I've learned something new today

[hyphenate]

And while it's very satisfying, it's also a little bit scary.

Recently, I got both a TIVO and a separate DVR. I've been taping TV shows for well, 23 years, since pretty much VHS was available. As a matter of fact, I still have a VCR that was purchased in 1984--and yes, it still works! My tape collection is extremely large--I taped mostly TV series through the years, so you can imagine how big my collection is.

HOWEVER, the time has finally come to get rid of it all. Thank the heavens! Now that a DVR can tape up to 8 hours on a single disk, I will be able to turn a great deal of my collection into a smaller, more cohesive one, and one that I will be able to keep safe for a lot longer than tapes will ever last.

Tapes and VCRs are now firmly ingrained in my psyche, though, and being able to finally get rid of their bulk, while liberating in one sense, is scary. It's like a security blanket.

And another thing--with the availability of DVDs of entire TV series, it's gonna help get rid of some of those tapes as well. I've been consistently collecting DVDs at an average of two seasons of a favorite show a month, and about 5 to 8 films at the same time. It makes life that much easier as well!

Another thing--the technology is getting more difficult to understand! Ten years ago, I would have been able to connect four or five different components together without even thinking about it. Now, I had to keep consulting a diagram in order to make sure the connections were right. Boy, it's tough to be getting old! My sister in law told me my brother is the opposite--if he can't figure something out, he loses his patience completely and throws a hissy fit! And he's an electrician!!

Am I alone with the fear that technology will leave a lot of us high and dry in the future? It's exciting to think of the possibilities, but if we can't understand that technology, it's not going to be much fun trying to cope with it.

Anyhow, I am finally recording my first DVD of some History channel and NG channel documentaries that I TIVOd. I will move on to some of my favorite show recordings the rest of the week. It'll take a VERY long time to transfer everything over to disk, but in the end, it'll be gratifying as well!

[jobycom]

1. All-in-ones require no hookups, but i have a question

Do you ever watch all these shows you tape, and if so, how do you have time to watch new ones to know to tape them? (Half-serious question!)

As for technology, when it gets too complicated, someone markets a device to simplify it. I do find there is a level of instinct involved in technology, though. When I go a few years without buying anything new, it takes me a bit to get a feel for how the newer technologies work. I pick it up eventually, though. My kids still have to ask me how to hook things up, so I avoid the cliche of my kids being better at it than me! :-)

[hyphenate]

2. Well, truth be told

A lot of the ones I tape I watch them as they're on. I tape them mainly for archival reasons. I was deprived as a child ;) when every show I liked to watch was cancelled, especially some that were lucky to last 13 episodes. So when taping came along, I felt compelled to get copies of everything just on the out chance that the show would be canned in its first season. Sometimes it didn't happen, but I would keep recording anyhow.

Some of the shows were simply timeshifted, but most of the time, once they were recorded, they went onto the shelf. I've got among my tapes shows that some people never heard of and ones that were important to me a long time ago.

One guy I knew asked me about my collection, and I jokingly told him I wanted it to rival the Museum of Television and Radio's collection. It probably does, but they're lucky to have the original master tapes!

I think I've been obsessive about it, though now it's a lot easier with the TIVO around, and I have time during the day to watch something if I didn't see it when it was broadcast. And the quality is much better now, going from TIVO to a DVD than going anywhere NEAR a VCR. I might just have to give up my VCRs now for good! (At least one of them--I have three, but I've always used two for duping)

[jobycom]

3. Actually, that sounds pretty cool.

So do you have "Briscoe County, Jr" and "Frank's Place?" I was thinking of a series recently that I wanted to see again. Can't remember what it was, but I was mildly obsessed with it for a day. Probably something I wanted to show my kids. Probably something intelligent and quirky that only lasted a season. Now that will drive me crazy until I fall asleep.

[hyphenate]

4. Frank's Place...

was that the one with Tim Reid and Daphne Reid? I probably have a couple of episodes somewhere. Some of my tapes don't have labels on them, which is a pain in the ass.

I do have some Briscoe County, Jr. eps, but again, I'd have to find them.

(Sorry for the delay in getting back--my computer temproarily died. I'm working today on my laptop.)