Odd Design; Great Recording & Playback Quality
Written: Apr 12 '03 (Updated Apr 12 '03)
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Pros: VCR+ & C3 PlusCode. Quasi SVHS. Jog/Shuttle. DSS/Cable switching. Memory backup. 1 min RW.
Cons: "Universal remotes" can't learn double-key functions. Timer not activated by shutoff.
The Bottom Line: If you have difficulty breaking old VCR operational habits, this VCR will constantly trip you up. Still, it offers reliable tracking/recording quality, which offsets quirky operation requirements.
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| NewsView's Full Review: Toshiba W727 VHS VCR |
Consumer Reports recommends this VCR above all others as of 12/02. This is because of the "Good" SP/SLP recording quality and "Excellent" ease of use. While I agree with the former, I have found the latter Consumer Reports rating quite misleading.
True, the menus *look* simple. However, the onscreen menu isn’t the real issue: it’s all the finger gymnastics you have to engage in to activate said menus & remote functions.
If you are accustomed to a VCR that does not require simultaneous-key strokes to activate recording OR if you are used to a VCR that does not require you to manually activate the timer upon shutoff, this VCR will seem counter intuitive at best and confounding at worst.
Example: The W727 will not record shows when you program and turn off the unit. That is because you must also remember to press the Timer keys on the remote. Only then does it enter Standby mode. Once you activate Standby, the remote will no longer operate the machine—not even basic functions like "On" or "Off." This is because you have to manually disable Timer Standby to regain remote-control functionality—apparently this is a "safety" feature to prevent accidental recordings on unprotected tapes. Unfortunately, this precaution creates its own consequences. Once you press the Timer keys to temporarily deactivate Standby in order to watch or change a tape, you must remember to reactivate it—otherwise it is impossible for the unit to activate recording on its own.
To record a broadcast that is underway using the remote, you must strike a similar key combo: Press the Record and Timer key at the same time. If you press only the “Record” key on the remote, recording does not activate. This makes it *seem* as if the remote is failing to respond when in fact it is just the funky way this VCR is designed to operate.
Another unnecessary design feature: This model does not enable the remote to reach channels that are on the L1 A/V input without first pressing a separate key on the remote to access the L1 or L2 mode. If you have a DSS configuration, for example, you can't automatically scroll to that input through the channel scrolling buttons. This is another example of unnecessarily complicating the design of this VCR. Why put more buttons on the remote than you have to?
Here's yet another quirk: Most VCRs will allow you to "unpause" using the Play key. Not so with the W727. If you press Pause, you have to hit Pause again to unpause it. Programming is much the same. You enter the menu with one button, you set it with other buttons but you confirm it with a third button. You can't just hit the Program key again to finish the process. Setting the menu takes three keys, not including the FF/RW, Stop and Play keys (the number keys don't work in the programming menu but they do work in the VCR Plus menu). After that's complete, you can't just shut it off—it then becomes necessary to manually switch to TImer Standby. Talk about finger gymnastics!
Another surprise: There is no search feature per se. This model has a counter with a 00:00:00 Search function. It even offers the option to toggle the remaining tape time, clock or numbers onscreen AND on the LCD—but it lacks the full-feature "index search" on the VCR and remote!
Eventually, it is possible to adapt to the quirky ways of this VCR. But there's no way around one major disappointment: Contrary to existing review on ePinions, the W727 does not offer eight timer/programming options. It only has six, which is two fewer than most VCRs on the market.
Having said all this, it does deliver on Consumer Reports' promise of "Good" SLP/SP recording. After trying out two Sony SLV-N88 VCRs and two Panasonic PV-V4622s with unsatisfactory SLP recording results, I'm *almost* ready to accept the headache of the Toshiba W727. Recording, playback & tracking quality, after all, are the most critical features on a VCR—and this one delivers something very difficult to find on VCRs nowadays—solid performance on all three counts.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99
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Epinions.com ID:
NewsView
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Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Freelance writer & web developer.
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