My VCR needs a digital replacement!

November 15, 2007 10:29 AM

My VCR died. I want to replace it with a digital recorder ...

... preferably one that accepts and dupes videotapes to a digital format (allowing me to archive my tapes so I can junk them), plus burns DVDs. I also want it to have a built-in tuner and remote. And, of course, a hard drive. Are these out there for under, say, $300-$400? Recommendations?

posted by Camofrog to technology (4 comments total)

You probably won't be able to find one that handles VHS, DVD, and has a hard drive. You will probably only find a VHS/DVD or a DVD/Hard Drive. You'll have to decide which is more important. Your local wal-mart should have them, prices range from $100 to $300.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:01 AM on November 15, 2007

How about:
http://support.jvc.com/consumer/product.jsp?archive=true&pathId=115&modelId=MODL027321

"Hard Drive/DVD/VHS Recorder Deck"

(I know nothing about it. Googled "dvd dvr vhs combo")
posted by ManInSuit at 2:29 PM on November 15, 2007

That is indeed exactly what I want ... but it gets sketchy reviews over at Amazon and appears to have been discontinued.
posted by Camofrog at 3:02 PM on November 15, 2007

If I were you, I'd get the DVD/HD combo thing and make sure it can record from a composite input. Then go get a $20 VHS player from crack converters (pawnshop) and record your tapes from that.
posted by polyglot at 6:33 PM on November 15, 2007