It's amazing how quickly DVDs are making VHS obsolete...

Publius · 08-21-2006, 04:14 PM

I got to thinking about it, and it's really amazing. I mean VHS/VCR technology obliterated Beta tapes pretty quickly because Beta was never as firmly established, but VHS/VCR were the dominant form for a good 20 years. Yet here in just a few years DVDs have made VHS tapes and VCRs in general a marginal market, especially now that writable and re-writable DVDs are coming down in price to make recording to DVD about as easy as recording to VHS.

I remember a few years back my Dad was saying how he thinks DVDs will take over, but it'll take at least until 2015 or 2020... I think by 2010 most of us will look at VCRs and VHS tapes much the way people in the mid-80s looked at 8-track players from the 70s.

This has been deep thoughts with Publius.

ballz2wallz · 08-21-2006, 04:15 PM

same with cds and cassettes.

Publius · 08-21-2006, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

same with cds and cassettes.

But even cassettes held on a little longer than VCRs are managing to as the recording media of choice for home-recording.

JaJae · 08-21-2006, 04:22 PM

DVDs have been out for over a decade now.. It was fast, but nothing abnormal.

motivez · 08-21-2006, 04:24 PM

I only use the VCR to record stuff off of television in rooms where I don't have a DVR system. They're useless otherwise. DVD's are superior in every way.

IminWonderland · 08-21-2006, 04:26 PM

I had a Beta machine as a kid.

hsmith · 08-21-2006, 04:31 PM

They still make VHS?

JaJae · 08-21-2006, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I only use the VCR to record stuff off of television in rooms where I don't have a DVR system. They're useless otherwise. DVD's are superior in every way.

I haven't owned a VCR since 1998 I think. Cause we moved or something and our VCR broke and we just never bothered to replace it.

DosEquis · 08-21-2006, 04:36 PM

Laser disc was HAWT. Big F'in cds that never caught on.

motivez · 08-21-2006, 04:57 PM

I haven't bought a new one, this one is like 15 years old, and I haven't bought any new tapes or anything.. it's all just stuff I've had that I haven't gotten rid of

JaJae · 08-21-2006, 04:59 PM

Best Buy has one VCR on it's website and it's $67!!

Geez. I bought a DVD player from Target for $25.
VCRs

Stylerod · 08-21-2006, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Best Buy has one VCR on it's website and it's $67!!

Geez. I bought a DVD player from Target for $25.
VCRs

I've been moving all our old VHS home vids to DVD. We have a shitload.

Ardentfrost · 08-21-2006, 05:25 PM

We recently upgraded all VCRs across campus, but we couldn't get rid of them because some people still use them. So we went with DVD/VCR combo units. Now at least people don't have to use the computer to play their DVDs (post-processing ftl)

Publius · 08-21-2006, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

We recently upgraded all VCRs across campus, but we couldn't get rid of them because some people still use them. So we went with DVD/VCR combo units. Now at least people don't have to use the computer to play their DVDs (post-processing ftl)

Sheana has a DVD/VCR combo unit.

Sheana · 08-21-2006, 05:34 PM

Sheana · 08-21-2006, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Publius

Sheana has a DVD/VCR combo unit.

this is the only post i have read in this thread

JaJae · 08-21-2006, 05:39 PM

yet your second post

IminWonderland · 08-21-2006, 08:09 PM

I want to get my son this TV for his birthday...

The Cars 13'' Color TV/DVD Combo is vibrant red, with a yellow lightning bolt; it features a fun design resembling the Lightning McQueen car character, incorporating a set of tires and a smiling mouth. The unit features a built-in DVD player (concealed in Lightning's mouth), stereo sound and a headphone jack, 181-channel tuning, on-screen graphical and multi-lingual user interface, and front and rear A/V input jacks for game consoles and karaoke systems. It also includes a closed-caption decoder, V-chip child-lock function, mute, sleep timer, and a full-function keychain remote control that looks like a real car's remote unit. Uses 2 AA batteries (not included).