Standalone VCR party finally ends, JVC shuts the door as it leaves

We were fully prepared to start harshing on VHS as a dead-end technology that never went anywhere during its time in retail (as a joke, of course), and out of nowhere, a bona fide tear slowly ran down our left cheek. Today, friends, is a day worth remembering. Today truly marks the end of an era, as so far as we can tell, JVC really was the only company still producing standalone VCRs. Of course, the outfit will continue to serve customers with a need to play back VHS tapes by offering up DVD / VHS combo units, but those looking for a shiny new slice of retro in 2008 will be out of luck after remaining inventories dry up. All told, over 900 million VCRs were produced worldwide, with 50 million of those boasting a JVC label. We simply couldn't think of a more fitting way to put the iconic VCR (which just turned 30 in 2005) to bed than by hosting up a poll and soliciting your input -- here's hoping the videocassette lives on in your domicile in one form or another, even if it's just the resident dust collector.

[Via Impress]

Do you still own / use a VCR?

Yes! Use my standalone VCR regularly!I've got one in a combo unit.I've got one, but it hasn't been used in eons.No way -- sent mine to the thrift store years ago.Just picked up a huge lot on eBay!Did VHS really outlast HD DVD? Damn.Vote

[Sudo @ Oct 27th 2008 4:39PM]

A sad day, indeed. Those big bulky tapes had a nice smell.

[iEye @ Oct 27th 2008 5:01PM]

Actually quite scary...

Take any one of those movies in the picture, and I am sure you can find a website where you can watch it for free in the same qulity as the VHS...

[Samboini @ Oct 27th 2008 5:24PM]

My memories are akin to those expressed by Peter Kay! If anyone has a link to the stand-up please post!

[phanbouy @ Oct 27th 2008 6:43PM]

There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an ether binge.

[JohnTitor @ Oct 27th 2008 7:35PM]

what really sad is we missed a nice potential with VHS, when data's stored digitally you can make a lot of use for it, D-VHS movies can be upto 1080P and look as good as the expensive Blu-Ray, sans the MPAA's DRMs

[ntlam @ Oct 27th 2008 8:09PM]

Now go and buy a brand new unit and some nice VHS tape.... keep it properly in original packaging... wait for 20 years and then auction it off. Remember to buy that TV set as well.

[ishism @ Oct 27th 2008 10:12PM]

As a kid, my mom could never set the time on the VCR. I felt it was the one piece of electronics I could call my own. My father was a movie buff. He is first person to teach me about copying from VCR to VCR. I wish he could have seen the leaps in technology. I think he would have like that.

[loci @ Oct 28th 2008 4:00AM]

ive lots of good memories of going to the video store.

"the brood" was my first film...i was a horror fanatic as a kid.

strangely...i have no memeories with all the downloading ive done.

[Schwinn @ Oct 28th 2008 9:32AM]

@Ishism
Funny thing is, my VCR is still in my entertainment center, because it's the only clock that is in the room... ie, it's a clock that ALSO plays VHS tapes!

[DAZA @ Nov 3rd 2008 1:01AM]

It's not that sad of a day, as LG still produce standalone VCRs. http://au.lge.com/products/category/list/video_vcr.jhtml

[ScOrPiO @ Oct 27th 2008 4:40PM]

I thought they were extincted a long ago O_o

[From My Cube @ Oct 27th 2008 4:44PM]

are you trying to blow up the internet? "extincted "? Extinct is already refering to the past...extincted is past tense of somthing in the past....alsdfjlaskdfalsdnf




yeah its a real word....but its a real dumb word

[From My Cube @ Oct 27th 2008 4:41PM]

We salute you VHS tape.....












and betamax....dont you even think about coming out of the corner

[makalaster @ Oct 27th 2008 5:11PM]

the funny thing is that over the summer I worked for a company that still uses Digital Betamax tapes.

it killed me a little inside.

[aMac @ Oct 27th 2008 7:20PM]

@makalaster

I hope you don't mean DigiBeta, because that is not what you think it is.

[bboston7 @ Oct 27th 2008 7:21PM]

lol. My teachers use betamax and laserdisk all the time at school.

[Kali4 @ Oct 27th 2008 4:41PM]

The tape is dead. The tape is dead. Long live the disc! Long live the disc!

Sure am going to miss those "Please be kind, Rewind" stickers...

[Frogboy @ Oct 27th 2008 4:47PM]

Although the disc will almost definitely have a shorter shelf-life as digital downloads push it out the door.

[Aguiluz @ Oct 27th 2008 4:51PM]

Digital Downloads?

Those DRM-laden files that stress the end user? No, I don't think so.

I just got a Nokia 5310 from Rogers and guess what? Digital Downloads. I can't play my own MP3s I rip from the CDs I HAVE PURCHASED. So f*** digital downloads. Aside from the stressing DRM killing my items, it's also time consuming to download, limited to use and lesser fidelity. Yes, I tried to buy a song off Rogers store, and it didn't sound like what I have ripped, even if it says "256kbps." And it was a bigger filesize.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Oct 27th 2008 6:48PM]

You haven't been rewinding your DVDs before returning them? Wow, I'd hate to be in the room when you get that bill from the video store...

[Electromodo @ Oct 27th 2008 6:51PM]

@Aguiluz

Hey, everything you said is what other people said about music downloads. Look at them now - no DRM in most of the stores: Amazon, Zune, etc. (I do not use iTunes, so I am not sure). Unlimited music subscription, etc. And it's been only a few years!

I definitely think movie downloads will be widespread in a short time. And they will either be subscription based (kinda like TV channels now) or will have a non-DRM version for sale (probably with some resolution, format, etc. limitations).

So if you guys are complaining about DRM in movies now, you are probably short-sighted. Just wait for a little bit.

[Aguiluz @ Oct 27th 2008 7:26PM]

@Electromodo

If there is no DRM, the fact still remains that digital D/Ls still have limited quality compared to physical media.

And you'd still buy physical storage mediums.

[Mike10010100 @ Oct 27th 2008 8:36PM]

http://xkcd.com/488/

So remember: If you want a collection you can count on, PIRATE IT.

Hey, you'll be a criminal either way.

[lolwecsan @ Oct 27th 2008 5:17PM]

I have three standalone VCRs in my house , and a combo unit. I use one of them regularly. Everyony who needs a VCR probably already has one. And anyone who needs a VCR can still get a combo unit. But it's still kinda sad that they stopped making them.

[Aguiluz @ Oct 27th 2008 4:45PM]

I giggled a bit at the last poll option.

Anyway, yes, I have used VHS.

(Note: If this is a double-post, never mind. My comment didn't appear instantly so I think the password is wrong.)

[Jake @ Oct 28th 2008 7:26AM]

here's a helpful hint: the password, it does nothing.

-jp

[Joe @ Oct 27th 2008 4:54PM]

What a sad day for a great technology. I thought it was the longest running format and would almost choose it over DVD's. My VHS's still work great!!! Most of my DVD's are becoming all corroded as I near there useful shelf life? I thought they were supposed to last like 20 years. Plus... even brand new DVD's from the store fail to work on their first time in players. What's up with that?

[Samboini @ Oct 27th 2008 6:58PM]

Maybe you just have bad luck? All my DVD's have worked perfectly, although it does annoy me when people complain there DVD doesn't work after they've just used it as an abrasive pad.

[Frogboy @ Oct 27th 2008 4:49PM]

I can't see why anyone would still be making these. Spend the extra $5 and get a DVD player added on to that thing already. :)

[Zyuen @ Oct 27th 2008 4:52PM]

Nice! - The Jam and Quadrophenia!

[iEye @ Oct 27th 2008 4:51PM]

Ah VHS, the perpetuator of Pron... what would we kids have we done without you...

[kr @ Oct 27th 2008 4:54PM]

Wow, he switched up avatars...making it that much more difficult for the reflex down-rank click...

[Aguiluz @ Oct 27th 2008 4:55PM]

http://is.gd/4WXq

Not that I would do that....

[StalematE @ Oct 27th 2008 5:16PM]

ahh persistence...

[BigD145 @ Oct 27th 2008 4:52PM]

Now I can sell mine, for it must be worth a mint.

[qwertyblue @ Oct 28th 2008 7:58AM]

I bid a mint and a lollipop!

[burmie @ Oct 27th 2008 4:53PM]

and what the hell are VHSs?

[Ashwin @ Oct 27th 2008 4:56PM]

Those big low quality tapes we used to use back in the 90's. I had no idea they were still making VCR's, as I couldn't find any, and I need one to get rid of those tapes and make DVD's out of them.

[Jon Acheson @ Oct 27th 2008 6:09PM]

I just bought a Panasonic DVD recorder VHS combo deck. Makes it pretty easy to do those backups now, and even mediocre DVD quality is more than good enough to capture the full majesty of VHS. Now to empty out the box of VHS anime fansubs sitting by my entertainment center...

[Cameraman @ Oct 27th 2008 4:54PM]

I sell a lot (well, more than you'd think, anyway) time lapse VCRs and VHS tapes for CCTV systems.

Who buys VCRs? Luddites who don't cotton to none of this hifalutin digital technology, and casinos who want proven systems instead of DVRs, because... well, that's what they've always done, that's why.

[Ed @ Oct 27th 2008 4:55PM]

You're an asshole Darren. Stop bringing up HD DVD every time something dies.

Is there really nobody else to write HD articles for Engadget?

[curtisrutland @ Oct 27th 2008 5:43PM]

You sound a bit raw, Ed...HD DVD bite you in the ass?

[iEye @ Oct 27th 2008 5:46PM]

Bork bork bork bork....

[Electromodo @ Oct 27th 2008 6:59PM]

I still use my HD-DVD (as a upconverting player mostly) and I am proud!
I also have a PS3 (as a Blu-Ray player) and a Wii.

I don't understand why people are making fun of HD-DVD and its death. They are just pure trolls/PS3 fanboys. Well, what's the news? Most of Engadget writers are fanboys, getting publicity with teen readers this way.

Vote me low, suckers!

[absinthe party @ Oct 28th 2008 7:51AM]

Heeere chicken chicken chicken!

[pheer6224 @ Oct 28th 2008 10:01AM]

@ ieye: bork you.

[CB @ Oct 27th 2008 4:57PM]

I really appreciate VHS and will remember it fondly from my childhood. It was the first medium to bring Hollywood movies into the home on a large scale and at an affordable price. The quality may not be good by today's standards, but I thoroughly enjoyed many a movie on VHS.

[Kali4 @ Oct 27th 2008 4:57PM]

Woodcarvings? No, too grainy. Uhm... ... ... National Geographic? Sometimes too saggy. AHA!!!! Magazine aisle at corner store!!! BINGO!

[Kali4 @ Oct 27th 2008 6:57PM]

Whoops!!!!!!

Damn reply system, that was supposed to be @ iEye!

[Victor @ Oct 27th 2008 5:00PM]

You know what's really cool about this, we all grew up with this techology, and have special memories about it. I remember recording stuff with an SVHS camcorder, or a VHS camera and a separate attached VHS recorder swung over my shoulder. This is valuable footage, all of it. I hope you will take that footage and burn it to DVD. We need to preserve these memories. It's important, so please convert and backup your stuff to the new technoligies. It really is important.