DVD/VCR help

melimel

Hi, this is my first time in the techie thread and wondered if someone would be kind enough to advise on DVD and VCR's.
All my DVD and VCR equipment is so old that I have to upgrade fairly soon but to what? I have loads of Vids that my boy loves so must keep a copy somehow. Do I get a DVD/VCR combi or can I somehow record my vids on to DVD without one. I feel I should get a DVD recorder but not sure..We are currently with Virgin but may ditch in future and go to Freeview.. I have seen some recorders advertising harddrive - what is it and do I need it? My TV is also pretty outdated but works and not changing yet but should I anticipate this and get an HD ready player?

I feel so stupid having to ask all this but don't want to have to go to Curry's and ask just yet!!
Thanks for any help you can give
Mel

weegie.geek

All the combi ones I've seen are ugly, ugly things. You also then can't upgrade one without the other. (and how long will you really want the vhs part of it for? once you've transferred the videos to dvd, you can just fling a separate vhs player in the cupboard)

I wouldn't bother getting an HD ready player. HD ready dvd players just have hdmi sockets to connect to an hdtv, and might do some upscaling of normal dvds. They won't play any HD content, and by the time you DO get an hdtv, proper hddvd/bluray players will be sensibly priced.

A hard drive recorder could be useful. Record the vhs tapes onto it, edit out the adverts or whatever, then burn them to disc when you can be bothered. You'll also be able to do some nice timeshifting and stuff.

If you're considering going to freeview, there are freeview boxes with hard drives and two tuners, so you can record one thing and watch another, like sky plus.

I'd probably get a vhs player, and a dvd recorder, separate.

totalsolutions

Hi Mel "if it aint broke dont fix it! Why upgrade the video? no video/cassette tape will last for ever. Get backups from freecycle, video store sell off's, boot sales. Videos, new are very cheap. Tapes are re-recordable where as dvd is not so versatile. Hard drives only hold so much then you have to wipe them, or copy to tape. The technology is there but in a different format that you will have to purchase anyway, so upgrading everything gets expensive.

I dont like combo units for the reasons already mentioned.

sleep2much

I don't know which to recommend, but as VCR's are on the decline there are some real bargains on eBay, ones that would have sold for hundreds are going for less than the postage, have a look and do a google on a couple of models, reviews are still knocking around for all types of stuff still.

bookduck

for cheap dvd players that play avi's or if you just want a xhap plyer then look at eh site
http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/138214/x-wave-divx-dvd-player-with-progres/
http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/137332/slivercrest-hdmi-1080i-upscaling-dv/
http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/139342/samsung-dvd-1080p7-xeu-dvd-player-w/

melimel

Just want to say thanks to all of you for taking the time to help me.
Do any of you know if I use my current VCR to play a video would I be able to use a basic DVD recorder to record it on to disc? Or as per weegie geek would I need one with a hard drive?
The other reason for doing this is to make some space as 3 year old is gradually taking over and I need to ditch some stuff!!
One last question, we have lots of cash strapped relatives in Turkey and as DVD players are now so cheap could I buy them one here for them to be able to use there? Is there something special I need to look out for?
Once again thanks to you all, Mel

BillScarab

If you're on Virgin my advice would be to get V+ which is heir hard drive based recording system. That allows all of the timeshifting type things people talk about. Then just keep your VCR and a basic DVD player. How old is your boy? Presumably he'll grow out ofhis video collection at which point you can bin the VCR.

Our VCRhas been in the grage for three months and so far the children haven't moaned about not being able to watch any of their videos so it will soon be on freecycle.

melimel

thanks Billscarab - you've answered all my questions today!!

imho

If you send a Dvd player to turkey make sure it plays all regions or can be hacked to play all regions. I have taken 2 over to India and they work perfect over there.
I have a basic dvd recorder and i am slowly putting all my videos onto dvd discs .Its so easy to do.

liames

Hi imho

How easy is it to put videos onto discs? Children have lots of videos.

imho

liames Really easy.You just have to put your video in your video machine,then a blank disc in the dvd recorder and press record and thats it .I paid about £60 for my dvd recorder.I put all my Cam Corder videos on to disk as well.