Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo - Good value/great TV!
Written: Dec 10 '02
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Pros: Inexpensive, auto-rewind and eject, cable ready.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: An inexpensive, yet excellent choice for our son!
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| LisaDo's Full Review: Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR Combo Combo |
If you read about our son's Sylvania TV/VCR Combo that he got for Christmas last year, then you know that it met a sad end. Since Daddy has been gone, I figured I would just let Zack watch his movies on our VCR, since there was no one to fight with him over the TV. Well, a horrible thing happened. Our VCR gave out. I priced some VCRs, but I knew that my husband was very picky on what he wanted, plus I wasn't sure that I could get behind the 200 lb entertainment center and figure out all of the cords and such on the back, since I am too short to see behind the VCR. I decided that it wouldn't be much more expensive, or might even cost the same, if I went ahead and bought Zack his own TV again. So, I went in search of.
I knew what my mom had paid for the Sylvania, but when I started shopping I about gagged. The prices were pretty big for such little TVs. I finally went to the Military Exchange website and looked to see what they had. They had what I wanted and at a price I could finally afford. They had the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo. I added it to my cart and checked out. It was here about 1 1/2 weeks later.
I'll be honest. When I bought the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo, all I cared about was the price and that it played VCR tapes. Anything above that, to me, was a huge bonus. We only had one DVD that our son would watch (Wiggly Safari) and I was starting to have nightmares from watching it 15 times a day. Hey, I love The Wiggles as much as the next person, but that DVD got really old really fast.
When the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo showed up, I was rather surprised at the deal I had gotten. As long as the poor thing doesn't get pulled off of the table and broken again, the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo should last Zack a long time. Some of the features are (from the manual):
~Color TV/2 Head VCR
~High Quality Picture Technology
~181 Channel Tuner
~Closed Caption Decoder with Full Text Mode
~8-Programs/1-Month Programmable Timer with Everyday/Every Week Capability.
~Automatic Clock Set
~On-Screen TV Display and VCR Programming
~Picture Adjustments Using the Remote Control
~Automatic Playback/Rewind-Stop-Eject
~Programmable ON/OFF Timer
~Programmable TV Sleep Timer
~Automatic Repeat Play System
~One-Touch Timer Recording
~Front Audio/Video Input Jacks
~Skip Search
~2 Speed Picture Search (9X or 15X in SLP)
~2 Speed Record Playback (SP, SLP)
~Real Time Tape Counter with Zero Return
~Digital Auto Tracking
~On-Screen 3 Language Display
~V-Chip (Allows you to set a restriction level by TV ratings if the child are young and you want to restrict anything other than say G or PG movies.)
Do we use all of the features? No, we don't, but they're nice to have if we ever need them.
What does it look like? Well, the casing of the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo is black. It's very compact and is just shy of 25 lbs. There are built in handles at the top on the back of both sides. The VCR is under the TV screen. The control buttons are under the VCR.
All of the buttons and jacks are on the front. Starting from the left you have:
~Remote Sensor
~Power ON/OFF Button
~Record Button
~Record Light (Shows when the VCR is recording)
~Timer Record Light
~Volume Down
~Volume Up
~Channel Down
~Channel Up
~Play
~Stop/Eject
~Rewind
~Fast Forward
~Line In Video Jack
~Line In Audio Jack
~Ear Phone Plug-in
On the back there is only:
~UHF/VHF Antenna Jack
~AC Power Cord
The remote is 8" long and 2 1/2" wide. It requires 2 "AAA" batteries, which are included. There is a compartment on the back side that you just slide the door down to open. The buttons are fairly large and are clearly marked. There is a 15' distance and 30 degree range for the remote, as long as nothing is in between to block the signal.
There are a few things that I really like about the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo. One being that it will automatically rewind the movie when it gets to the end of the tape and pops it out. Zack has yet to figure out the Eject and Rewind Buttons, so he waits until the TV spits his tape out and then he can change it himself, which is nice because that way I don't have him hanging on me every 30-52 minutes for a new movie. It also helps him be more independent and makes him feel like a "big boy". He doesn't need Mommy's help.
Another thing I like is that is Zack falls asleep while watching TV (not that any other male I know does this (chuckle, chuckle), after the movie rewinds and ejects, the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo will automatically shut itself off after 15 minutes. This only works on snowy pictures, or cable channels that end broadcasting for the night. If you have cable, you would need to set the timer.
Another thing that is nice, especially since our VCR tapes are getting older and warn out, is the Digital Tracking. The Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo will automatically adjust to get the best picture. You can manually adjust the tracking, as well, with the remote.
Another feature, not that some people would think this is a big deal, is that when you insert a VHS tape into the Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo, it will automatically turn on and start the play the movie. Since Zack doesn't understand the ON/OFF concept yet, it's nice in that he can go and grab a movie when he gets up and put it in himself without me having to stop what I am doing and turn it on for him. This is also helpful when we get home from the grocery store and he makes a bee-line for the TV while I carry in groceries. I don't have to stop and turn it on for him.
The Toshiba MV 13M2W 13 in. TV/VCR combo has been an excellent purchase for our son. It does what we wanted and then some. We take it on trips with us when we go home so that he can watch his movies at Grandma's without having to fight Grandpa for the TV. Makes visiting a lot nicer. It's small enough to easily fit into the floorboard, seat or trunk of the car.
If you need a small color TV for your child, be it for movies, TV viewing or video games, this would be a perfect choice!
http://www.toshiba.com
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 149.99
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Epinions.com ID:
LisaDo
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Member: Lisa D
Location: Back home in Indiana!
Reviews written: 552
Trusted by: 273 members
About Me:
Proud SAHM, Navy wife and member of SHLEPS!
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