GoVideo VR4940 DVD Recorder+VCR at Costco for $449

[JohnnyCNote]

I just saw a GoVideo VR4940 yesterday at Costco:



Has anyone here used one? Is GoVideo any good? It says:

"Maximum Versatility – Plays DVDs, DVD-R/RW, music CDs, MP3s on CD-R and CD-RW and VHS tapes"

Well, that's "maximum" as long as you don't use +R disks. What's the word

[donpedro]

Nice looking one... What is difference between VR3930 and VR4940 ?

[JohnnyCNote]

It looks like most of the differences are in the features. Do you have any idea whose parts GoVideo uses in their products?

VR3930:

Key Features

VIDEO

• One-Touch Copy – Copies DVD to VHS or VHS to DVD with the touch of a button
• Progressive Scan – Delivers sharp, crisp DVD video for highest quality on your digital TV
• Maximum Versatility – Plays DVDs, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, music CDs, MP3s on CD-R and CD-RW and VHS tapes
• Four-Head Hi-Fi VCR – For superior slow motion and stop action
• Connection Flexibility – Composite, S-video and component video output–and cable-ready TV tuner
• Hi-Fi VHS playback and record
• Complete program record
• 181 Channel tuner with 8 event/1-year timer
• Dolby Digital and DTS Digital audio output
• Virtual surround (3D Surround)
• Auto clock set and channel search
• Child lock front panel

VR4940 :

VIDEO

• One-Touch Copy – Copies DVD to VHS or VHS to DVD with the touch of a button
• MyDVDTM Feature – Personalize your DVD player by setting your Audio Preferences
• EZ PlayTM Feature – Skip trailers and menus and go right to the start of the movie
• Progressive Scan – Delivers sharp, crisp DVD video for highest quality on your digital TV
• Maximum Versatility – Plays DVDs, DVD-R/RW, music CDs, MP3s on CD-R and CD-RW and VHS tapes
• Four-Head Hi-Fi VCR – For superior slow motion and stop action
• Connection Flexibility – Composite, S-video and component video output–and cable-ready TV tuner
• Hi-Fi VHS playback and record
• Complete program record
• 181 Channel tuner with 8 event/1-year timer
• Dolby Digital and DTS Digital audio output
• Virtual surround (3D Surround)
• Auto clock set and channel search
• Child lock front panel

[donpedro]

OK... I'll do it...

VR4940 has in addition these

• MyDVDTM Feature – Personalize your DVD player by setting your Audio Preferences
• EZ PlayTM Feature – Skip trailers and menus and go right to the start of the movie

and it is missing these

• Does not Play DVD+R/RW

[JohnnyCNote]

I'm wondering if it's really worth getting the GoViideo, or getting the Philips DVR for $100 less and using my existing VCR and hacked DVD player.

I think I'll wait a bit either way...

[me]

If anyone tries one of these, please report here about it.

I doubt that either cannot play DVD+R DVD+RW. That would make it incompatible with many DVDs. Some DVDRs only write to one or the other (+ or -), although increasingly new models write to both. But they can all read both formats.

Doesn't really sound like there is much difference between 3930 and 4940. I wonder if there is a major price difference between the two?

It's true that most of us already have VCRs. (Most of us who write to this forum already have a computer-based DVDR also. THe reason to consider a stand-alone DVDR is convenience.) There would definitely be a convenience factor though, in having the VCR and DVD in the same unit, if it works well. One unit rather than two, not so many connections and wires and AC plugs. Also, for copying from VHS to DVD--put in the VHS tape that you want to copy, a blank DVD, have the settings how you want them, and push one button to make the copy. Sure a lot simpler than doing it via the computer and a capture device, and still easier than two separate units. Again, IF it works well.

[JohnnyCNote]

There would definitely be a convenience factor though, in having the VCR and DVD in the same unit, if it works well. One unit rather than two, not so many connections and wires and AC plugs. Also, for copying from VHS to DVD--put in the VHS tape that you want to copy, a blank DVD, have the settings how you want them, and push one button to make the copy. Sure a lot simpler than doing it via the computer and a capture device, and still easier than two separate units. Again, IF it works well.

My thoughts exactly. It's going to be at least a few months before I make any sort of purchase. I already have a nice VCR, and I wonder how many of my VHS collection I'll actually transfer to DVD. On the other hand, my mother's VCR recently died, so I could give her mine. Then again, the combo VCR/DVD players are getting pretty cheap. I saw an Emerson at Walmart last night for around $90. While I wouldn't buy Emerson, I'd expect other, better brands would become more affordable, too...

[amodeus]

if anything the vr4940 plays svcd where the vr3940 doesnot play svcd

[handyguy]

It looks nice, but remember that you can't copy commercial dvds with it.

[JohnnyCNote]

I have a hacked Apex AD1500 for that, although I'd use the computer for "back-ups" instead. The more I think about it, I'd probably get a separate recorder anyway...

[me]

Then again, the combo VCR/DVD players are getting pretty cheap. I saw an Emerson at Walmart last night for around $90. While I wouldn't buy Emerson, I'd expect other, better brands would become more affordable, too...

Yes, there are many combo VCR/DVD units around, and inexpensive. However, that is very different from the unit we were discussing, which is VCR/DVDR. I'm surprised there aren't more of these around, as it is a good idea. These two GOVideo models are two of the first ones, and I would guess that in a year or so there will be many such models, and much cheaper. At this point DVDRs are still pretty expensive, but I bet their price will go down a lot in the coming year.

With a combo VCR/DVD you can watch either, and you can record from DVD to VCR, but not vice versa. If someone wants to digitize their video tape collection into DVDs, one can do it with a computer with DVD burner, and analog capture device (I have copied some of mine that way), but a consumer DVDR would be much simpler. Also for unattended recording of a TV show to DVD, just like to a VCR, the concumer DVDR would be much simpler.

Besides the GOVideo VCR/DVDR units (and I haven't seem them anywhere yet. Looked on the Costco web site, not there. Which Costco did you see one at?), Sears has a Sansui unit (both in stores and on their web site) for $399. (That was a couple months ago. It might be cheaper by now.) In another discussion however, someone wrote that they looked at the box of one of these, and it said something to the effect that they were two separate units in the same box, that you could not record directly from one to the other, etc. Next time I go to a Sears I'm going to see if they have one, and read the box myself. They might have misunderstood something. It's hard to believe someone would make a combo unit like that, without the capability to record directly from one to the other.

Anyone familiar with that Sansui unit? ANyone know of any others?

[me]

It looks nice, but remember that you can't copy commercial dvds with it.

I don't get your point. Regardless of copy protection, how could you copy a DVD with a VCR/DVDR unit anyhow? There are not two DVD slots on it. You could record a DVD to VHS (I doubt copy protection could stop that), but I doubt many people would want to do that.

No, for copying DVDs you need a computer with DVD burner and software for it, and for commercial DVDs you need some software for decryption, such as is discussed on this web site, doom9.org, etc.

The purpose of having a VCR/DVDR would not be for copying DVDs, but for copying VHS tapes to DVD, in a simple manner, and for recording television programs to DVD.

[me]

I don't know if anyone is still reading this thread. I have a couple additional comments, however, so if anyone is reading, here they are:

I looked in a couple of large Costco stores near me (Los Angeles area) and searched the video equipment, and did not see any DVDR-VCR combos, like the one in question. I did see DVD (player only)-VCR combos (including GoVIdeo, I think model 2140, for $99), but not DVDR-VCR. Not on Costco web site either. I guess Costco probably didn't get many of those yet, and perhaps they are not in many stores yet. Original poster, which Costco store did you see the 4940 in? Anyone else seen them?

Yesterday I saw a DVDR-VCR combo at "Best Buy", a Zenith, for $499. The specs given were not very clear. So the only two units I have actually seen for sale are that Zenith at Best Buy, and the Sansui at Sears.

Anyone reading actually bought a DVDR-VCR combo? Review?

[elkfir]

I looked in a couple of large Costco stores near me (Los Angeles area) and searched the video equipment, and did not see any DVDR-VCR combos, like the one in question...Anyone else seen them?

Yes, I've seen them at 1 or 2 Costcos. I live in the San Francisco bay area, and the Mountain View, and I think the Santa Clara store carries them. But the Sunnyvale store doesn't. You're right, they don't have them on their website, but they do carry them. Don't know about the Los Angeles area though.

From the outside, they look very well made. I didn't get one though because I really don't need it.

[JohnnyCNote]

Do you live in SF itself? I lived there from '79-91....

[elkfir]

Do you live in SF itself? I lived there from '79-91....

Actually I live closer to San Jose; SF Bay Area just sounds cooler. I lived in SF for a short period in the mid-70's. I believe I had an apratment on O'Farrell (not far from the O'Farrell Theatre )

[JohnnyCNote]

Nothin' like having the Mitchell Brothers for neighbors! I moved to SF from Monterey, where I studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute.

There's nothing wrong with San Jose - you could always say you're in Silicon Valley. At least you're in the same county....

[Gil T Pleasure]

SF Bay Area just sounds cooler.

Even though San Jose has overtaken SF population-wise, 'San Jose Bay Area' just doesn't have a nice ring to it. :P

[handyguy]

"No, for copying DVDs you need a computer with DVD burner and software for it"

No, you don't. You just need a macrovision free source dvd player.

People bring these recorders back to the store when they find out they don't copy commercial dvds directly as a one unit type of thing.

[JohnnyCNote]

"No, for copying DVDs you need a computer with DVD burner and software for it"

No, you don't. You just need a macrovision free source dvd player.

I have a hacked Apex and while I can "back up" a movie to VHS with it, it's definitely inferior to making a "back up" with a computer with a DVD writer. That's the only way to get the menus and other features that make DVD much preferable to VHS or even a "back up" to a DVD recorder....

[pighead]

Important issue (for archiving VHS)

"If the VHS videotape you are attempting to copy is
copy-protected, you will not be able to copy the tape. It
is not permitted to copy Macrovision encoded tapes."

From the manual for the VR4990

[deliriumaximus]

I have this machine & I got it as costco. I am taking it back because it freezes up 70% of the time when copying DV to DVD. In theory this is a very cool & simple to use "one touch" copy machine. But it freezes a lot & thus makes a lot of coasters...

[JohnnyCNote]

Important issue (for archiving VHS)

"If the VHS videotape you are attempting to copy is
copy-protected, you will not be able to copy the tape. It
is not permitted to copy Macrovision encoded tapes."

From the manual for the VR4990

Of course, this has been the case for about as long as VHS (and probably Beta) has been in existence....

[me]

Important issue (for archiving VHS)

"If the VHS videotape you are attempting to copy is
copy-protected, you will not be able to copy the tape. It
is not permitted to copy Macrovision encoded tapes."

From the manual for the VR4990

Of course, this has been the case for about as long as VHS (and probably Beta) has been in existence....

This is the case with all commercial standalone DVD recorders, no, for legal reasons. Therefore, it is not a particular issue to this unit.

To copy copy-protected material you have to use a computer with DVD burner, and software that will defeat the copy protection.

[JohnnyCNote]

To copy copy-protected material you have to use a computer with DVD burner

The discussion was about copying videotape, not DVD's....

[me]

To copy copy-protected material you have to use a computer with DVD burner

The discussion was about copying videotape, not DVD's....

Yes, but if you play the videotape on a VCR, connected to your computer with an analog capture device, and record it with computer capture software, I think much capture software can record copy protected videotapes without a problem. Afterwards you can burn it to DVD, or to another videotape, watch it on the computer, whatever you wish. Trying to record the copy-protected videotape to a standalone DVD recorder is a problem though. Or, is it just this unit?

[JohnnyCNote]

That could work, but for me, I'm afraid that's too much effort. I'd rather just put it in the VCR part of the machine and watch it, or try to find the title on DVD....

[me]

That could work, but for me, I'm afraid that's too much effort. I'd rather just put it in the VCR part of the machine and watch it, or try to find the title on DVD....

I guess if most of your videotapes are copyrighted videotapes, the convenience of this method of copying VHS-DVD would be lost. (If someone knows a way to defeat the copy protection, please let us know.)

I have many VHS tapes that I had recorded from TV over the years, and those of course aren't copy-protected. It would be good transfer them to DVDs, take up less room, and don't deteriorate like tape.

If the VCR and standalone DVDR are two separate units, would there still be a problem with copy protection? Would the DVDR recognize that the tape in the separate VCR is copy protected?

[JohnnyCNote]

I have many VHS tapes that I had recorded from TV over the years, and those of course aren't copy-protected. It would be good transfer them to DVDs, take up less room, and don't deteriorate like tape.

Now this is a different matter. I also have a lot of tapes, primarily my gangster movie collection, that would be good candidates for transfer to DVD. The only thing preventing me from doing that is that I've hardly even looked at them in years, so I really don't see much point.

I'm still debating the purchase of a DVD redcorder. I'm going to upgrade my satellite receiver to one with a hard drive that holds about 100 hours (DishNetwork). I've only wanted to save a handful of programs over the past few years that I can't really see where I'd need a DVD recorder right now. I'm going to hold out 'til they drop below $200 (my guess is by the holidays) and get one then....

[me]

[quote="JohnnyCNote"]

I'm still debating the purchase of a DVD redcorder. I'm going to upgrade my satellite receiver to one with a hard drive that holds about 100 hours (DishNetwork).....

Actually, there are DVD recorders with built-in hard drives. (although not in combo with a VCR). They are more expensive, but you might find it costs less than buying the DVD recorder and hard drive satellite receiver separately.

If you do get the separate hard drive receiver, I'm sure it must have inputs that you can connect a VCR to, try recording the copy protected VHS tape to the hard drive. IF that works, I'm sure you could record from the hard drive to a DVD recorder. An extra step, but it might work.