VCR question for 83 year old

TomsMom

Idiophreak wrote: »

It may be worth looking at other options though...My PVR (yes, I know you said you didn't want one ) - the much fabled Humax - is *much* easier to use than any VCR I've ever had...

I can actually call my mum and say "record x factor for me" and it'll get done...on the old VCR she wouldn't have tried, but would've waited for me or my dad...the hummy's just so much easier to use.

Problem is that she wants a VCR so that she can watch pre-recorded tapes that she already has. Thanks.

superscaper

I thought the likes of Currys don't sell VCRs any more. Dixons definitely did stop selling them although they don't even exist any more on the high street.

marleyboy

The demise of analogue channels will render a VCR redundant for channel recordings. As far as I am aware, the major stores dont sell them anymore.

Saying this, whilst VHS tapes still exist, there will always be a need for the player, moreso for those whom have weddings or birthdays recorded onto VHS. you can still buy DVD/VHS players that can record a VHS onto a DVD (or vice versa) at least for now.

toasterman

The demise of analogue channels makes no difference to a VCR's usefulness. Most tvs aren't digital - they're still usable.
Makes no difference whether you plug a freeview box into a tv or into a VCR. They'll be around for a long while yet.

I've had a bit of bad luck over the years with getting through VCRs, and I can tell you my current Hitachi has a ridiculous system for programming, that is completely counter-intuitive..eg.. you push down, bar goes left.. it's mad. You push left to go left by accident, it wipes out the rest you'd put in all boxes. It drives me crazy.

I had a Sharp before that, that was good in some ways - but lasted literally 12 months and about 2 days, before dying. Was quite easy to use, but the build quality was terrible and the remote control was enormous.

The Panasonic I had before that was superb!
Lasted probably 5-6 years of regular use easily, and was very easy to use! When programming, there was no up/down arrows to set times - if you want to set a recording for 10.15, you type in 1-0-1-5 on the remote. Very straightforward.
Index searching forward or back had its own button for doing it. If you want to go to the start of your recording, you push the index back button once...etc.
Everything seemed to work the way you'd expect it to work.

I'm_With_Stupid

We've got a Toshiba in the living room, and that's fairly easy to use. Even my mum can use it. I remember my grandma used to have Aiwa VCR's and I think she had a Sharp one at one point. They've probably completely changed since then, but it's worth checking out, because they were really easy to use. Also check out Philips, and of course the home of VCR, JVC.

Which features does she actually use btw? Timer recording? Video Plus? Or does she just press the record button?

TomsMom

I'm_With_Stupid wrote: »

We've got a Toshiba in the living room, and that's fairly easy to use. Even my mum can use it. I remember my grandma used to have Aiwa VCR's and I think she had a Sharp one at one point. They've probably completely changed since then, but it's worth checking out, because they were really easy to use. Also check out Philips, and of course the home of VCR, JVC.

Which features does she actually use btw? Timer recording? Video Plus? Or does she just press the record button?

She does use Video Plus and the instant record button. She doesn't like timer recording, can't get her head round it - mind you it took me best part of 12 months to get used to ours :rotfl: .

I think I'll have to check out what's available where I live (back of beyond!!) and suss one out for her then she can check if she can get it where she lives.

It's a shame really, advances in technology are wonderful but when it comes to elderly people not all of them can keep up with the complexities that the younger generation find so easy. My son has never read an instruction book for anything in his life, just presses buttons and hey presto things happen. His 12 year old son is the same. Me - well, I have to devour every word and hope that my (goldfish-span) memory serves me well enough. I'm beginning to understand a lot of what my mum and her generation feel about some things - don't get me started on tamper-proof tops on bottles :rotfl:

cowbutt

toasterman wrote: »

The demise of analogue channels makes no difference to a VCR's usefulness. Most tvs aren't digital - they're still usable.
Makes no difference whether you plug a freeview box into a tv or into a VCR. They'll be around for a long while yet.

Yes and no. Yes, that'll work, but it's more effort than it needs to be as you need to leave the freeview box on the channel you wish to record, or set a timer on it to change channels AS WELL as setting the timer on the VCR. Additionally, if you wish to record a different freeview channel to one you're watching, you'll need another freeview box for the TV, or an IDTV.

There are DVD and Hard Disc PVRs out there with built-in freeview tuners which eliminate these problems, but I doubt anyone will go to the trouble of designing and selling VHS VCRs with integrated freeview these days...

Donnie

Isn't it coming up to Christmas? http://www.richersounds.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=PANA-DMREZ47

Only joking.

TomsMom

Donnie wrote: »

Isn't it coming up to Christmas? http://www.richersounds.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=PANA-DMREZ47

Only joking.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: I'm not quite that generous!

She does actually have a combi DVD player/VCR (Phillips, same as mine) in her "other" room (she uses a small room as she's on her own and the bigger room when having visitors) but she can't get to grips with the recording facility unfortunately. The VCR which has just died was in her small room so she just wants to replace it. She read the instructions for the combi 4 times the other day and still it wouldn't sink in. I offered to go through it with her on the phone but she's adamant - she wants a simple VCR only.

This is quite sad really, I'm 3.5 hours drive away from her and she rings me up to tell me "I'm in trouble, I can't do this.........." yet my brother lives 5 minutes drive away and he doesn't seem to find the time for things like this so she no longer asks him.

I do like a challenge so I'll get this cracked yet!

Donnie

Ok, here's an online cheapie, £29 : http://www.cheapestelectrical.co.uk/productdetails.php?id=950&title=Philips+VR550+Stereo+Video+Recorder+%2B+Free+SCART+lead%25

The £38 VideoPlus model has sold out: http://www.cheapestelectrical.co.uk/productdetails.php?id=951&title=Philips+VR750+Nicam+Stereo+Video+Recorder

They also have a VideoPlus Combo for £55: http://www.cheapestelectrical.co.uk/productdetails.php?id=1048&title=PHILIPS+DVP3100V+DVD+Player+%26+VCR+Combo