Some first impressions
Written: Dec 13 '01 (Updated Mar 13 '03)
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Pros: Incredibly flexible. A fun machine to use. Excellent manual.
Cons: May intimidate the technically challenged.
The Bottom Line: If you like gadgetry, and the ability to control all aspects of the VCR operation, this unit is wonderful.
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| greensleeves76's Full Review: JVC HR-S7800 VCR |
13 March '03 - The machine is well broken-in now and I'm still very pleased with it. Picture quality remains good, and all of my comments below, and in my response to Blackmonolith's comments, remain valid. Aside from a few little quirks such as the slow rewind and difficulty in finding a specific spot on a tape, it is a great machine for the technically adept. Other members of the family still can't run it. Original review follows:
As I've only had it a week, these comments are likely to be of value only to those wondering what it is going to be like to try to learn how to handle the space shuttle of VCR's.
Excellent manual. Clearly written. In English, even. Divides the subjects into Basic operations and the more complex. The further you get into it, the more valuable this distinction becomes, as you may have some other family members (OFM's) who "just want to play the stupid tape!"
Learning to use the many customizable features will provide a source of amusement for at least a couple of weeks. The basic functions come easily and quickly, and it may even be worthwhile stopping at that point for several days until you are really comfortable with those neat and simple functions. That may make it easier to teach the aforementioned OFM's what they want to know without inadvertently introducing needless complexities.
The potential for a high degree of customization in the machine setup may create a risk of leaving the machine in a state which will not properly respond to the commands of the OFM's. Time will tell.
The remote control is the key component. I can't imagine ever replacing it with a generic unit. (But a simple generic unit may be exactly what is of greatest benefit to the OFM's) If any of the labels ever wear off the buttons, replacement will be mandatory. It is not the easiest thing to use as some functions require two buttons to be hit simultaneously. Not a big deal, but not the ultimate in convenience either.
Set-up was a breeze, with all the required cables provided.
The unit is much more lightly built than our 15 yr old unit. Tapes must be fed in gently, and properly aligned, or one immediately gets the sense that damage to the unit is about to occur. Other than the light plastic feel, which makes you think of a child's lunch box, it seems to be decently put together and I hope to get 10 years out of it.
I was surprised to find no other brands which even come close to having as many features as this unit. Maybe someone can correct me on this point? By features I mean customizable functions and settings. The really techy stuff which creates the great picture and sound quality may be comparable, but each manufacturer has their own way of describing how they get to that result.
Take my summary ratings below with a grain of salt as I have not had the unit long enough to form an opinion.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250
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Epinions.com ID:
greensleeves76
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Reviews written: 6
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