VCRs: A thing of the past?

AKA2D '91 · #1 06-24-2002, 11:15 AM

CIRCUIT CITY STORES INC. is the first national retailer to sound such a clear death knell for videotape and the VCR, which has been the dominant form of home video entertainment for almost two decades. Citing steadily increasing consumer hunger for DVDs, which provide higher sound and picture quality, , Circuit City has stopped selling movie videotapes at some stores and will soon discontinue sales at other stores.
“We’re responding to what people are wanting to buy,” said Jim Babb, a Circuit City spokesman. “People have happily embraced DVDs. Our sales have been moving toward DVD for quite some time.”
Circuit City’s decision affirms that consumers are driving another technological transition - much as when eight-track players yielded to cassette tapes and vinyl records succumbed to compact discs.

• Washington Post technology news

For the complete article:
http://msnbc.com/news/770243.asp?pne=msn

cricket · #2 06-24-2002, 11:59 AM

This is really dissappointing to me. I was trying to hold out on buying a DVD player since they can't record like VCRs but now it's practically impossible to find any videotapes. About 4 months ago, I bought a Phillips DVD player that always sounded like a lawnmower when it was playing--the picture was AWFUL, and it always skipped. Then I traded it in for a Sony player. After having it for 2 weeks, the insert tray got stuck and I had to use a screw driver to pry it open. I feel like I've been forced into DVD technology and I have yet to buy a good player. (Anyone have any recommendations under $250?)

Honeykiss1974 · #3 06-24-2002, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cricket
This is really dissappointing to me. I was trying to hold out on buying a DVD player since they can't record like VCRs but now it's practically impossible to find any videotapes. About 4 months ago, I bought a Phillips DVD player that always sounded like a lawnmower when it was playing--the picture was AWFUL, and it always skipped. Then I traded it in for a Sony player. After having it for 2 weeks, the insert tray got stuck and I had to use a screw driver to pry it open. I feel like I've been forced into DVD technology and I have yet to buy a good player. (Anyone have any recommendations under $250?)

I recently bought a Phillips DVD/VCR comp unit for $140 @ Best Buy. So far, I haven't had any trouble and I've had it for about a month, plus it was an open item, which was why it was so cheap. I believe normally its sells for about $189-$200.

Try brands by Toshiba or RCA.

neicy81 · #4 06-24-2002, 02:41 PM

Cricket I have a RCA.I got it as a Christmas gift but I believe it was on sale for $129 at Target. It hasn't failed me yet.

cricket · #5 06-24-2002, 02:45 PM

Thanks neicy and Honeykiss, hopefully the 3rd time's the charm

BLUTANG · #6 06-24-2002, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974

I recently bought a Phillips DVD/VCR comp unit for $140 @ Best Buy. So far, I haven't had any trouble and I've had it for about a month, plus it was an open item, which was why it was so cheap. I believe normally its sells for about $189-$200.

Try brands by Toshiba or RCA.

we have the Samsung DVD/VCR combo, i believe we paid $250 (which is way too much). It's doing pretty well so far.

I saw single disk DVD players on sale at Wal Mart a couple of weeks ago for $89. i think it was GE or RCA.

Rain Man · #7 06-24-2002, 06:20 PM

I bought my first DVD player back in March at H.H. Gregg for $149.99. It's a Toshiba. It also plays CD-ROMs and "burnt" CDs downloaded off the Internet

My VCR, which I must have put over 5000 hours on in a 5 1/2 year run, died on me a few months ago. I will get it repaired to get it to play my old tapes from time to time, but it's DVDs when it comes to rentin' the flicks.

Besides, you can get more stuff off a DVD than you can a VCR. Director's commentary, trivia games, bonus footage and features. DVDs are off DA HOOK!!

My favorite video rental store, Video Central, and it's branches (North Campus Video, and Video Central - Westerville Rd., and Bethel Rd) is phasing out VHS rental, and is replacing them with DVDs. About half the stores right now is DVD and is scheduled to be 100% DVD by 2004.

So toss dat ol' VCR in the attic and get with the times and represent with a DVD player 'cause ya' get a lotta COOL stuff, I guarantee it!

PS, Once you go DVD, you'll never wanna go back to VHS

Ideal08 · #8 06-24-2002, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
I recently bought a Phillips DVD/VCR comp unit for $140 @ Best Buy. So far, I haven't had any trouble and I've had it for about a month, plus it was an open item, which was why it was so cheap. I believe normally its sells for about $189-$200.

Try brands by Toshiba or RCA.

I didn't know these existed!! I was gonna buy a new VCR and DVD!! My VCR is getting old, and I wanted to replace it, so I can still watch my VHS movies. Yepper, I'm gonna buy one of these!!!

aprilzeta · #9 06-25-2002, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ideal08

I didn't know these existed!! I was gonna buy a new VCR and DVD!! My VCR is getting old, and I wanted to replace it, so I can still watch my VHS movies. Yepper, I'm gonna buy one of these!!!

Yes they do, I got mines last year, but it is a 32" TV, VCR, and DVD combo, by Panasonic. I saw one in the store the other day which was $100.00 less than what I paid for mines

.
So far I haven't had any trouble.

CrimsonTide4 · #10 06-25-2002, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aprilzeta

Yes they do, I got mines last year, but it is a 32" TV, VCR, and DVD combo, by Panasonic. I saw one in the store the other day which was $100.00 less than what I paid for mines .
So far I haven't had any trouble.

That sounds lovely. **putting that on my list.**

showstopper_1908 · #11 06-25-2002, 04:13 PM

I just recently bought a Sony DVD player for about $150 from Sears. It's great. Someone tried to talk me into getting a dvd/vcr combo, but lets say the vcr player breaks, then I have to take them both to get fixed. That can take 1-2 weeks, and I'll be without DVD's and VHS tapes the whole time. If it breaks for good then I am out of both! I couldn't deal with that.

sphinxpoet · #12 06-25-2002, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by showstopper_1908
I just recently bought a Sony DVD player for about $150 from Sears. It's great. Someone tried to talk me into getting a dvd/vcr combo, but lets say the vcr player breaks, then I have to take them both to get fixed. That can take 1-2 weeks, and I'll be without DVD's and VHS tapes the whole time. If it breaks for good then I am out of both! I couldn't deal with that.

I agree! My PS2 is my DVD player and my VCR is on a seperate thing. Right now getting a PS2 is not a bad deal since it plays CDs and Games too!

Sphinxpoet

aprilzeta · #13 06-25-2002, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by showstopper_1908
I just recently bought a Sony DVD player for about $150 from Sears. It's great. Someone tried to talk me into getting a dvd/vcr combo, but lets say the vcr player breaks, then I have to take them both to get fixed. That can take 1-2 weeks, and I'll be without DVD's and VHS tapes the whole time. If it breaks for good then I am out of both! I couldn't deal with that.

That's true, I considered it when I bought it. I'll face it when it comes. Plus, I did by extended warranties(that cover me for 3 years).

fuji · #14 06-25-2002, 08:37 PM

Well, I work for Circuit City and I happen to work in the music/DVD/VHS section. The DVD section in my store is running out of room. Hardly anyone buys VHS tape anymore. Plus a lot of the VHS tapes cost just a dollar or two lower than its DVD counterpart. Really, the VHS tapes are taking up space. Many of the customers that buy DVD have these surround systems and big screen TVs and it would be crazy to have it hooked up to a VCR. I still have a VCR because I record a lot of shows and my whole Disney collection is on VHS. I have a Sony DVD player and had no problem with it so far. I also paid for a extended warranty because it was not cheap(But I did get my discount

)

lil_sunshine · #15 06-26-2002, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sphinxpoet

I agree! My PS2 is my DVD player and my VCR is on a seperate thing. Right now getting a PS2 is not a bad deal since it plays CDs and Games too!

Sphinxpoet

Well, at least I have an idea of what to get for myself when I move out!!! I've always wanted to purchase a DVD player, but I don't have the funds, space, or DVD's to get one. Taking notes.....