40 replies · 812 views
18 votes · voting closed
We had a 3 year old VCR that broke down 1 year ago. First I thought "we'll not buy a new one", but we did because we have lots of VHS-tapes. Both kids stuff and, err, adult stuff.
So I bought a new one, and now after just a year, it's broken.
I don't think I want a new one.
And you?
Well... DVD comes before VHS no question. But I wanted to vote for cinema first. Because watching a film in a cinema can't even be beaten by DVD and surround system. But due to a lot of trash in the cinemas today I prefer DVDs (even though I don't have to pay for watching a movie in the cinema I work in 
)
We have a huge VHS collection at home, so I can't do without a VHS recorder, too.
VHS tapes get tangled up in the machine, and you have to rewind them and all that mess. DVD, no question.
although nothing beats seeing star wars (the original) in the cinema 
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It's a nice thought, P.
But apparently Warner's recent signing with the Blu-Ray consortium may land the knockout blow on HD-DVD.
:\pimp3:
My kids destroy VCRs. Seriously, the last three we had shitted out within moments. We have had two dvd players in 6 years. I am not going back to VHS.
depthcharge wrote: It's a nice thought, P.
But apparently Warner's recent signing with the Blu-Ray consortium may land the knockout blow on HD-DVD.
:\pimp3:
I hope you're right, DC.
I would really like to get a good HD TV, but what's the point until there are HD DVD's of whatever variety?
My thinking also, P.
Although I don't know if you're due for HD digital terrestrial TV soon in your neck of the woods.
I figure that by the time all the movies are remastered and repackaged for Blu-Ray/alternative, the price of HD TVs will have dropped significantly. Plasmas, LCDs and the like seem to be cheaper by the day.
:\pimp3:
I don't know that I was planning to wait until everything was available in an HD DVD format, but it would be nice to know that a single format was "universally" agreed upon.
Have you seen any HD sets you particularly like, DC?
I already have quite a satisfying and carefully assembled AV set-up. So I'm set for the next couple of years.
But I do keep a casual eye on the latest pricing and features. I'll probably go for a screen in the 50" range, although today they're still fairly pricey. No set in particular lined up.
:\pimp3:
The set I've been most tempted by is the Sharp 45 inch LCD, but some of the reviews I've seen suggested some weaknesses.
Perhaps when you get it set up, LE and I will drop over with a few Police Academy films and buckets of popcorn.
:\pimp3:
depthcharge wrote: Perhaps when you get it set up, LE and I will drop over with a few Police Academy films and buckets of popcorn.
:\pimp3:
How did you guess that I was a fan of those, DC?
Have you been investigating my Amazon purchase records?
I watch films on DVD at home through my home cinema set up.
I record programmes that I am out for on my PVR, in the case of films, it means I can miss out the adverts
There's only one type of film that I use the VCR for these days 
Kevin Smith wrote: I watch films on DVD at home through my home cinema set up.
There's only one type of film that I use the VCR for these days
I suspect you probably could get those on DVD as well.
Patrick wrote:
Kevin Smith wrote: I watch films on DVD at home through my home cinema set up.
There's only one type of film that I use the VCR for these days
I suspect you probably could get those on DVD as well.
I have lots of them, if anyone is interested.
Patrick wrote:
Kevin Smith wrote: I watch films on DVD at home through my home cinema set up.
There's only one type of film that I use the VCR for these days
I suspect you probably could get those on DVD as well.
I have lots of them, if anyone fancy one.
Rian wrote:
Patrick wrote:
Kevin Smith wrote: I watch films on DVD at home through my home cinema set up.
There's only one type of film that I use the VCR for these days
I suspect you probably could get those on DVD as well.
I have lots of them, if anyone fancy one.
Why would one need more than one?
Patrick wrote:
Rian wrote:
Patrick wrote:
Kevin Smith wrote: I watch films on DVD at home through my home cinema set up.
There's only one type of film that I use the VCR for these days
I suspect you probably could get those on DVD as well.
I have lots of them, if anyone fancy one.
Why would one need more than one?
Patrick wrote:
depthcharge wrote: Perhaps when you get it set up, LE and I will drop over with a few Police Academy films and buckets of popcorn.
:\pimp3:
How did you guess that I was a fan of those, DC?
Have you been investigating my Amazon purchase records?
No, I think I just picked it up from the nature of your posts, P.
Something about them cries out 'big Steve Guttenberg fan'.
:\pimp3:
AgentWood wrote: VHS tapes get tangled up in the machine, and you have to rewind them and all that mess. DVD, no question.
although nothing beats seeing star wars (the original) in the cinema
actually you are not going to belive this I first saw the original Star Wars in a suburban cinema in Virginia. Yes it did very quicky develop my english comprehension.
Jean-Philippe Ravier wrote: I go to the cinema... it seems I am the only one to do it here !
I still hit the cinema when I can, JPR, but we're a dying breed. Normally once every fortnight or thereabouts for me.
The silver screen is dying a slow death the world over. Blame home cinema technology, budget-priced DVDs, pay-TV, fewer blockbuster films and widespread piracy.
And microwave popcorn.
:\pimp3:
depthcharge wrote:
Patrick wrote:
depthcharge wrote: Perhaps when you get it set up, LE and I will drop over with a few Police Academy films and buckets of popcorn.
:\pimp3:
How did you guess that I was a fan of those, DC?
Have you been investigating my Amazon purchase records?
No, I think I just picked it up from the nature of your posts, P.
Something about them cries out 'big Steve Guttenberg fan'.
:\pimp3:
Sometimes your insights leave me speechless, DC.
I listened to that album from 1989 last night.
If you exclude the singles, it's not so bad.
VHS - because my kids can ruin a dvd with scratches in about 15 seconds! (it takes them weeks to ruin a video - & they are cheeper to replace!)
If I want to relax away from the kids - I'll go to the cinema
DVD obviously... I have 2 VCRs, but they are pretty useless, I record on my cable box or my computer now...
I'm buying tomorrow (I hope I'll be able) a "digital media receiver", which allows me to plug that on my TV and send media over my home network.
D-Link MediaLounge 802.11g Wireless Media Player Plays Audio, Video & Images from your wireless network to your Entertainment Center
The DSM-320 unites your network with your home entertainment center, allowing you to share, access, and enjoy your digital media-whether it is music, videos, or photos-in the comfort of your living room.
The DSM-320 supports 802.11g wireless standards with a maximum wireless signal rate of up to 54Mbps, giving you maximum throughput for your digital media.
Setting up the DSM-320 is simple, and the sleek design makes it a natural addition to any home entertainment center. AV jacks on the back panel of the DSM-320 allows direct connection to the TV. Using the included remote control, access media content stored on the PC, browse music files, watch videos, and display photos, all on the TV! In addition, the DSM-320 lets you access online media contents such as Radio@AOL™ on your TV through an existing broadband Internet connection.
I wonder if it's shit or a nice gadget to have... 
Scary poll !!!
what would be the results if...
Do you like to see NO :
I never minded VHS, but the advantages of DVD is that I can watch movies on my computer. What annoys me most about DVDs are all those "extra" features. Who cares? I just want to watch the movie. Now, if it's a concert DVD, the extra stuff is usually of significance. DM's 101, for example, has a second disc that is mostly the Pasadena Rose Bowl concert, which, although you get excerps from it in the documentary, has extra songs that aren't on the first disc and there are no interruptions.
The "extra" features annoy me the most when the movie is crap and the director and cast are all praising the film and saying how good of a time they had making it. Maybe you had to be there, even though the film bombed in the theaters and had bad reviews.
Spotnick wrote:
I wonder if it's shit or a nice gadget to have...
It might just be shit. It's a D-link.
DVD is a shit format - it isn't going to last 10 minutes. (Oh, it's now about 7 minutes on my watch). The day the major industry standard was decided upon, in 2001, to go with the MPEG2 compression, a new patent was filed for a compression code that can get 5 hours on one disc in less "lossy" quality. It's all a charade.
What if you ever want to cue films to watch a certain scene? How easy is it to do this on VHS compared to DVD. With the latter, you're dependent on "scene selections". My arse.
I'm not sure I like the fact that I HAVE to watch copyright notices/logos/idents on DVD without being able to fast forward them. I hate renting a DVD movie and then find myself unable to skip the trailers that are locked in to the system.
DVDs might look alright on a TV monitor but blow most of them up on a large screen and you'll see how shitty the conversion generally is. And most people think they're buying an upgrade. It's a big thing. Even worse than CDs, and that's saying something.
veronika wrote: I hate renting a DVD movie and then find myself unable to skip the trailers that are locked in to the system.
But not having to rewind anything is worth a lot ;)
Anyways, DVD will disappear with direct digital distribution, it's already available in most places, so renting a movie will be mostly ordering it "on demande" off the cable box or satellite box.
The only problem so far is that they still give "exclusivity" time to video stores where the movie isn't on "on demand pay-per-view"... hence keeping alive an industry that should vanish very soon.
But not having to rewind anything is worth a lot
fair point, also with regard to direct digital distribution
(btw. a great selection of artists' film and video and sound can be found at www.ubu.com for free download)
