My Samsung sv5000w vcr died recently (apparently the power unit if its the same as all the others I've read about). So now I have the option of taking it to a repair shop, where they'll no doubt charge me more than the cost of a new one to do a crappy job, or I can buy a new multisystem vcr. The alternative is to buy a multiregion dvd player, and replace all my vhs stuff. I guess it would cost me a lot either way, but this seems like a more permanent solution. Anyone else had this vcr? Anyone else just dumped the vhs tapes?

Dumped mine. I'll check if the kids still use it, else I'll sell you my Aiwa duel player... They are cheap enough now anyway, probably more to ship....

VHS? I remember the letters, but forget what they mean...

Seriously though, quality difference alone should more than make you want to replace your collection. That, and I forget the last time my DVD player chewed up a disk...

Definitely replace your collection with DVD's, and then have the pleasure of replacing them again in a couple of years when, and if, HD-DVD and/or Blu-ray take off.

I bought a dual system vcr on Ebay for the sole purpose of writing vhs tapes to DVD (This is stuff taped off the telly, not films bought on vhs).

Lets face it, VHS is dead, and a multiregion DVD can be had for less than $100. Your tapes will degrade over time too. So unless you havea huge collection of VHS stuff - i'd dump it.

Yeah, my only problem was that I have some hard-to-find stuff on vhs, but you're all right. Its got to go!

Move to the 21t century

I bought a DVD recorder and copied all my VHS over to DVD, it's the bollocks, I can record straight from my camcorder to DVD as well.

You can buy DVD recorders now for less than $200.

http://www.store.philips.com/b2c_red...72&shop=DIRECT

I still have my vinyl too!

Just keep it out of the sun. I've loads of vinyl and have slowly been recording it onto digital (though keeping the hiss out is hard). But I think I'll always keep the vinyl. Good job I don't have as much as the bloke in High Fidelity.

What's a vcr? I remember having a video a while ago. I managed to pick up a Region 1 dvd player which is region free via a few nifty pushes on my remote for $30. Still going strong after a year with a 2 yr old, whereas my xbox died a while ago. Look on http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/info/m...n/hackable.asp for models to fiddle with.

Yeah, I know theres plenty to choose from. Thats not the point. I kinda answered my own question, I guess. Its just a hassle to find and replace a bunch of tapes

I have had one for the past 6 years and it is not a bad unit. I would not bother getting the bloody thing repaired as it will cost way too much. Check on ebay for another one or as u suggested use a dvd player like the philips 642 which plays all formats of dvd/s, .

I bought a multiregion PAL to NTSC DVD player recently from one of those online importers (it was local so i bought direct) the model is Yamaha DVD S657, its about $200 but plays any DVD and converts the signal so your UK movies will play on a US NTSC television and if you have a multisystem TV that also does PAL it plays UK films directly as PAL so you dont get the slight degradadtion in quality thet the PAL-NTSC coversion causes. Theres several versions of this player but you may want the one like mine that outputs native PAL (not just PAL converted to NTSC), this version is not modified and comes as is from factory.

Its officially a region 3 player and you have to use a plug adapte (or change plug) but the point is it works and looks and sounds great.

I've mentioned this before in another thread.

Go to Wally World and buy the ilo DVDR04 model player/recorder for $98. Then do a google search on the make and model and you'll find a fix for a hidden menu that converts it to a region-free player/recorder. Works well. I've had PAL region 2 discs playing on it with no problems and sent discs recorded on it to UK and they have played without any problems.