Circuit City phases out VHS.... [Archive]

Beagle

06-18-2002, 12:04 PM

Here we go again.

10 years from now people will realize how much more "picturesque" VHS is, and how bored we get with DVD after 3 minutes of watching and they can live with the clicks and pops of VHS.

Then we will get "remastered" DVD movies which will get us closer to what the camera saw.

I have DVD but find DVD's overkill, in the sense that so what if they last forever, I'm gonna watch it maybe twice, so a $9 VHS will do fine.

But again , like the CD "replacing" the LP, they can make more money off DVD, so kill off VHS and make everyone buy DVD.

Man, I'm in a cynical mood today :(

Sckott

06-18-2002, 12:13 PM

Not as cynical as me!

Friend who carries mail for USPS stopped me today to ask about DVD-R. I basically told him to keep his pants on. Blanks for DVD-R are only slightly to somewhat more expensive than some DVD movies, and most discs exceed 7 gigs (dual layered)

Apparently, looks like my mailman guy wants to copy DVDs. The more popular 4 gig DVD-R's aren't appropriate for most DVD's to copy, and the original titles are cheap.

The other side of the coin is, DVDs are much more affordable than ever, and most titles can go for $25 or less. I just found "Running Scared", an old favorite 80's movie for $9.

Players for DVD start at $69.99 for an Apex or similar.

DVD is a wonderful format. I won't give up my Lazerdiscs yet, though. :D

Grant

06-18-2002, 12:22 PM

I never had a problem with VHS. I have a high-end VCR, and most of it's use was for taping.

Beagle

06-18-2002, 12:23 PM

Yes, it's getting affordable and easily accessable, but until we have something recordable and re-writeable which is also affordable, forget it.

It's a one way format. With VHS I can record, edit/compile, re-record anything/anytime I want.

At least MiniDisc replaces the audiocassette in that it does the same thing (lossy compression notwithstanding) with more ease, convenience and less problems.

Mike V

06-18-2002, 12:48 PM

Along similar lines, I couldn't find a blank cassette at Tweeter Etc (a retailer on the east coast, now going national). I swear to you that the salesboy looked at me like I had 3 heads (no pun intended) when I asked for blank tapes. In the heyday, these guys used to sell the Dragon, and now nothing at all. Up until a few years ago, they carried Denon and Yamaha decks. I don't think so anymore.

Grant

06-18-2002, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Mike V
Along similar lines, I couldn't find a blank cassette at Tweeter Etc (a retailer on the east coast, now going national). I swear to you that the salesboy looked at me like I had 3 heads (no pun intended) when I asked for blank tapes. In the heyday, these guys used to sell the Dragon, and now nothing at all. Up until a few years ago, they carried Denon and Yamaha decks. I don't think so anymore.

I can find blanks everywhere. Sony, TDK, Maxell, no-names...

Mike V

06-18-2002, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by Grant

I can find blanks everywhere. Sony, TDK, Maxell, no-names...

Oh, me too. It's just at Tweeter, where they sold thousands upon thousands of decks over the years. Mid to high end stuff too, not junk. And now their sales people cock their heads in confusion when you request a blank to record on! Jeez :eek:

Michael

06-19-2002, 01:11 AM

Originally posted by Beagle
Here we go again.

10 years from now people will realize how much more "picturesque" VHS is, and how bored we get with DVD after 3 minutes of watching and they can live with the clicks and pops of VHS.

Then we will get "remastered" DVD movies which will get us closer to what the camera saw.

I have DVD but find DVD's overkill, in the sense that so what if they last forever, I'm gonna watch it maybe twice, so a $9 VHS will do fine.

But again , like the CD "replacing" the LP, they can make more money off DVD, so kill off VHS and make everyone buy DVD.

Man, I'm in a cynical mood today :(

DVD is light years ahead of VHS. No comparison. A wonderful medium.The DVD Media itself will kill off VHS.

Beagle

06-19-2002, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by Michael

DVD is light years ahead of VHS. No comparison. A wonderful medium.The DVD Media itself will kill off VHS. In terms of things like surround, ease of use, using menu etc, I fully agree.

Beagle

06-19-2002, 08:14 AM

Joe D.

06-19-2002, 09:04 AM

I picked up the DVD "Harvey" with Jimmy Stewart for less than 10 bucks.

If they can sell DVD movies so cheaply, what about lowering the cost of CD's?

DOH!

Mattb

06-19-2002, 09:12 AM

Originally posted by Michael

DVD is light years ahead of VHS. No comparison. A wonderful medium.The DVD Media itself will kill off VHS.

DVD is a great medium, no doubt. The picture quality is so much better.

Matt

Dan C

06-19-2002, 10:50 AM

I won't miss VHS.
It was crap and Beta was better (though far from perfect). S-VHS can have a nice picture, but it never had a real chance to take off as it was priced out of the mainstream (but now you can get an S-VHS deck for under $150).
DVD isn't perfect either, but I agree that it's light years ahead of VHS.
Dan C

Grant

06-19-2002, 12:38 PM

But, i'm a "home taper" and recording video on DVD or CD-R is too expensive at the moment.

Dan C

06-19-2002, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by Grant
But, i'm a "home taper" and recording video on DVD or CD-R is too expensive at the moment.

True. Do you use S-VHS? Those JVC units supposedly use standard tapes. Wonder if that's a reliable system.

I have some tapes that go way way back (in tape life, 15 years is forever). They are fading fast. Hope affordable DVD-R is a reality soon.
Dan C

Grant

06-19-2002, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by Dan C

True. Do you use S-VHS? Those JVC units supposedly use standard tapes. Wonder if that's a reliable system.

I have some tapes that go way way back (in tape life, 15 years is forever). They are fading fast. Hope affordable DVD-R is a reality soon.
Dan C
I just use plain-ol VHS. I have 18 year-old tapes that still play fine. One mistake I made in the mid 80s was to use the LP speed. I figured the tradeoff in time and quality was good, but now it's hard to find a player to play them back.

RicP

06-21-2002, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by Beagle
In terms of things like surround, ease of use, using menu, lack of wear etc, I fully agree.

You Have to be kidding me.

DVD surpasses VHS in every single aspect...every single one. You cannot name a single aspect of home video where VHS has an advantage. With the obvious exception of more available titles currently.

IF you cannot see the quality difference between VHS and DVD, you either need a new TV or glasses. Sorry, but it's that big.

romanotrax

06-21-2002, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by Dan C

True. Do you use S-VHS? Those JVC units supposedly use standard tapes. Wonder if that's a reliable system.
Dan C

I have a JVC S-VHS machine. It uses standard VHS tapes or S-VHS tapes. The difference in picture quality between the standard VHS mode and S-VHS is certainly noticeable, even with a standard tape in S-VHS mode at SP speed, but I find that the quality of the EP mode is only fair even when using the best S-VHS tape. The only problem with S-VHS is compatiblity with standard VHS decks. You get a picture with streaks through it.

Rew

07-13-2002, 12:08 AM

<>

In terms of performance, no. But prerecorded tapes are cheaper than DVDs. (Why that is, I'm not sure, since a DVD costs less to manufacture than a VHS tape.) To your average Joe or Jane, who could care less about a perfect picture, a $10 VHS tape continues to look more attractive than the same movie on a $25 DVD.

Also, if you're a fan of old movies, DVD may present a problem, as studios don't have a lot of interest in doing much with 1930s-1950s catalogue titles in the new format, claiming that films from that era don't usually sell well enough to justify restoration costs.

Don't get me wrong. I love DVD. But I'm not getting too attached to it, either. DVDs are not up to HDTV standards, so in a few years there'll be yet another new format for that.

Michael

07-13-2002, 12:45 AM

Originally posted by Rew
<>

In terms of performance, no. But prerecorded tapes are cheaper than DVDs. (Why that is, I'm not sure, since a DVD costs less to manufacture than a VHS tape.) To your average Joe or Jane, who could care less about a perfect picture, a $10 VHS tape continues to look more attractive than the same movie on a $25 DVD.

Also, if you're a fan of old movies, DVD may present a problem, as studios don't have a lot of interest in doing much with 1930s-1950s catalogue titles in the new format, claiming that films from that era don't usually sell well enough to justify restoration costs.

Don't get me wrong. I love DVD. But I'm not getting too attached to it, either. DVDs are not up to HDTV standards, so in a few years there'll be yet another new format for that.

I'm into DVD hook, line and sinker! I Love the format. I use VHS for time shift recording only. I own far too many DVDs to worry about a new format.

JohnG

07-13-2002, 03:38 AM

It's not only the improved picture which is light years ahead of vhs but it's the improved sound in the DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1 realm that makes watching movies on DVD so much fun with the right equipment.

I'm always turning people on to the improved overall performance of a DVD Home Theater.

I love mine!

JohnG

Joseph

07-13-2002, 06:54 AM

Originally posted by Rew
<>

In terms of performance, no. But prerecorded tapes are cheaper than DVDs. (Why that is, I'm not sure, since a DVD costs less to manufacture than a VHS tape.) To your average Joe or Jane, who could care less about a perfect picture, a $10 VHS tape continues to look more attractive than the same movie on a $25 DVD.

Keep in mind that all DVD titles come out at "sell-through (low)" pricing while many VHS titles first come out at "rental (high)" pricing. It is only after the title has generated rental income does the film get released in VHS at "sell-through" pricing- hence the lower list price.

Also, if you're a fan of old movies, DVD may present a problem, as studios don't have a lot of interest in doing much with 1930s-1950s catalogue titles in the new format, claiming that films from that era don't usually sell well enough to justify restoration costs.[/B]

That will almost certainly change as the DVD population increases. It also seems that DVD owners tend to buy more movies than VHS owners.