Price Paid:  $169.00 from eBay

Summary:
Without a doubt the BEST VCR produced within the last 4 years. The quality is there and their features can't be beat. How good is it? I have 5 units to include a share.

Strengths:
Without a doubt, smartfile. You always know wants on the tape. Exclusively Sony. TV Guide Plus is just great. Free of charge and no more need for the TV Guide.

Weaknesses:
Can't find another one. I want two backup units.

Similar Products Used:
None. It's in a class all by ITSELF.

Price Paid:  $199.00 from Sony Outlet

Summary:
Like the features like the auto clock set and the VCR+ Gold. The VCR+Gold is of limited use since I have Direct TV, it would work well with a cable system.

This VCR is currently in for repair even though it doesn't get heavily used and isn't quite a year old yet. The pinch roller is coming down on top of the tape, wrinkling and sometimes jamming it. Since I don't know the correct positioning of the mechanics I elected to take it to the local VCR repair place.

It was a real debate on if I should fix or replace. On one hand I wanted to replace it since the unit failed before it was a year old. On the other hand I was very unimpressed with the VCR's which are currently for sale and wonder how long VCR's will continue to be sold.

Strengths:
Nice features good Picture quality

Weaknesses:
noisy

Similar Products Used:
JVC HR-VP604

Price Paid:  $230.00 from good guys

Summary:
gotta say, i'm spoiled by the guide+. besides the weakness mentioned above, this is a great VCR.

picked this up as an open box for $230 cause i seen it up around $300 or so.

this place sells it for $199:

http://www.supremevideo.com/vcr/sonyvcr/slvm20hf.htm

Strengths:
guide+, guide+, guide+

Weaknesses:
no PREVIOUS CHANNEL button... i hate VCRs without this function...

Price Paid:  $199.00 from AtlasAudio.com

Summary:
I found this product at AtlasAudio for $199 (2/13/01) after seeing it go for as much as $260 on eBay. You can email KristyD@atlasaudio.com for purchasing details. No tax and UPS Ground shipping was $11.

I haven't been able to find out if GuidePlus+ will work here, but assume it will since all of the stores are selling TVs with this feature now.

Price Paid:  $390.00 from www.supremevideo.com

Summary:
It is a very nice, quality, attractive VCR and has gotten a lot of use from recording from TV, and SAT through the S-link. Very nice when using Sony SAT beucase S-link takes care of everything (don't have to set VCR and SAT to get it to record). Smartfile works great so you always know what is on the tape and where and it will FF/REW the tape to just the right spot with a click of the joystick button.

Strengths:
Nice looking, smart file, s-link, jog/shuttle on remote, etc

Weaknesses:
When using timer record, it sometimes chooses a random channel to tune to, instead of the one programmed (ex program ch 9 at 7:00, will tune to channel 7 and then sit there, turned on but doing nothing)