TV with VCR player

kathy_W

Can anyone recommend the best value 14 inch TV with integrated video for my Son's Christmas present.

SiMaster

hi,

my tip is don't buy a tv with integrated vcr - the bottom line is they break and they break easy, VCR's are very tempremental due to all the springs they use (up to 400 in any VCR) - if the VCR portion breaks then your left with just a tv and trust me they do break (my sisters did with in a year).

you should look at buying a DVD player anyway there only about £20 from a supermarket these days and far more reliable than VCR's. Im not even sure if video tapes are still being made, VCR is a dead technology. I know htis might not sound like an attractive choice if you have a large video tape collection - but you have to make the switch eventually - dvd is here to stay.

barjam_2

i agree with simaster we have a twin tuner tv/vcr and our video has broke on it.... :mad:

kathy_W

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably get him a TV including a DVD player, do you think that might break as easily or is it still best to buy everthing separately.

Hunnymonster

I personally will always buy everything separate - because as time passes something will always break (or I'll want to upgrade it lol) - and it's better to replace the TV because it's broken rather than the TV/VCR or TV/DVD because the TV has broken.... however if you're talking about a £100 TV/DVD combo I don't think there's an awful lot in it from that point of view.

jjames_3

TV/DVD players break as well.

Think about it. A TV, *any* TV, should last between 8 and 12 years.

VCRs and DVD players don't last as long. Cheap VCRs and DVD players have a tendency to break very quickly. I've seen DVD players last as little as 3 months.

The VCRs and DVD players they put in these combos are equivalent to the cheapest of cheap standalone units. These usually don't last long.

Far better to buy separate units. You'll be able to get your son a VCR (£40), DVD player (£20) *and* portable TV (£40) for £100, roughly what you'd pay for a TV with built-in VCR or DVD.

jjames_3

In fact, looking at some of the prices now you could get a £20 DVD, £30 VCR, £40 TV and £25 Freeview box. The absolute works, and still only £115.

Now how much of a bargain does that £100 TV/DVD look?

(Yes you can get a TV/DVD for £70 but to be assured that you wouldn't get much trouble out of it you'd need to buy branded (Philips, Hitachi etc) and these are £100-120).