that, except you replace the disc. (For those of you with both a Laserdisc player and a DVD recorder, check this (http://hometheater.about.com/od/laserdiscced/a/lasertodvd.htm) out.)

Well yeah. VCD's don't hold much at all. VCDs were never that big outside of overseas countries (the few I own I had to import...I've never encountered a store in the US that sells them). You can't really compare VHS to VCD.

-BB

[Matt Hazuda]

Still use the VCR to record a few things my parents watch.

I'm tempted to get a DVR, but I just don't watch that much on TV, and whatever I miss, I can just download.

[Stewie]

I use the VCR to record TV. (Watching TV as it happens is for suckers.)

Someday, when I have a job that pays money, I'll get a DVR and other newfangled things.
But I still don't see such products as all that much more convenient. Just nicer.

[Retro Gigi]

I still have a few movies on VHS like TMNT: The Movie, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.. just to name some.. though I have Roger Rabbit on DVD, too.

I barely watch these movies so the only thing I use my VCR for is recording stuff off the TV.. but I barely do that, too.

[Zubby]

I use VHS very little, although I still have a ton of them. DVD is easier, most of the time has better picture and sound, the extras are a nice feature, and they are easier to store.

I'm keeping my vhs tapes that aren't available on dvd, but am trying to get rid of vhs that I've bought on dvd or are available on dvd.

I've tried listing on Ebay, and no one seems to want them.
So, here's an offer: If any of you are interested, I'll give you some old tapes. All I ask is that you pay for postage.
I've got about 15 or so tapes now I want to get rid of, and may have more soon. If interested, PM me and I'll send you a list.

[Michael24]

Nowadays, just about every movie we buy is on DVD. The only time we buy a VHS (and then it's usually purchased online) is for movies that aren't on DVD yet. We still use VHS to record stuff off of TV, and though our VHS collection has been greatly thinned out since buying DVDs, we still have probably close to around 40 movies, most of those either titles not available on DVD or ones we've held onto just because we haven't gotten around to getting them on DVD yet.

It's funny you mention cassette tapes, too. With my recent decision to start collection vinyl records, I've done the same with cassette tapes, though to a lesser extent. I make my own compilations on CD now, but I still occasionally buy cassettes for certain bands/artists, just to collect them. I just picked up a walkman at Target a few days ago, too, so that I'd have something to listen to them on to make sure they're in good condition.

[Fifi Fanatic]

I still have both a VCR and DVD player hooked up to my main TV. I've gotten a few movies that I already had on VHS for DVD, such as Star Wars. But, y'know, that's Star Wars. :cool: But, I've still got about 20 years worth of videos that I still intend to watch; and I'm too cheap to run out for some new copy on another format.

[Juu-kuchi]

Nope, don't use VHS anymore. If there's an offcolor chance I have to use a VHS to watch something then maybe... but now it's not anymore.

[AnimatedSnow47]

With a DVD recorder, the only reason I still use VHS is to transfer to DVD. My main VHS-to-DVD project that I'm working on currently are my 36 tapes of the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics. I also have Saturady Morning VHSs (where I taped a whole bunch of toons every Saturday morning) and a few various other things to transfer.

[Mynd Hed]

I still use VHS every once in a while. I'd probably have a DVR by now (or, more likely, have upgraded my computer to include DVR functionality) except that I don't have cable, which kind of defeats the purpose.

[Colin]

I only use VHS for stuff I'm recording off of TV, and even then I don't worry too much about the quality or how many times I'm gonna record on the tape cause I know that eventually the program is gonna be released on DVD...

[William C. Maune]

I still use my VCR every week. I can get all of Toonami and Adult Swim Saturday on one 8 hour tape and then watch it through the week. The quality isn't as good as watching it on television or DVR'd, but it's adequate enough. And, it is a lot cheaper for me than a DVR since I can just reuse the same tape every week. I'll get a DVR eventually, but this is good enough for now, especially for the cost.

[kimpossible1fan]

I still tape on VHS. I buy movies in the DVD format though.

[PRdude]

I still use VHS to record TV shows.

Same here. I even replaced all my VHS movies with their DVD versions. However, there's one movie I still have on VHS, and as far as I know, there are currently no plans to put it out on DVD. There's a DVD listing for it on amazon.com though, but this is what it says about availability:

NOT YET RELEASED: The studio is currently not producing this title, but to be notified when it is available, enter your e-mail address at right. You'll also be voting for this release; we'll let the studio know how many customers are waiting for this title.

I'm not too sure what to make of that. Does anyone else have any idea? I mean, maybe the studio announced that they'll be putting it out on DVD sometime in the future, but nothing has really been leaked out. I don't know.

[Space Chief]

Heck, I only got a DVD player last Thanksgiving. My family is one of complete recordophiles-I have my trusty MST3K tapes, while my mother has tons of PBS documentaries, and every single episode of Xena: Warrior Princess.

[Warrior Kitana]

I still use my old VCR occasionally. When I was younger, I brought many movies on video and still use my VCR occasionally to watch them. VCRs also come in handy when I have to record off of TV. As for cassette tapes, other then the ones I've brought back when I was much younger, I don't really use them. Sometimes I may buy a blank cassette tape to record something as well. Prefer cds over them as well.

I've been buying DVDs for a few years now, since they are better in quality and easier to store. However it is a bit wierd that now most of the stores in my area barely sale videos and cassettes. The only store in my area that sales videos is Wal-Mart and but they've long stopped selling cassettes.

[CyberCartoon]

I still use VHS now because I like to record on them.

[Rocketboy]

I seriously wish more movies were released on VHS. I just feel more comfy with them for some reason.

[PRdude]

I seriously wish more movies were released on VHS. I just feel more comfy with them for some reason.

I guess it's nice to watch some VHS stuff once in a while, just for old times sake. I'm talking about factory-produced VHS material by the way. Not blank tapes to record something on TV.

[Shawn Hopkins]

I do, even though I've switched to DVR for recording shows. I have 300 or so anime tapes on VHS, and at the time I bought most of them I was on my second DVD player. It's fun to collect for old tech because you can get stuff much cheaper, and there are some obscure old things that have never been released on DVD. I know a guy that has a couple thousand laserdiscs, most bought for a few bucks each. He's got a huge library of old movies.

My main problem with VHS is that the tapes are so bulky. I moved my collection from my parents house to my apartment this weekend and I'm not sure where to put them.

[Justice League 2000]

I still use my VCR. I do not have a DVD player.;)

[Pupmon 4.0]

I have been using videos and cassettes for years and have not stopped yet. In fact, I now own fifty recording cassettes. :D

[purplehairedwonder]

I still own a fair amount of movies on VHS, though we only buy DVD now. I still use tapes to record television too as we don't have a DVR. I still use cassettes in my car because it doesn't have a CD deck, so I record songs onto mixed tapes and listen to those in the car.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

I still use it just about every day to tape TV shows. It's very handy for that. I don't buy VHS movies anymore, though, unless I find something really rare.

I sometimes wish I could stream some things into my computer, because there are some things I figure won't be put on DVD, and so I'd like something better than a VHS copy.

[Delia]

Not really. I havn't had the need to tape anything for a few years now.

[Road to Gotham]

I Sleep during the day so I use my two VCRs to record all the NFL games on Sunday and the Big 10 and Big 12 Football games on Saturday.
Otherwise I never use the VCR.

[Wanted]

I got a DVD recorder this January, but I still use my VCR in conjunction with my DVD recorder to convert shows from VHS to DVD... I've only gotten two discs finished, due to my apathy. I got the cheapest option available, and I've had to toss a lot of discs in the trash (most likely because of that choice). Either way, it's been worth it. I'm sure I've finalized over thirty discs of television and tape footage already (not many, I assure you, as I record on SP and HQ).

Recording on VHS isn't an option for me anymore, though, despite the years and years I had with my family's two VCRs.

[solarflere]

I haven't been using VHS for years now. Heck, I don't even own a single VHS at my house. The ones I used to have, I transfered to DVD. I still have my DVD VHS combo player in case I need to view a VHS, but I don't have any home.

[sun]

Well.........................................................................
I record shows weekly on VHS....and play them back when I find time..Yes I do have a DVD player, and yes, it is hooked up...and I bought a computer, so I move at a turtles pace into the new age...maybe someday I will get rid of my dial phone sitting next to the computer.(yes, it is hooked up and works)....I also have a cordless phone, and other regular phones with buttons, but not a cell phone yet...I guess that is next...:)..................Stuart.

[Teo]

I dropped VHS at completely at least 5 years ago. Went to college and only had a PS2 for DVD movies. Never been back to VHS since. I think the only tape I still have (in a box somewhere) is my Zillion tape. Back when Anime was Japanimation and digital animation hadn't ruined the format.

[PowerZord]

I still use VHS to record stuff on tv, and I own tons of recorded stuff from tv, dating back to 1997. In the past I had a collection dating back to early 90's, but they caught some kinda of fungus and we had to throw them away.

I have a DVD player, but I yet can't afford a DVD-R. I wish I could, since I don't want to lose any of the recorded stuff I have

[Zinal]

I mostly use VHS for recording.

[Daredevil_2003]

The only time I've used my VCR in the past 2 years was to watch Goldfinger. Now, I have it on DVD so my VCR just collects dust. :shrug:

[Dr. OneWay]

Everyday, for my many recordings. But for actually movies . . . uh, I'd say two years. DVD's are my thing :p

[Brainatra]

I bought a VCR a few months ago specifically to record stuff off of TV; while I have a DVD player (and Netflix subscription, various DVDs, etc.), a VCR seemed like the most palatable recording option out of the alternatives I looked at (the DVD recorder reviews I read were mostly negative, save for the most expensive recorders; I didn't want digital cable, which is required to get a DVR from the cable company; don't really want to pay a monthly subscription fee for a DVR or TiVO anyway; and I'll have to wait until next year [when I buy a new computer] to consider making a MythTV DVR ....).

So far, while it's not the nicest VCR brand (Sanyo?!), it works as needed for now...

[Fresh V]

I only use my VCR to record shows on TV. I haven't recorded any shows for a few months though. I used to do it very frequently.

[Carolina Red]

I hardly ever use a VCR to record stuff thanks to my DVR box. I have been converting some of my old movies on tape to DVDs lately, and I can hook my computer up to a DVR box to record stuff on there directly to a PC to put it on a DVD.

I have been looking through some of the old tapes I have to see if there are any interesting old stuff on there. I found one that was a movie that was edited for television, and it still had the ads on it. There were some old national ads (i doubt the Soloflex could make you that sculpted) and some local ads (this was taped when I lived in St. Louis in the early 1990s, before KPLR became a WB station).