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How To Buy A VCR Without Regrets
VCRs (video cassette recorders) are
much cheaper than they used to be. You used to have
to spend $1000 for a luxury VCR 10 years ago. Now you
can buy a top-of-the-line VCR for less than half that
amount. But just because you can buy a decent VCR for
under $250, that doesn't mean you want to throw money
away by finding out later that features you need are
missing.
The following checklist will tell you what features
to look for in a VCR. If you don't do a lot of recording,
you may not need some of these features. Either way,
you should at least be aware of them so that you can
make the most informed buying decision possible. Your
goal should be to get the most bang for your bucks,
meaning the most features for your money.
FEATURES TO LOOK FOR
1. Automatic Tracking
You may have difficulty watching video cassettes recorded
on another VCR due to some recording differences. Automatic
tracking automatically adjusts the video heads to account
for these differences.
2. Manual Tracking
Automatic tracking isn't perfect so you should have
the option to turn it off and manually adjust tracking.
3. 4 Video Heads (or more)
More heads give better quality recording and noise-free
still pictures.
4. Slow Motion Viewing Forward and Backward
5. Noise-free Still Picture
This generally requires at least 4 video heads.
6. SuperVHS (S-VHS)
With S-VHS, you get better picture quality. Also you
lose less quality when re-recording a videotape onto
S-VHS.
7. HQ
Adds additional video enhancement features.
8. Video/audio Input Jacks in Front
Make a recording from a video or any other source easily.
9. Video/audio Output Jacks
Sends a much better quality audio and video signal to
the TV than a single connect (f-connector) which carries
both the audio and video signal.
10. Flying Erase Heads
This eliminates noise in between recorded segments.
If you stop recording and then start recording again,
without flying erase heads, there will be noise in between
the last video segment you recorded and the new recording.
11. Recording Pause
The best VCRs allow you to pause playback at the point
where you want to start recording again, then press
RECORD, putting the VCR in recording pause mode. This
allows you to start recording right at the frame you
want to.
12. S-Video Out
Better quality picture, less bleeding of colors.
13. S-Video In
Gives a higher quality picture when viewing or recording
video from other sources, such as a video camera or
another VCR.
14. Indexing
Creates an index mark when you start a recording. Easily
jump from recording to recording by jumping from index
to index mark.
15. Cable compatible
Watch cable TV without a box.
16. Time remaining/time-elapsed counter
Makes it much easier to determine how much blank tape
you have left or how much you can fit on a tape.
One more important detail - Check out
the return policy before you buy. Refunds should be
in the same form as your payment, i.e. cash or credit
card. Don't pay by check, as it may limit your refund
options more than other payment forms. There are places
that give refunds as a check in the mail within 30 days.
Stay away from these places. They are usually discount
outlets. You never know when you will end up with a
defective VCR. You don't want to have to wait 30 days
to buy another one. As long as you know you can get
a refund when things don't work out, your VCR buying
experience will be risk-free.
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