How to Choose the Right VCR

Today's VCRs offer quite a variety of features. Do your homework before buying so you don't get stuck paying for options you aren't going to use.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Movies
• VCRs
• Universal remote control
• Videocassettes

1. Decide how you're going to use the machine. Will you use it just to run video rentals or do you intend to tape television shows? Will you be taping sports events so you can break down the action later?

2. Determine if you want automatic features such as auto start, which turns on the VCR whenever a tape is inserted; auto rewind, which automatically rewinds a tape once it gets to the end; auto shutoff, which shuts off the VCR automatically; or auto eject, which ejects the cassette when the VCR shuts off.

3. Decide if you want index search, which marks the tape each time you record so that you can return to the exact spot either by number or by scanning forward or backward. Another feature, jog shuttle, lets you scan at various speeds, from frame by frame to warp speed.

4. Think about different playback options, such as still picture/frame-by-frame playback, slow motion/reverse slow motion, and variable-speed search/reverse-motion playback.

5. See if you want VCR Plus, a way to automatically tape shows easily.

6. Figure out if you want special features such as digital effects, including picture in picture, which lets you see two programs simultaneously; or flying erase head, which is used to edit tapes. Other features include manual tracking, editing from a camcorder, editing to or from another VCR and audio dubbing.

Tips & Warnings

• If you ever tape shows, think about index search or high-speed searching methods.
• If you watch or tape sports events and like to deconstruct the action, consider advanced playback options.
• If you tape shows regularly, consider VCR Plus.

on 11/22/2005 Try to get a hold of the owner's manual prior to purchasing a specific unit. Since you'll have to live with the new model for the next several years, make sure that it has all the features you want and can use.

on 11/22/2005 "Movie Advance" automatically skips previews and finds the beginning of the movie on a pre-recorded tape. It can also be used while watching previews to skip to the next preview.

on 11/22/2005 "Commercial Advance" automatically fast-forwards through commercials during playback of shows from TV. (This differs from "commercial skip," which merely fast-forwards 1, 2 or 3 minutes.)

on 11/22/2005 The "hi-fi stereo" feature is required in order to hear stereo or surround sound from pre-recorded tapes.

on 11/22/2005 Buy a separate rewinder and always use it to avoid wear and tear on your VCR.