🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <apw.716179625@ee.uts.EDU.AU> apw@ee.uts.edu.au (Tony Watson) writes:
>I'm looking to purchase a VCR.  
>
>One requirement then has to be a  well-designed  remote control (there are
>some "shockers" out there) -- well suited to changing channels, etc.

Like another reader I also have to recommend the latest Sharp VCR's.

I actually purchased another (better quality) VCR and returned it for the
Sharp when I realised how badly designed its "user-interface" was. For me
ease-of-use and functionality was more important than having the hi-ghest 
fi etc.

The Sharp is the best designed control system I have seen in any piece of
electronics. Also the ergonomics of the remote control are excellent, all
the important buttons are right at the spots your finger-tips rest natur-
ally. 

Some features (which I am sure other VCR's may also have) 

+ If the machine is off and you place a rented video (or any non-writable
video) into the system, it will automatically turn itself on, then autom-
atically play the video, then automatically rewind the video, then autom-
atically eject the video and turn itself off.

+ Every time you hit the record button it places a marker on the tape and
you can skip easily too these markes with an automatic search facility. I
have never needed to search back and forth for the beginning of any movie
or recording.  The important thing here is that the marker is tied to the
record key, so you don't need to remember to put the marker in or do any-
thing extra besides recording.

+ Most things are automatic - ie automatic tracking, automatic hifi sound
and colour.   Some of these also have manual capabilities but I find that 
the automatic control is excellent for 95% of the time.  

+ Programming of regular recording is nearly as easy as it can be (you do
it on the LCD on the remote and then send it to the VCR).  Similarly, one
time recording (ie record for two hours on channel 2 at 10pm tonight)  is
also very simple and intuitive.

+ Remote control includes nearly all the functions of the system and even
allows you to eject the video  (not really necessary since you need to go
to the VCR anyway, but something I have always "wanted" in a remote).

+ As another reader mentioned - the remote control has a front cover with
most of the commonly used keys ie play, ff, rw, stop, pause, power, eject
and channel changer (up and down - which is not a problem because you can
set it so that it cycles through the channels - and its often easier to 
feel for one button in the dark than try and type in 28).

+ There is no VCR-TV button, the system automatically changes between the
VCR or the TV output when appropriate (and in most cases it is!). This is
a big plus for me (although some people will argue).

+ Of course you can get all the features like long play, 2 or 4 heads (it
is important to get 4 heads for good freeze frame), and hi-fi, and impor-
tantly stereo TV too, plus a lot more eg auto-head cleaning.

Of course there are always negative too.  The Sharp machine is definitely
not the Rolls-Royce of VCR's.

In particular, some of the negatives -:

- The machine is not as tough as most other VCRs. It does not have a die-
cast single-piece chassis.  It is some sort of plastic or something. Also
its outer-case is not as tough as some others.  I wanted to rest a little 
TV on top but soon gave up that idea.

- The quality may not be as high as some others  (although the specs seem
to be up there (ie audio and video specs).  I have it hooked up to a hifi
for the stereo sound and hifi videos and it seems great to me.

All in all I would recommend it.   I have had it for 6 months and under a
lot of use it has been no problem.  I would recommend the top of the line
model with hifi and 4 heads etc.

>Some questions:
>     o Do people find "Long Play" useful ?

Yes, for when you want to go away and record lost of episodes of "Married
with Children" and "Star Trek".   It saves having to get friends come and
change the video for you.  Also good for long recordings ie Bathurst.

>o In terms of "programmability" (for recording) are all VCR's fairly
>   equal now ?  (in terms of number of programmes / length of time of
>   future recording).

Most only have 8 recording spots which for me is too few.  During ratings
I usually have them all filled.  Even if I do not watch them all it makes
the TV slave to me and not the other way around.

>o Some of them have on-screen programming -- is this much better than
>   other methods ?  (so much so, that I should only buy one that is
>   programmable on-screen).

This is good but the sharp has programming on the LCD on the remote which
is just as good.   It displays the time when not being used for something
else.

>Can you suggest other questions I should consider ?
>

THE PRICE!

Sharp VCR's are moderately (if not cheaply) priced.

Hope that helps, and by the way, although it may not look like it, I have
nothing to do with Sharp, I am just very happy with my VCR.

Good luck,
Ashley.


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