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Transfer VHS tapes to your computer

Unlike your old vinyl record collection, those VHS tapes you stored away in the back of your closet aren't going to see a resurgence in popularity. There are no videophiles extolling the superior experience and fidelity of these analog tapes. No, VHS is a dying medium that fully deserves to be put in its grave.

But before your tapes turn to goop or VCRs become as rare as eight-track players, let's take a moment to archive any sentimental home movies you still have on tape. Honestly, those really should be the only VHS tapes you're still holding … Read more

Turn old videotapes into DVDs, no PC required

Over the years, I've seen lots of VHS-to-DVD transfer kits that involve your PC, a USB video-capture gizmo, and hard-to-use software. Almost without exception, they're a pain in the butt.

If you have old tapes you want to convert to DVD without all the pain, check out the Sony DVDirect DVD Recorder MC6, which B&H has refurbished for $119 (plus about $9 for shipping). It sells new for $199.99.

Update: Sorry, peeps--already sold out. Closest equivalent I've found is a new unit at Vann's for $169.97 shipped. That's still a pretty … Read more

Nielsen: You sure have a lot of TVs

There might not be a TV in every room in your house, but it wouldn't be surprising if there were.

As of November, according to media researcher Nielsen, 29.9 percent of TV-owning households in the U.S. have four or more televisions--that's very close to one-third of the 115 million domestic domiciles that have at least one television set.

Among the other, relatively impoverished TV households, 25.1 percent have three sets, 28.3 percent have two, and 16.7 percent have a measly single TV.

As you might expect, that many televisions translates to some lofty … Read more

VHS at CES 2009: Still alive

VHS movies may be disappearing from store shelves, but we saw some evidence at CES 2009 that the VCR just isn't ready to die. In addition to Panasonic's surprising DMP-BD70V--a combo VCR/Blu-ray player--JVC and Toshiba also have new VHS/DVD combos lined up for 2009. Check out the slide show below for a complete comparison.

The end of the VHS era

I've never been very good at giving up on old technology. I held on to my audio cassettes well into the compact disc era; my old Handspring Visor is still sitting in my desk drawer; and I admit that I still have an old Sony VCR taking up space underneath my TiVo.

And so I had a slightly nostalgic moment when I read this report from the Los Angeles Times that the last major supplier of VHS tapes has shipped its final truckload of the format. I know the VHS tape has been considered dead for years now, but … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 841: Real-time apocalypse

Microsoft is putting Office online. No time soon, but it will happen. Also Netflix will stream movies in HD. Not until mid-November. And only for Xbox Live paying members. But hey, why would we want to satisfy anyone now. Of course, quantum cryptography has also been hacked. So nothing's sacred. You still need to listen, though, to find out why Dolly Parton opposes Google. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 841

Microsoft to offer Office online http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10077535-2.html http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081028-microsoft-office-will-float-to-the-cloud-with-office-web.html

MS offers peek through Windows 7 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7695933.stm … Read more