VCR Troubles
It appears that this weekend, my VCR finally gave up the ghost. Actually, "finally" isn't even the appropriate word. The VCR is only five years old, and has only seen limited use (I use it to tape games that I'm missing maybe 15 or 20 times a year. I watch the occasional movie or taped program on it, but for the most part it is a conduit for my cable signal to get to the TV). So I see no real reason why it should stop playing back tapes right now.
Of course, this creates a moderate problem. Not only can I no longer re-watch my classic videotapes (such as Michigan State-Duke from the 2005 NCAAs), but I have no way to tape things I'm going to miss.
This means I probably need to buy another VCR. But a quick check on eBay shows that new VCRs (I figure that, giving the short life of my VCR, there's no point in buying a used one) run in the $50-$100 range.
The problem with this is that VCRs are basically obsolete technology. No one wants to watch movies on VHS anymore, with DVDs selling for next to nothing. Even recording off the air is now being dominated by DVRs, which are easier and...well....all digital and stuff.
So in my opinion, VCRs should sell for around $25. They still have a function, but it's pretty limited. Therefore, the price point should be at a place where it's not so cheap that people will buy one every week, but not so expensive that price will be any barrier to you actually making the purchase.
Which is exactly where the price seems to be right now.
It looks like I could buy a tivo for around $100 to $200, but then you get into all these problems with having to buy subscriptions, and have phone lines, and all that other crap (I think). I don't really have to deal with this, but the irrational price point for VCRs is forcing me in that direction.
Of course, this creates a moderate problem. Not only can I no longer re-watch my classic videotapes (such as Michigan State-Duke from the 2005 NCAAs), but I have no way to tape things I'm going to miss.
This means I probably need to buy another VCR. But a quick check on eBay shows that new VCRs (I figure that, giving the short life of my VCR, there's no point in buying a used one) run in the $50-$100 range.
The problem with this is that VCRs are basically obsolete technology. No one wants to watch movies on VHS anymore, with DVDs selling for next to nothing. Even recording off the air is now being dominated by DVRs, which are easier and...well....all digital and stuff.
So in my opinion, VCRs should sell for around $25. They still have a function, but it's pretty limited. Therefore, the price point should be at a place where it's not so cheap that people will buy one every week, but not so expensive that price will be any barrier to you actually making the purchase.
Which is exactly where the price seems to be right now.
It looks like I could buy a tivo for around $100 to $200, but then you get into all these problems with having to buy subscriptions, and have phone lines, and all that other crap (I think). I don't really have to deal with this, but the irrational price point for VCRs is forcing me in that direction.
posted by N at 11:53 PM
1 Comments:
i totally agree with you! there's no way i'd buy a vcr at those prices, yet then all my vhs tapes remain unwatchable. grrr!!!!
on the other hand, you could get a tivo (off ebay would be best) and -not- have a subscription, which means that you'd have to manually set it to record channel 7 at 7 pm for 30 minutes, instead of just asking it to record every episode of jeopardy. a little bit of a pain, but very do-able, and without having to pay that monthly fee. just a thought...
Post a Comment
<< Home