Arrrrrgh!

That's my reaction to the "new and improved" user interface on today's
modern VCR's.

My ancient RCA VR617HF VCR finally died on me. So I bought a new VCR -- a
Sony.  I returned it within one hour when I found that when programming a
start/end time you had to scroll the time up and down -- there was no way to
simply enter the numbers of the time.

After I returned the Sony, I checked out the Toshiba's user manual at the
store. Same problem. How about JVC? Same problem. Finally, I figured I'd
just get another RCA.  I figured they probably wouldn't change the user
interface.

Wrong.

Okay, folks, I want a program to start at 6:00 AM.  Why does the VCR not let
me simply press Zero Six Zero Zero?

No, that would be too easy.  Instead, if it's 11:00 AM and I want to set the
VCR to start at 6:00 AM, I have to scroll the time with the arrow buttons.
Arrrrrgh!

Okay, so I understand that this scrolling method is more intuitive for some
people. Like, anybody who has never dialed a telephone.  But why on earth
did the designers of the VCR have to DISABLE the ability to enter numbers
directly?  Or did it simply never occur to them that people might like to
.... oh, I dunno ... enter numbers with a number pad? Was that too much of a
mental leap for them?

I used to be able to program my VCR without looking at the remote or even
turning on the TV -- I knew the menus by heart.  Now, though, programming my
VCR is an annoying chore.  Considering that I tape about three programs a
day -- I almost never watch show "live" -- this is quite frustrating.

Does somebody know of some way that a RCA DRC6300N (or similar) can be
programmed by pressing the number keys, instead of doing this time-consuming
scrolling procedure?

I'm so irritated by this that I'm going to include some keywords in this
message, on the off-chance somebody might spot it during a Google Groups
search:  TV VCR Remote Program. Enter Start Time Directly. Forced Scroll
Arrow Button Buttons Key Keys. Stupid Idiotic Annoying.

I said it before and I'll say it again:  Arrrrrgh!

- Timothy Campbell
  www.tc123.com

P.S. While we're at it, why do VCR's still only support 8 programs? Hello?
Haven't these guys heard that memory is, like, really inexpensive?
Arrrrrgh!

There are a couple of add-on type VCR programming remote controls that
are meant to simplify the user interface.

You could try looking at one of them.

Otherwise you probably need to grit your teeth and accept that the way
you are used to doing things is DEAD and move on.

with the number of programs you can preset my recorder only allows 8
settings but each can be set for everyday, specific day each week, or
simply one time record.
The manufacturers probably think this is ok because you need to change
tapes anyway. With the digital recorders and really big disk drives
this will probably change.


regards

<marks542***@yahoo.com> wrote in message
I know there are some remotes with "macro" capability (i.e. they can store
multiple keypresses).  Is that what you mean?

You mean that the simple, fast and blindingly obvious way -- entering
numbers via the a number pad -- is now considered too old-fashioned for the
new millenium?

- Timothy Campbell
  www.tc123.com

Fay Kalyus wrote:
I have a Zenith VR4206HF VCR, vintage 1997, which allows you to enter
the numbers via the numberpad.

Otherwise, you'll have to grit your teeth and just embrace the up and
down buttons.

And consider this-- using the up and down buttons, can you set the hour,
minutes, and AM/PM separately, or do you have to scroll through every
hour of every day in order to reach the time you want?  When you look at
it from that perspective, the Sony is a pretty good deal.

Fay Kalyus wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteNo , I mean there is a gizmo where you set one dial to start time, and
one dial to end time and leave it sitting pointing at your recorder. It
turns it on and off at the right time.

The other thing uses those odd codes printed in the TV guide. Each
program has a unique code. You just type in the codes you want and off
it goes.

For the up/down versus number pad - just think of it as an extension of
digital technology.  Up or down / on or off  -  numbers 0 to 9 is just
so old fashioned analog (this is probably sarcasm)

Fay Kalyus wrote:
   Considering that I tape about three programs a
Have you contemplated a life without TV, the vast wasteland? How did our
ancestors ever survive?

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