Have to buy a VCR, should I get the cheapest one possible or spend a little more on a decent one?

[Spoooon]

I'd like to get one with commercial skip, but I can't find one cheaper than $70 with that feature. The cheapest VCR that I've found was ~$45. The one that I'm leaning towards is this $100 Sony VCR because it has that commercial skip feature and is silver to match my TV and GCN.

I have to have one for school, but I was thinking that as long as I was spending the money, I could spend a little more and get what I want.

 

[Kalvin00]

Don't buy the low end VCRs. Cheap ones tend to stop working quickly..

 

[godspeedx]

Go with a nicer one. We got a really cheap one once and it was worthless. A nicer VCR will most likely outlast it's cost. If that makes sense. . .

 

[Spoooon]

Electronics sucks these days. The last VCR that my family had worked for over 10 years before it keeled over.
I guess I'm going to spend some more. Should I avoid getting a "factory reconditioned" one?

 

[StormRider]

Buy a decent one for the cheapest price possible.

Make sure you buy one with auto clock set feature -- it's great!

Make sure you buy one with decent programming user interface. My Toshiba has a really nice one. My Philips has a less nice one. And my combo Goldstar DVD/VCR has a horrible user interface because you have to hold down the arrow buttons to set the time -- you can't enter it directly.

 

[charliebrown]

VCR's are obsolete; go with a DVR.

 

[Fatdog]

The nicer ones will perform better all around. Fast forward, and rewind search will be less jumpy and snowy; the units will run quieter, and generally last longer.

 

[McCarthy]

Obviously charliebrown has not yet learned the skill called "reading"

Definately get a decent one. I got a cheapo Magnavox mono VCR as a gift some years back, couldn't return it so hooked it up. Audio is barely tolerable - like listening to someone's loud stereo through an apartment wall, picture isn't stable...it sucked. I've got two Sanyo stereo VCRs, both get used a lot, neither has ever given me any trouble. Sony VCRs have nice features, but like all Sony products I or friends have ever owned, die quickly. Folks had a RCA with commercial skip, I found the feature annoying (in that after recording it'd take over and go back to mark commercials, took 15-20 min, fine if you're recording unattended), but to each their own.

 

[NutBucket]

Get a Panasonic, Toshiba or JVC. We currently have all 3

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Get a Panasonic, Toshiba or JVC. We currently have all 3

All good choices Do you have a DVD? Get a combo unit with VCR & DVD in one

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Apex]

Also consider your display quality. JVC's, especially mid to higher end ones have better tuners. The Panasonics are not bad too.

 

[BurnItDwn]

make sure its stereo and not mono. mono vcrs suck.