I still use my VCR!! I have one for each TV.

I still have 2 VCRs I'm using. And WalMart still sells them.

Shirley

I still use mine too. My husband's aunt gave us a box of her kids movies for our kids.

We have 2 VCR's we still use. I also have a dvd recorder... but can't get anything to record on it even though I bought the right blank dvds! The VCR is way easier.

I think you're looking for DVR (digital video recorder)?

You can read about them here:

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-dvr-or-digital-video-recorder.htm

I'm in the same boat with lydia. My son asked what I wanted for my BD last month and I told him a DVR player. They got a DVD player instead. It should work but I haven't been able to get it set up. The only thing I've learned so far is that you need the DVD-RW or DVD+RW to be able to reuse the discs. Mine still doesn't talk to the Satelite receiver. It does recognize the TV But the programming comes from DISH and so far it's a no go. Probably has to do with the operator???

Tivo.

Most DVRs require that you pay a subscription service. I'm guessing that would probably be if you wanted it to record something while you were away, as opposed to just recording something you are either watching or you set it to record at the time the program started.

It looks like there 'might' be some 'set and forget' models out there, but they are costly and maybe require other things too.

Here is a link that might be useful: can I use a dvr without a subscription

Tivo is the best of the best. I'm thinking about ending my contract with Direct TV for the DVR because Tivo is so much superior to it. After you have it awhile, it takes note of the kind of programs you watch and will automatically record programs it thinks you might be interested in. You don't have to watch them you can just delete, but I've gotten to see some interesting programs that I would have missed out on because of Tivo. I love, love, love it. In fact, after writing this, I think I will make it my New Year's resolution....buy a Tivo.

We still use VCRs (VCR/DVD combos actually) to watch tapes but at some point something changed and I couldn't record anymore. It could be possible but I didn't really do a lot of recording anyway so I didn't try very hard to figure out what was wrong.

Tivo sounds great...but I don't want anything with a service contract because we aren't THERE long. We enjoy the DirecTV DVR at home, but again, that requires a service contract.

Duh...I never considered buying a new VCR! Thanks for that idea. (I didn't think they still made them, or tapes for them.)

I still use mine also. Check out some yard sales or thrift stores. They still sell the vhs tapes too. You can also buy a DVD recorder. I don't know how much they cost now we got ours years ago.

I have a VCR connected to each TV I have a DVD and 2 VCRs on one tv so I can edit one cr tape to a clean one.
I love my VCRs

What you want is called a DVD RECORDER. They are around $250. It will record shows as well as play DVDs you purchase. My daughter has one. We have TiVo and love it, but their monthly service is getting pricy. It started out about $10 a month, now I think the first one is $19.99 with the second and additional ones being about $12.99.

My wife switched from VCR to a DVD Recorder. It performs the same functions and the play-back is good, if not better than a VCR. Its a natural for the new HD TV broadcast format. She records something every day and there is no contract or fee to pay.

Be sure that you buy quality discs, and these should re-recordable because you'll wnat to reuse those (DVD-RW). After many erasures and re-recordings, a disc will eventually fail. The quality ones holds up better.

I was thinking abut getting a DVD Recorder and put some of my VCRs on it but I read that you can't put 6 hours of tape on a DVD/DVR. only two which leaves out transfering a lot of family actiities.

Minnie-
The info you have about DVD recording lengths is incorrect. When you use a VCR to record 6 hours on one tape, the trade-off is that you are doing it at the lowest quality. When you record in the two-hour mode, the VCR uses three times as much tape per image segment as the 6-hour mode, and that is why you have the better quality. With recording onto DVDs, most machines have a variety of time lengths that you can record. This might be somewhere in the range of up to 4-10 hours (and twice this if the machine can record on double layer DVDs). However, as you stretch out the recording time, the quality begins to degrade. You can certainly get a machine that will put a 6-hour videotape on a single DVD. Just bear in mind that, when you record the DVD, you might want to do it at a higher quality given that a 6 hour videotape means you have already given up some quality...and this might mean using more than one disc. You would just have to experiment and see.

Here is a link that might be useful: DVD Recording Times

Just be careful about buying a new VCR. I bought a new one last year and you can't record and watch a different channel at the same time.

can anyone tell me the advantages of a DVR over a VCR?

Thanks kudzu9
I saved the link and will study it. I know a VCR tape can get torn and mangled too. I'll look into it. I'm not as concerned about hightr quality as just saving what is on the tape. I'm so glad I mention it and thanks again.

I hope this solves your issue!! I've got them all...including streaming movies and it's definitely the best!

moonie, The same thing is true of the DVD player the kids got me. I didn't realize this until I checked the way it was hooked up. (My dil did the original hookup) I checked it against the schematic and everything looked right but in doing so I noticed that the instructions also said I couldn't watch and record at the same time. I'm going to move it to the TV in the BR and see if that doesn't solve my recording problems. Haven't done so yet due to holiday busyness. So, be sure and check that out if you decide on a DVD.

Minnie,

VCR tapes can get mangled and damaged and for storing special video long term, DVDs are surely better but let me say that I've had less trouble with VCR tapes over the years than I've had with DVDs. It's impossible to keep scratches off of the DVDs (my little guy is obsessed with tapes and DVDs - he can work the player all by himself) and they end up skipping and stopping all of the time.

We have a VCR and use it all the time....My hubby tapes all the Notre Dame football games and then watches them all winter long....He has all the "winning" games for, at least, the last 20 years....We probably should have them put on a CD but haven't gotten around to that, yet....We were worried about being able to get tapes and when we see them, he stocks up.....
But, with the new TV, and HD etc, it did make it more confusing to be able to tape......
It's tough when you get old and have to learn new stuff, lol.......