HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: BCC100@psuvm.psu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: LaserDisc Rental Jersey/PA Area
Date: 14 Apr 92 13:52:18 GMT
Organization: Penn State University

In response to your question about places to rent laserdiscs in the Philly
area, I only know of one place.  Out in Wayne PA there is a Laserland
Store that has a wide selection of titles for rent and for sale.  Sorry but I
don't know costs to join or to rent.  I'm sure if you look them up in the
"Main Line" phonebook, you'll find them there.  All I know is that they are
located on Route 30 near Route 252.

                                   Good Luck.
From: levin@star-trek.bbn.com (Joel B Levin)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Columbia LD Club
Date: 9 Apr 1992 15:10:10 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: archive.bbn.com

tmkk@uiuc.edu (K. Khan) writes:

|BTW, to those of you already in the club, do they ever accept orders
|over the phone? When I was in some computer book club (also a "send in
|the card or we'll send you our selection of the month" type of club) I
|would call in to cancel the frequent backordered selections and at the
|same time choose a new selection which was in stock.

Yes.  It's an 800 number staffed for long hours.  You can do
everything you would do on the return card.

	/JBL
=
Nets: levin@bbn.com  |  "There were sweetheart roses on Yancey Wilmerding's
 or {...}!bbn!levin  |  bureau that morning.  Wide-eyed and distraught, she
POTS: (617)873-3463  |  stood with all her faculties rooted to the floor."
                     |					-- S. J. Perelman
From: hughes@gary.enet.dec.com (Gary Hughes - VMS Development)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Macrovision dying?
Date: 9 Apr 92 18:37:30 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <1992Apr9.144341.11985@tc.fluke.COM>, strong@tc.fluke.COM (Norm Strong) writes...
>Is Macrovision becoming less popular?  The last 8 tapes I rented had
>none, and these were recent releases, the type you would expect to have
>Macrovision.  Disney tapes still seem to have it, and certain Fox
>releases.  But, by and large, it seems to be a decreasing problem.  

Maybe MacroVision are upping their prices? They've become a lot more vocal
about encrypting satellite signals lately suggesting that they are looking for
other markets.

gary
From: pradeep@watson.ibm.com (Pradeep Dubey)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: summarizing response to TR81 criticism
Date: 17 Apr 92 18:41:59 GMT
Reply-To: pradeep@watson.ibm.com (Pradeep Dubey)
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM

Hello,
I received several mails in reponse to my criticism
of TR81.  It seems I was wrong in assuming that RICOH lens
is better than SONY and hence provides better picture quality.
I was told that almost any lens these days can provide
all the reolution needed for the current CCD camcorder technology.
Also I was told that hi-8 provides better pictures even without
the S-connector.
Finally, almost everyone agreed that the 6-year warranty of RICOH
is the real winner and would make it a better buy than SONY.
Pradeep
Newsgroups: rec.video,rec.audio
From: strong@tc.fluke.COM (Norm Strong)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Macrovision dying?
Date: 9 Apr 92 14:43:41 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA

Is Macrovision becoming less popular?  The last 8 tapes I rented had
none, and these were recent releases, the type you would expect to have
Macrovision.  Disney tapes still seem to have it, and certain Fox
releases.  But, by and large, it seems to be a decreasing problem.  
-- 

Norm Strong  (strong@tc.fluke.com)
2528 31st S.   Seattle WA 98144   USA
From: bollard@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Lee M. Bollard)
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 14:47:25 GMT
Subject: Laserdisc rentals mailorder?
Organization: Hewlett Packard Company, Spokane, Wa.
Newsgroups: rec.video

I heard that there was a place that rents laserdiscs via the mail.
Price was reported to be $7 and a mailback container was included.

Does anyone know the name or number or details/experiences with such
a business?


Regards,

Lee Bollard              
HP Spokane Division
bollard@hpspkla.spk.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: dyang@latour.bellcore.com (Danny Yang)
Subject: recommendation needed for 3080
Organization: Morristown Research and Engineering
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 92 13:30:23 GMT

1. I heard a lot of complaints about 3090, how is 3080?
2. Tops and Wiz in NJ will beat any lowerst price in 
advertisements, the lowest one for 3080 I have in hand 
is $775 (advertised by American Audio in Stereo Review 7/91)
But the lowest price I can find for 3090 is $679.99 (advertised
by ABE's in Video Review). Did anyone see a better ads. for 3080?
and where?
3. Same question for SONY 605, how is it compared with 3080?
what is the lowest price ever advertised? where can I find it?


Danny Yang
From: surge@en.ecn.purdue.edu (PhD-in-Training)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Experiences with Lewis and Clark (of NYC). Anyone?
Date: 7 Apr 92 20:03:31 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Apr2.145219.10149@Warren.MENTORG.COM> samir@samir.Warren.MENTORG.COM (Samir Agarwal) writes:
>
>Has anyone out there done business with the "Lewis and Clark" mail order store
>of NYC? They seem to have very competitive prices. I am wondering if there is
>a catch somewhere.
>
>Any experiences with them. Anyone?

Peering at the mail order ads, I thought that I could afford a
TR-81....as it turns out, most gray-market mail order houses (esp
in NYC) "didn't have it in stock."  I finally decided to get the
TR-7 and Lewis & Clark quoted a tempting price of $650,
delivered.  I asked the guy, "do you have in stock" twice.  The
second time he was a little irritated and said "For the second
time, we have it."  After taking my name but before taking my
credit card number, he tried to sell me some other model that I
never heard of (at $100 more).  When I refused, he said, "it will
take 2 - 3 weeks to deliver the TR-7, will that be a problem?"
Our conversation ended there.

In frustration, I decided to ruin myself financially and buy a
TR-81 from a more reputable dealer (for upto $950).  Even among many
"authorized" Sony dealers, they inisisted on adding $40+ for
shipping unless I also bought a shitload of crap (like cases,
filters, etc).  They didn't want to just sell me the camera.
Finally, I bought a TR-81 from Electronic Wholesalers of Wayne,
NJ.  I am kind of nervous about it, but they sold me a TR-81 for $959
delivered.  Any horror stories about them?

It may be of interest: Sony of America's number is
1-800-222-SONY.  You can ask if a certain place is an authorized
Sony mail-order dealer.  They also said that if you buy a real
Sony from a non-dealer, the warranty is still good (can be
serviced at any local dealer).  BTW, Elec Wholes`r is not (even
though their ad suggests it).

			CAVEAT EMPTOR (something like that!)

--Surge "if-it-sounds-too-good--it-is" Mukherjee
From: cantrell@seqp4.sequoia.com (Paul Cantrell)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: LD & S-VHS recommendations.
Summary: CWO & New West both seem good
Date: 10 Apr 92 15:30:18 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Sequoia Computer Systems

> In <11381@weiwei> gank@Software.Mitel.COM (Kok-Ti Gan) writes:
> >I am planning to mail order these and have been considering to get them from
> >either CWO or New West Elec. Are these reputable mail order dealers and
> >which one should I order from.

I've heard many people speak well of CWO. As for New West Elec, I recently
purchased a 31" Television from them and was pleased with their service.
Specifically:

	I called a total of 4 times, and the people were very pleasant
	each time.

	On the first call, I had questions about 4 different sets, and the
	person spent the time to go over specifications and prices with me.
	This was on an 800 number, by the way.

	The set was delivered exactly when they said it would be (2 days)

	They were the second lowest price. The lowest was a NY firm, and I
	don't do business with the NY firms. In any case, the difference was
	fairly small, and one other firm (not NWE) indicated that the price
	quoted by the NY firm was below cost, and that they would try to get
	me to switch. Don't know who was lying, except that it wasn't NWE.

	No pressure, no rush.

So I'd say that both firms seem to be legit, and pleasant to deal with.

					PC
-- 
cantrell@sequoia.com
Newsgroups: rec.video,misc.forsale
From: gutierre@noc2.arc.nasa.gov (Robert Michael Gutierrez)
Subject: FOR SALE: Sharp Multistandard VCR
Organization: NASA Science Internet Network Operations
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 03:36:10 GMT

FOR SALE:

Sharp VC-77EN  Multistandard VHS VCR.

	Plays/Records:
	 * - NTSC 3.58 (North America) and 4.43
	 * - PAL
	 * - MESECAM

	Will convert NTSC color to PAL color for PAL-only TV's.
	(MUST be newer PAL TV or access to vertical hold to adjust for
	 NTSC frame rate.  Will *NOT* convert frame rate, only color).

	Receives over the air:
	 * - North American NTSC (USA/Canada/Mexico)
	 * - PAL B/G, PAL I and PAL D/K
	 * - MESECAM B/G, MESECAM D/K, MESECAM K1

	Note: Does NOT receive/record/play SECAM-L (French SECAM).
	      Does NOT play/rec EP (PAL or NTSC) tapes.  Only SP speed tapes.

Other than the multistandard functions, it is an otherwise normal linear mono
VCR.  Remote control, 8 event/1 year program, Index search system, real-time
counter and search/slo-mo/frame advance/repeat playback.

Uses anything between 110-220 volts, 50 or 60 cycles.  Standard plug is
2 prong european plug.  Comes with USA adapter.

Also uses european RF input/output.  I do not have an adaptor for the US
standard connector (F-59 connector).  Has standard Video/Audio connectors.

MUST HAVE A MULTISTANDARD or PAL TV TO USE (or a outboard convertor like
"The Kitchen Sync" or a Panasonic AG-W1).

Used 3 times so far.  Have had for less than 1 month.  Originally bought
for $450.  Will sell for $350/best offer.

Contact:	Robert Gutierrez
		email <gutierre@nsipo.nasa.gov>
		Phone: 510-791-9088 (home, before 3pm)
		       415-604-3655 (work, btwn 4pm-12 midnight)

Thanks.


Newsgroups: rec.video
From: datri@convex.com (Anthony A. Datri)
Subject: Re: CD rot -- who gives a damn?
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 21:26:16 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

>As for CDs vs. records, yeah, CDs sound a lot better (less noisy), but records
>have shown an infinite storage lifetime.

The typical LP is made from vinyl that includes ground-up returns or
pre-consumer waste.  I've had several with large peices of label in them.

The typical LP formulation also included plasticizers and various other
semi-volatile compounds.  These outgas over time.  Plastic inner sleeves also
oftenoutgas and in other ways react chemically with the LP.  The typical paper
sleeve is acidic since people think that paper should be white, and the acids
also attack the LP.  An LP that is accidentally dropped is often toast, and
it's easy to render an LP unplayable by scratching it.

>Digital post-processing can always
>eliminate the noise with no noticeable degradation in fidelity.

So, where can I buy a box that does this?
-- 


======================================================8--<
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: synth@dreamtime.unm.edu (Synth F. Oberheim)
Subject: Comments wanted: Toshiba, JVC, Mitsubishi SVHS decks
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 92 05:17:27 GMT
Organization: SynthMuzik Productions Ltd.:  The Danes Call It Quality
Distribution: na

I'm currently looking at purchasing an SVHS VCR for dubbing and editing,
and would appreciate it if Toshiba, JVC and Mitsubishi SVHS owners could
drop me a brief line in email about your experiences and/or satisfaction
with your machine.  How much did you buy it for?  Is it easy to operate?
Has it been reliable?  (JVC owners: please briefly mention if you've had
problems with the infamous hi-fi dropouts!)  If there are enough responses
I will of course post a summary.

Also:  mail-order sources for Toshiba or Mitsubishi would be greatly
appreciated.

Email a followup to this post or write me at one of the following below.
Many thanks!


===============================================================================
    :: :: :: :: ::     Synth          synth@dreamtime.unm.edu  Ask Me About My
 :: :: :: :: :: :: ::  (F. Oberheim)  synth@yenta.alb.nm.us    Psychopathology
===============================================================================
"Would you like some pie?"  "MASSIVE, MASSIVE QUANTITIES -- AND A GLASS OF
 			     WATER, SWEETHEART, MY SOCKS ARE ON FIRE!"
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: Jim Cook <J.Cook@ENS.Prime.COM>
Subject: Re: CD rot -- who gives a damn?
Reply-To: <J.Cook@ENS.Prime.COM>
Organization: Prime Computer, Inc.
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 13:43:24 GMT

Whether you believe this was an April 1 joke or not, the possibility with 
problems with the longitivity of CD's exists.  I became aware of this 
when reading an article on the archival lifetime of various computer storage
media, which included CD-ROM (same format approximately as music CDs) and
read/write optical.

The problem is that if air and therefore moisture can get at the reflective
coating made out of aluminum, it will oxidize and therefore introduce errors.
There is one company out there that claims to produce CDs for archiving by
using a coat of gold, not aluminum, to provide the reflective layer, saying
gold will not have the oxidation problem.  There is no test data yet.  (And
no, you cannot post-process your existing CDs to use gold instead of 
aluminum).

The solution, if there is a problem, may be better sealing of CDs.  No idea
what to do about existing CDs.

As for CDs vs. records, yeah, CDs sound a lot better (less noisy), but records
have shown an infinite storage lifetime.  Digital post-processing can always
eliminate the noise with no noticeable degradation in fidelity.

Jim
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Subject: Re: CD rot -- who gives a daRn?
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 14:28:42 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.134324.4520@primerd.prime.com>, J.Cook@ENS.Prime.COM (Jim Cook) writes:
> 
> Whether you believe this was an April 1 joke or not, the possibility with 
> problems with the longitivity of CD's exists.  I became aware of this 
> when reading an article on the archival lifetime of various computer storage
> media, which included CD-ROM (same format approximately as music CDs) and
> read/write optical.
> 
> The problem is that if air and therefore moisture can get at the reflective
> coating made out of aluminum, it will oxidize and therefore introduce errors.
> There is one company out there that claims to produce CDs for archiving by
> using a coat of gold, not aluminum, to provide the reflective layer, saying
> gold will not have the oxidation problem.  There is no test data yet.  (And
> no, you cannot post-process your existing CDs to use gold instead of 
> aluminum).
> 
> The solution, if there is a problem, may be better sealing of CDs.  No idea
> what to do about existing CDs.
> 
> As for CDs vs. records, yeah, CDs sound a lot better (less noisy), but records
> have shown an infinite storage lifetime.  Digital post-processing can always
> eliminate the noise with no noticeable degradation in fidelity.
> 
> Jim
> 

Does anyone out there actually have a CD which lasted for many years and then
started showings signs of this rot?  I've heard reports of CDs and laser
discs that showed signs of it within a few months, but that was due to
manufacturing defects and doesn't reflect what will happen to good LD/CDs.
If no one can produce any real evidence of it, then this whole issue is a moot
point.  CDs, like everything else, will eventually rot, but it might take
2000 years for it to occur -- who knows?!?

Steve
Newsgroups: rec.video,rec.audio
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Subject: Re: LD & S-VHS recommendations.
Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 92 15:17:21 GMT

In article <1992Apr9.163843.5384@news.eng.convex.com>, datri@convex.com (Anthony A. Datri) writes:
> 
> 
> >Lastly (and also concerning using it as a CD player), it is missing a
> >"peak search" function for automatically scanning the disc for the loudest
> >passage -- this is very useful for setting the recording level of a tape
> >deck when making copies of CDs and I wish the 333 had it.
> 
> Do CD players these days really have pseudo peak-searches?  Do you tape CD's
> that have enough dynamic range for it to matter?

That feature is available on a lot of dedicated CD players these days.  I've
never had the opportunity to try it, but yes it should be very useful.  The
dynamic range doesn't really have much to do with it though, the usefulness
of setting the recording level to the absolutely highest level possible
without distortion is that if the music is recorded at this level the amount
of noise you hear on the recording is reduced.  I.E. the louder you have to
turn up your amplifier while playing a tape, the more noise you hear because
the noise gets amplified as well.  So, if you record the CD at the loudest
level possible without distortion, then you hear less tape hiss.  On the
other hand, if you blindly set the recording level and set it higher
then the tape you are using can handle, the sound will be distorted.
The more past the limit of the tape, the more distorted the recording will
be.

By finding the loudest passage on the CD, you can ideally set the recording
level.

Anyway, this is turning into an audio discussion, so it should be moved to
rec.audio.cd or some other group.

Steve
From: chan@hpfcmgw.FC.HP.COM (Chan Benson)
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 17:29:21 GMT
Subject: Re: SONY TR 91 Camcorder  ?
Organization: HP Fort Collins, CO
Newsgroups: rec.video

>> Also, there appear to be clones of the TR81 from Yashica and Ricoh.
>> What does one sacrifice by purchasing these cheaper copies, apart from
>> not getting the Sony name ?
> 
> They are the same as the Sony unit.  Ricoh gives you 1 year part and labor.  
> Sony is only 90 days on labor.  Sony will now charge you $150 just to tell what 
> is wrong after 90 days.

The Ricoh R88-H has different optics than the Sony TR-81.

			-- Chan
From: killeen@spcvxb.spc.edu (Jeff Killeen)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Sony TR-101 camcorder announced
Date: 15 Apr 92 22:46:21 GMT
Organization: SPC Community Access System

In article <kup7pbINN940@jethro.Corp.Sun.COM>, dfc@sunflare.Corp.Sun.COM (Dan Currie) writes:
> In article 18172@oasys.dt.navy.mil, goldberg@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Mark Goldberg) writes:
>>This is probably the embodiment of the "TR-91" discussed on the net.
>>I saw it listed in an ad in the May Videomaker.  Features include 10X
>>zoom and some sort of built-in stabilization.  Looks are similar to
>>the TR-81.  I have also seen TR-81 prices drop in the ads.
> 
> The TR-101 also goes as low as 3 lux and the focal length is 6.2 - 62.  I
> also heard that it has a zoom microphone, whatever that is. No word yet on
> the price.

What would get me to trade up my TR81 clone would be to hear it had time 
encoding.  Any news on that front?
From: KROVETZ@CS.UMASS.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Macrovision and monitor interference
Date: 13 Apr 92 03:54:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Internet

I'm curious which receivers/monitors are known to have
trouble with macrovision (not copying, but simply playing
a tape that has been encoded with macrovision). 

Thanks,
Bob

krovetz@cs.umass.edu
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Sony camera/video editing system
From: ajit@actrix.gen.nz (Ajit Rasiah)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 06:48:50 GMT
Organization: Actrix Information Exchange


Hi netters, I am interested in buying a VHS video recorder which
can connect to a SONY video camera to form an editing "system"
i.e the camera will be controlled to a certain degree by the
VCR. There are two models currently on the market that offer
this, these being the SONY 777 and the SONY 815. The camera is
a TR75E (this might be marketed under a different name in
other countries but basically it is an 8mm handycam with 8xzoom
and hifi sound).

Any comments on the following will be appreciated:

- The flexibility and usefulness of this editing system over
more conventional forms of dubbing (i.e the good old "pause"
button!)

- Comments on the SONY 777 and the SONY 815 (again these might
be marketed under different names in different countries but
basically the 815 is the latest VHS model released by SONY).

- Not wanting to cause a debate on the net, but why not another
brand such as Panasonic or Mitsubishi (in terms of the picture
and sound quality, and ease of use). I realise that with another
brand, I may not be able to couple the camera and the VCR into
an editing "system".

Xref: sparky rec.video:6235 misc.forsale:13965
From: wong@athena.mit.edu (David C. Wong)
Newsgroups: rec.video,misc.forsale
Subject: Re: New Pioneer LD players???
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:46:45 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You're right.  Pioneer released their latest models last year in the
  middle of May.  So now is the perfect time to sell off the old ones.
--
      David Wong                                    wong@athena.mit.edu
                            I can be found at:
 athena.forsale, misc.forsale, misc.forsale.computers, ne.forsale, ne.wanted
        comp.sys.mac.hardware, comp.sys.mac.wanted, alt.food.cocacola
From: euahac@eua.ericsson.se (Hakan Carlson)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: THX (The name)
Date: 6 Apr 92 14:29:39 GMT
Organization: Ellemtel Telecom Systems Labs, Stockholm, Sweden

Sorry if this is a THX FAQ.

But, anyway!

Did you now that George Lucas first film was called THX?
From: rjn@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Bob Niland)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 13:23:55 GMT
Subject: Re: Fantasia 50 days?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard/WSY Ft.Collins,CO,USA
Newsgroups: rec.video

In rec.video, pirrung@NADC.NADC.NAVY.MIL (G. Pirrung) writes:

> I have not seen discussion herein adressing the fact that Disney
> actually made Fantasia available for 75 days, and not the 50 as
> originally advertised.

There's a Disney store in Denver (Cherry Creek Mall), company-owned as far
as I can tell, and as of 04 April, they still had Fantasia tapes on the
shelf.
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (K. Khan)
Subject: Re: Surround Sound on TV Broadcasts
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 14:23:20 GMT


In article <1992Apr7.152549.13272@umiami.ir.miami.edu> jdeitch@umiami.ir.miami.edu writes:
>robe@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (robert.g.egan) writes:
>> tmkk@uiuc.edu (K. Khan) writes:
>> 
>>> Speaking of Dolby Surround TV shows, did anyone watch "Mann and Machine"
>>> on NBC Sunday night? Methinks the recording engineer who did Fantasia
>>> also works for this show. ;-)
>> 
>> I'm glad someone else noticed and posted about M and M because I thought
>> my hardware was going crazy. It had to be the worst example of TV Dolby
>> Surround so far. But I think the tape master was SNAFUed not the recording
>> engineer.
>
>All it takes is for someone to decide to throw a little reverb on the VTR's
>output at the network end of things and the whole surround signal's screwed.

I know what you mean: our local NBC affiliate puts a little reverb into
the audio which gives it a "pseudo-surround" effect when run through a
Dolby ProLogic processor (the reverberated portion of the signal is phase
shifted and thus routed to the back speakers by the processor). However,
this effect is distinct and easy to recognize, and they had most
definitely turned it OFF during M&M on my local station (the sound
field collapsed to fronts only during commercials, with none of the
reverb effect).

The music sounded pretty horrid, and the way they routed sounds through
the surround channel made it twice as bad. :-(

IMHO, of course - I'm not a professional TV critic. ;-)