Terribly complicated

This unit is just awful to use! My parents (nearly 60) had been a Philips Turbo Drive stereo VCR with Long Play and could this also operate and program unassisted. After more than 12 years this unit gave up the ghost and unfortunately my parents opted for this product.

1. Knowledge: This VCR has no battery. Once briefly disconnected from the mains, and all the settings (time, sender, etc.) are gone; the device must be completely rewritten.

2. Knowledge: The display on the unit is only used to display the time; lights up next to a red "Function" icon, the device is not in standby mode, but in operation; a green clock icon indicates that a timer programming would be available. For more this display does not have jurisdiction, because everything else is done unfortunately by OSD on the TV set. Operating the OSD is temporarily quite illogical and cumbersome.

3. Knowledge:.. Basic concept names such as "standby" and the like, as they are used by major brands like Philips or Sony, called an entirely different strategy. Who is zeroed in on the operating scheme said brands, will have big adjustment difficulties.

The programing of the TV station's terribly inconvenient. The manual is a double-sided printed sheet, the size is larger than an A3 sheet, and under construction just awful. Fundamental questions for everyday use are answered extremely cumbersome.

The position indicator (where I am on the videotape? Counter? Elapsed time? Free Time?) Is also carried out via OSD (here in the form of a sort Subtitling) and musss only be switched on manually by remote control. The programming of recordings done by OSD on the TV set, in this case, a blue screen with text display. Have you ever stayed at, (etc. Start / End Time, VPS code, ShowView) retyping the teletext the numbers displayed their desire shipment in the VCR remote control, you will experience a bitter disappointment, because this is no longer so. Likewise, there is no one-button Today Recording programming. Everything is done via the timer positions.
The VCR does not automatically turn on when it is not used in the standby mode back, as with big brands is often the case after 15 minutes; have you by hardcoding a recording forget it (pressure on the remote control Function key), then the unit will remain so and will not record.

There is at least something positive: The machine is very quiet, during rewinding the VHS no disturbing noise, against the cassette mechanism, there is nothing wrong with that recorded by our predecessor device longplay cassette be reproduced without loss of quality.

Conclusion: My parents can after about 3 years operate this unit still does not unaided and I need even when programming a recording that always manual sheet to support. Standard functions as usual from other brands are very well hidden; much is done more or less flying blind. The unit was the purchase price although very cheap, the ease of use, however, is equal to zero. Personally, I'd never buy this device itself!