From: allane@earth.gas.unsw.OZ.AU (Allan Evans,Geography,x4397)
Subject: Re: VCR buying
Summary: The use and abuse of Panasonic VCR's
Keywords: VCR, remote control, binkers, etc.
Reply-To: allane@earth.gas.unsw.OZ.AU
Organization: School of Geography, UNSW.
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 00:38:10 GMT

For those that followed up to my article... sorry I took so long to respond.

The thread that I was responding to was about VCR's... specifically the Panasonic
NV-J45 with NTSC playback ("emulation"). I griped that it always appeared in 
black and white, with bars at the top and bottom (due to fewer lines in NTSC), and
that the clarity was not very good. Several people followed up, all with successful
anecdotes regarding the feature. I have tried three examples of the NV-J45, one at 
work, one at my neighbours, and one at home. My VCR was also connected at my
neighbours house... with the same result. The TV's that were used:

Panasonic TC-68A61 Stereo - One of those huge "black flat screen" jobs with all the
trimmings. It was purchased about 8 months ago.

A similar NEC machine... also about 8 months old.

A small AWA 14" colour TV with analog adjustments for tuning. It was purchased about
3 years ago.

Given the overwhelming response that indicates that the thing SHOULD work, I guess 
that the source of my tape must come into question. The only source that I have over
here is a small JVC VHS-C camcorder... you pop the little cassette into a large shell
that spools the VHS tape out to run on a normal machine. The tapes from this device 
have been used on at least six different VCR's in Canada of varying ages, all without
any difficulty. It is possible that the signal from this camcorder is off enough that
a native machine is not bothered, but the PAL emulation of NTSC cannot handle it. This
makes me very curious... any suggestions?

The second part of my gripes was to do with the ergonomics of the VCR controls. I 
complained that to turn the thing on to watch TV you had to 1) turn on the VCR and TV
2) open a little door, 3) find the vcr/tv switch that defaults so that the VCR is not
being used as a signal source (if I didn't want to use it, why the hell did I turn it
on????) 4) etc.

The real complaint here is that little buttons that might be used frequently, are 
hidden amongst lots of little buttons that are used infrequently. Would it not make
more sense to make channel changing and vcr/tv switches larger... or at least placed
at one end?

Some enlightened individuals suggested using the remote control. Oddly enough, I have
thought of that, but the ergonomics of the remote are not any better. I even have the
bloody little thing here... on the outside:

vtr (turn the VCR on), scanner on/off, transmit, pause/still, stop, etc (very good,
things are looking up). I have no complaint with these buttons. They are large, well
placed, and easy to find. BUT, in order to use the VCR you have to set the VCR/TV 
switch to send the signal to the TV. THIS button is located inside the remote,
hidden amongst no less than *THIRTY FIVE* buttons that are approximately 3mm in
diameter. The buttons that might be used more often are the record buttons, the vcr/tv button (or vtr/tv as they put it), channel buttons (what no up and down channel buttons?), etc. These buttons are no larger, or better placed, than the myriad of 
other small buttons for tracking, setting the clock, etc. COME ON, do you really 
think that this is the empitome of ergonomic design????? NOT! (this seemed an 
appropriate place to use this ridiculous Wayne-ism).

If everyone truely believes that a remote with a myriad of small, difficult to find
and press buttons is the true path to grand ergonomic design, then I will desist, 
firm in the knowledge that Panasonic actually did market research. This research must
have proved that people want, like, and enjoy an endless array of buttons and pretty
lights more than they enjoy using the bloody things.

Al
_______________________________________________________________________________
| Allan H. Evans * School of Geography * UNSW * PO Box 1 Kensington 2033 Aust.|
| allane@earth.gas.unsw.OZ.AU  Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Systems |