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Wayne A. Pflughaupt · 05-09-2008, 10:44 PM

Hey Sam,

Assuming your parents want to timeshift, you're in luck! I was just looking into this last week for my own parents. Like you, I'm concerned about the quality of the ones they're selling these days. My mom uses her VCR, either taping or re-playing the recordings, a full 7-8 hours a day! Her last VCR didn't make it 6 months; back in the heyday of VCRs she could get 3-4 years out of one.

I came across the Philips DVDR3575 that looks promising. It's a combo DVD recorder / DVR with a built-in analog and digital tuners. It'll work now, since most TV stations are already broadcasting in high def, and Mom won't need to fool with a converter box come Febuary 2009. No subscriptions needed or monthly fees, just your usual antenna connection like a VCR. I slogged through many of the reviews and found that people who went straight from VCR to this unit loved it and found it easy to operate. It has about a 75% user approval rating, which for a product like this is amazingly high. The main ones complaining were people who were used to TIVO's programming guide, or were expecting it to deliver high-def resolution.

'Course, if your mom's a cable TV user, don't know where to point you...

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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05-09-2008, 10:44 PM	#11 of 12
Wayne A. Pflughaupt Member Location: Katy, TX Join Date: Aug 1999 Local Time: 11:54 PM Local Date: 07-05-2008 Posts: 6,463	Re: Where can I buy a new cheap VCR? Hey Sam, Assuming your parents want to timeshift, you're in luck! I was just looking into this last week for my own parents. Like you, I'm concerned about the quality of the ones they're selling these days. My mom uses her VCR, either taping or re-playing the recordings, a full 7-8 hours a day! Her last VCR didn't make it 6 months; back in the heyday of VCRs she could get 3-4 years out of one. I came across the Philips DVDR3575 that looks promising. It's a combo DVD recorder / DVR with a built-in analog and digital tuners. It'll work now, since most TV stations are already broadcasting in high def, and Mom won't need to fool with a converter box come Febuary 2009. No subscriptions needed or monthly fees, just your usual antenna connection like a VCR. I slogged through many of the reviews and found that people who went straight from VCR to this unit loved it and found it easy to operate. It has about a 75% user approval rating, which for a product like this is amazingly high. The main ones complaining were people who were used to TIVO's programming guide, or were expecting it to deliver high-def resolution. 'Course, if your mom's a cable TV user, don't know where to point you... Regards, Wayne A. Pflughaupt My Equipment List “A nice mid-fi system,” according to an audiophile acquaintance. See my reviews SVS SBS/SCS-01 5.0 Home Theater Speaker Ensemble / SVS SB12-Plus: The Mouse that Roars Four Subwoofers Face Off: SVS PB10-ISD Takes On A Few Competitors / Mini Review: Yamaha YST-MS50 Computer Speakers See my tech articles On Minimal EQ, Target Levels, and a Hard-Knee House Curve / In-Wall Wiring for your Home Theater A Comprehensive Guide to Splicing Speaker Wire / House Curve: What it is, why you need it, how to do it