I must drag my family into the 21st century. We need a more modern method of recording televised programs. Currently, we have a VCR. Yes, you read that correctly: A Video Cassette Recorder. Granted, it also plays DVDs, but if I want to record a program on it I need to jump through several annoying hoops.
First of all, find a cassette. I’m sure we have some somewhere, but the one I have been using is getting warped. You know, it sounds like everyone’s underwater or gargling or doing some very bad yodeling. Second, I have to program the recorder. That’s not so bad, but this particular devise won’t record on a different station than what the TV is set on. Or at least I haven’t figured out how to do it. Third, I must make sure Husband and Kids don’t change the channel while I’m recording on that particular TV. Seriously. “Don’t touch the TV in the bedroom!” rings through our house on certain nights.
A modern human being should not have to go through any such machinations to watch a program that happens to be on at an inconvenient time. It’s just not right. Why should I miss Fringe when Grimm is on? How can you ask me to skip my daughter’s winter concert because I can’t miss an episode of Terra Nova? Not that I would. Skip the concert, I mean.
The thing is, I’m technologically impaired. Seriously. Whatever we get must be simple to install/operate. Well, it can be more complicated to install if the Husband ends up doing it, but easier is better. And it DEFINITELY needs to be relatively easy to operate. It would be nice if I could also play video cassettes (because yes, we still have some old movies on video), DVDs (ditto), and Blue Ray (only one movie, accidentally purchase, but there could be more in our future).
Am I asking too much? I just want to watch my programs when *I* want to watch them!
So, I’m asking, dear readers, what sort of device do you recommend? Christmas is approaching and Husband will ask what I want. If I give him a specific item, it might just happen. I’ve also read a little about recording onto a PC. Anyone know about that? What would it take? (We’re also in the market for a new computer, so kill two birds with one stone?)
Help me, Contact IF! You’re my only hope!
Note-The above image is NOT of our current recorder. I do remember having one like it, though.
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Cathy’s debut novel Rulebreaker, a F/F futuristic romance, is available from Carina Press.
Contact – Infinite Futures 
Don’t know if I can be much help. In our family, we either watch Netflix on our PS3s (yes, plural, we have two), we use our Roku — which we can use to access Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Amazon, as well as several other services — or we watch things online (we have several large laptops).
We’ve been burned so many times, falling in love with TV shows that get canceled all too soon and without resolution, that we no longer watch any series “as it airs” but wait for seasons to show up on Netflix.
I don’t mind giving new series’ a chance as they come out, but it helps if I can actually see them when I want to 🙂
Watching on the computer on Hulu or whatever is an idea. Wonder how fast our internet is here….
We have a PVR and it doesn’t do anything you want, LOL. However, it has totally revolutionized how I watch TV and I’d never go back. We get to pause TV. record (record series), store movies, fast forward the ads. Just, the best 🙂 LOVE IT.
I’ve read a little on PVRs and such. Love the idea, but I really want something to play discs too. We don’t have a theater here, so our only way to catch “new” releases is when they are out on DVD 🙂
you can buy a cheap cheap DVD player (not blue ray). I’ve seen them for $20 at certain times of the year. But if you want one thing… 🙂 seriously. PVRs. Best thing ever 🙂
I love the TiVo. Do they have the TiVo in Alaska? 😉 Dual receiver is a must. I hear they’re coming out with a quadruple receiver!
I have no idea if TiVo is available here. I think there’s a DVR thingy we can get through our cable company. We’ll have to look into that. Quadruple receiver??? What are they expecting to receive? Alien transmissions? Ooohhhh…Alien transmissions through your TiVo! Someone write that! 🙂
Tivo PVR DVR all good. I should work for these people. I can only sell what I really believe in 🙂
You should get some sort of kickback, yes 🙂 Thanks for the info!
Oh, gosh. I’m useless at this stuff. I was just reminiscing the other day, before there were remote controls me and my sister used to send small children to change the channels. We only had three. Channels, that is.
Heh, my dad did that with us too 🙂 Not that you’re as old as my dad! My kids don’t know how easy they have it!