Price Paid:  $320.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
Bought this less than 6 months ago. The main reason was it's editing abilities--good. The cassette label thingy is a waste.

Almost from the time I bought it, loading a cassette was tricky. Instead of a fluid motion, you have to push it to just the right point where the servo will pull the cassette in---if your go too far, it will go in, not play and then self-eject. Could be much better.

The biggest problem is the remote. It keeps loosing the programing for using my TV, even though batteries are fresh. It happens so often I've memorized the programing code.

Of course, the real trick was trying to get any warrenty service---which the seller won't honor since I didn't spend $200 for extended service---the machine can't even get through the basic warrenty.

Strengths:
Edit features, fast rewind, picture quality.

Weaknesses:
remote and loading.

Similar Products Used:
JVC, Panasonic

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Camera World - Retail Store

Summary:
This was the sleeper of 1999/2000. Sony went back to making a less plastic model that looks great (matches the Sony DVP-S7700 DVD player well!) and performs nicely.

With DVD players and TIVO stuff taking the place of VCR's it really does not make sence to buy a new VCR. But looks were important to match the DVD player above. It will not get the use for playing movies like the DVD player gets but it should last a long time due to the quality Sony has put into this model.

Don't know if I will ever use the Smartfile stuff since those labels are SOOO... expensive.

Pick one of these up as I'm told Sony is not making these any more.

Also have:

Sony STR-DA777ES receiver ($ 999 from J&R Music)
Sony TA-N9000ES amp ($ 940 from OneCall)
Sony DVP-S7700 DVD player ($ 799 from OneCall)
Klipsch RF-3 speakers ($ 569 from Uncles Stereo)
Sony 41" TV ($ 1429 from N.W. Sony Only Store)

Strengths:
Sony style, fast rewind

Weaknesses:
No S-Video connectors

Similar Products Used:
Many different Sony Beta and VHS VCR's over the last 20 years.

Summary:
Experienced a lot of audio chatter during the playback of many different types of tapes. The VCR is in an entertainment center under my TV(1/2 inch of oak and 1-1/2 inch air space in between). In an attempt to troubleshoot the chatter I removed the VCR and played a tape. The chatter was gone. So I played the tape and slid the VCR into its slot and the chatter returned. This chatter was caused by Electro Magnetic Interference(EMI) from the TV. My previous VCR must have had better EMI sheilding. I am now working to provide EMI sheilding above the VCR to remove all the noise(a pie tin works for now).

I still enjoy the capabilities of this VCR, just wish that Sony would not shave costs by using a thinner VCR case and or removing the internal EMI sheilding.

I currently have an unresolved complaint with Sony about this.

Strengths:
Great edit and record features

Weaknesses:
Bad EMF problem

Similar Products Used:
Toshiba

Summary:
I have only owned this player for about a week & it has totally impressed. I record alot of shows & this smart file system is incredible!! The unit comes with five smart file strips which should be plenty (but I've ordered more anyway!). The Smart File records all information automatically (show name , date & time).
The only downside is the commercial advance feature. My last VCR would mark the commercials at the end of each recording session. During playback, when it came to a commercial it would FF through and stop automatically. With this VCR you push a Smart Cue button when the commercial starts and push it again when your show starts (almost like FF except the VCR stops and rewinds about 3 secs before playing).
All in all this is an outstanding VCR. GO SONY!!!

Strengths:
Smart File, picture quality, rewind speed, cable mouse.

Weaknesses:
Commercial Advance feature is manual not automatic.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic PV-9668

Summary:
First of all, this thing gives a great first impression. It's a full 17-inches wide with a centered tape door. Just feels and looks like a well-build machine when you pick it up for the first time.

Smart File is nothing short of awesome! I've been wishing for something like this for a long time. I don't do a lot a movies on VHS anymore, but I record TV for later viewing almost every day. This feature lets me view what I want, when I want; erase shows from memory to free up tape space; and easily zip from one show to the next (not necessarily the next on the tape) with menu-selecting ease. I love it and don't know how I lived without it.

The cable mouse is nothing short of a gift from God! Now, I can finally thumb my nose at the cable company for requiring a cable box for EVERY channel. I just stuck the little transmitter to the cable box, input the box's ID number, and let the VCR do all the work again. I can finally program my vcr for more than one show at a time again--the VCR actually maintains channel 3 on its tuner and changes the channel on the cable box for me. Just awesome!

Fastest rewind and fast-forward I've ever seen. This, combined with the menu access of Smart File, let me select a show, watch the counter run through numbers like there's no tomorrow, and be watching a show on the other end of the tape in less than a minute.

Picture quality is outstanding, even in EP. I've very impressed.

Jog wheel: Why? The utility of this this thing escapes me. I would much prefer buttons. It can't keep up with it's own movement, so two notches now, could take three next time. Just dont' like it. Complete waste of space and engineering talent.

What's with the Commodore 64 menu screens. I haven't seen an improvement in VCR menu screens in over ten years. Yeah, option lists get longer, but they still LOOK the same. I can brouse the web on my cell phone, but I can't my $400 VCR's menus to use better than block letters and three colors...what gives?

Even with its relatively minor faults, this thing is awesome. Now I don't have go from my 200-disk DVD changer to a Flintstone VCR anymore.

Thank you, Sony...just fix the darn menus!

Strengths:
Solid build and style. Smart File, oh yeah! Super fast rewind & forward. Outstanding recorded piture quality. Easy to use remote (though I only used it for a few weeks before I went to a LCD touch screen). Cable mouse (thank you Sony!!!).

Weaknesses:
Poor menu graphics. Jog wheel.

Similar Products Used:
Countless different VCR's.