Fisher VCR w/ "Speed Watch"
Written: Jun 05 '03
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
|
|
| Picture Quality: |
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Fast and easy scanning when desired
Cons: There is no readout of where you are on the tape
The Bottom Line: Given the limitations enumerated and the uses I spoke of, there is little left to be desired.
|
|
|
| noggino's Full Review: Fisher FVH-T668S VHS VCR |
I bought one of these items at a SEARS store strictly because I knew and liked the brand and the price was reasonable. After using it for several days I found that it suited my manner of using a VCR so well that I bought another just like it.
My use of a VCR is extensive. I am retired and spend a lot of time watching cable TV. Although I am addicted to a number of shows classified as 'entertainment', I am especially interested in documentaries, lectures, news and instructional presentations. As such I'd like to skip not only the commercials but also sometimes vast segments which are 'off-my-point' or which I've already seen. With this unit one can watch the video double-time while listening to normal sound truncated to fit the reduced time but otherwise sounding quite normal. In other words, the audio is sampled, the playback fitted into whatever time allows considering that the video is running at twice the speed. If the audio is dense, i.e. talk occupies a large percentage of the time, large parts of the sentences are not heard, not presented. But ordinarily the gist is clear.
You can also 'scan' large parts very rapidly by FF [fast-forwarding] while in PLAY but unlike other machines, this one also provides understandable audio samples which, I find, helps me evaluate what is there on the tape. I believe using this feature helps one to 'rehearse' the material on the tape and is therefore an aid in 'cramming'.
Also when skipping certain recorded segments -e.g. commercials - clicking 'SPEED WATCH' fast forwards [no sound] and when the end of the unwanted part is seen, clicking the same button causes the unit to back up several seconds of recorded time before resuming normal playback. Thus one does not miss those few moments otherwise missed because the resumption was triggered beyond the desired 'resume' spot. Pretty neat, no?
The remote is clear and easy to use while I find the display on the front of the unit is readable and useful. This display would benefit only I believe if it used RED to signify RECORDING.
Aside from not having slow motion forward and backward and not having display of where you are on the tape, this is an exceptional machine for my purposes. I have used both of these for about two years on a daily basis, recording and playing back several hours each day with no failures of any kind.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 120
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
noggino
|
|
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.