My first VCR, in 1984, was a Panasonic-built GE top-loader with wired remote (the Quasar unit mentioned in a previous post reminded me of it; the control panel behind a small door on the front panel is almost identical to the one on mine). Paid $400 for it. Worked well the six years I had it, then in 1990 the heads wore out.
I'm not surprised, as I used this VCR a lot. I'm actually amazed my current VCR, a Panasonic PV-V4022, is still working today, some five (?) years later--cheap plastic parts and all. I had a Pana VCR with VCR Plus, but the thing ate a tape and I had to practically wreck it to get the cassette out. I junked the machine, but kept the remote, which works with my present VCR.
Oh well. I don't think anyone even uses VCR Plus anymore. The local newspaper (and most U.S. newspapers in the '80s) used to put VCR Plus codes in its TV listings, but no longer. In this day and age of TiVo and DVR, these codes are of no use, although I think it would be great if some day these new digital recorders were again equipped with a revamped and updated automatic recording system such as VCR Plus was. I'm amazed no one has thought of this yet. VCR Plus took the guesswork out of programming VCRs; the same system could do the same for today's digital recording devices and would probably, even likely, be an instant hit with the viewing public. However, I don't think even TiVo or most DVRs have timers for unattended recording; why, I don't know. A clause in the DMCA, perhaps, forbidding digital time-shifting of TV programs? Hmmm.
