From: pjc@YP.melb.bull.com (Paul Carapetis)
Subject: Re: Advice sought on buying a VCR
Organization: Bull HN Information Systems Australia.
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 06:14:12 GMT

apw@ee.uts.edu.au (Tony Watson) writes:

>o Are all hi-fi VCRs, stereo ?    (I'd hate to overlook the obvious)

Yes, though all stereo VCRs are not necessarily Hi-Fi!

>o The number of heads a VCR has seems to be important.  From what I've
>  established:  2 heads is average;  3 heads gives you better "stills";
>  4 heads are necessary for "Long Play" mode.

>     o Is this correct ?

Generally

>     o Do people find "Long Play" useful ?

For short-term personal storage, yes.  I have an NEC Digital Hi-Fi which
was one of the first to combine these features (it is a little over 3 years
old now) but it will only record audio at LP which gives you up to 8 hours
of high quality stereo audio availability per E240 tape.  Sometimes I miss
the video LP ability, but I could count these times on one hand.

>     o Does the number of heads affect the hi-fi quality ?
>	(I've seen hi-fi in both 2 head and 4 head machines)

Not to my knowledge - just the still or slow quality.  My NEC has 4 heads
but 2 are for SP and 2 are for LP which, in reality, means that it is a 2
head unit.  For super steady stills and slow it uses digital technology to
"snap" the frames, thus giving it the ability to strobe or freeze live TV
(both of which I have found to be almost totally useless features) as well
as tapes.

>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 are equal - repetetive programming can be useful ie. record every week
day from 16:00 to 16:30 or whatever.

>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).

I don't see this as being a big issue.  I choose to do my programming on
screen with the NEC but it is just as easy from the front panel of the VCR.

Recommendations: My NEC (DX3000A) has performed faultlessly since the day I
had it delivered, is fairly easy to operate and has a fairly ergonomic
remote control.  The later models will record both video and audio at LP.

I also recommend the National/Panasonic VCRs as being well built and long
lasting.  JVC are also excellent units.

All 3 of these brands are more expensive than most of the others but if you
want something that will outlast the warranty period by more than a few
months, you tend to have to pay for it.  Look around and decide on which
unit you want _then_ go shopping for prices.  If you know exactly what you
want and are a serious buyer, most stores will start talking good prices.

Good luck and blueskies,
Paul

| Paul Carapetis, Software Advisor (Unix, DOS, C)|   Phone: 61 3 2464944     |
| Software Development Services                  |   Fax:   61 3 2464445     |
| Bull HN Information Systems Australia P/L ---------------------------------|
| Internet: pjc@melb.bull.oz.au            | There are only two experiences  |
| #define STD_DISCLAIMER _my_opinion_only  | in life: successes and lessons! |

--
| Paul Carapetis, Software Advisor (Unix, DOS, C)|   Phone: 61 3 2464944     |
| Software Development Services                  |   Fax:   61 3 2464445     |
| Bull HN Information Systems Australia P/L ---------------------------------|
| Internet: pjc@melb.bull.oz.au            | There are only two experiences  |
Newsgroups: aus.general