what to do with VHS movies? (films, family)

[ania]

Consider donating them like a few have mentioned (shelters, library, etc). Also, consider donating them to a hospital - many still only have VHS players in patient rooms, and could increase the library of titles (esp on pediatric floors).

[mimberly]

I might be wrong but it seems like the VCR ones held up better than the DVD. I have kids movies as old as my oldest daughter and she is 26. They have been played and played. With the DVD they are dirty or if they get scratched then you have to get them cleaned. I have youger kids too and their hands find a way to touch them. With the VCR Although I had a few VCR tapes pulled apart by the kids.

[driftwoodpoint]

We have a B&B and I have about 120 VHS but we still use them. I agree that buying copies of DVD's would cost a fortune. By the time I would do that they will change formats and we will have to start all over again! I liked the idea of the machine that will change them over.
I also heard there are sites where you can have them recycled.

[Stripes17]

I just bought a combo VCR/DVD Player for my den. Got it off eBay at a really cheap price and it was brand new in the box. Now when the ladies are watching their reality TV shows on the big TV in the Family Room, I can sit in here and have a guys film festival (Animal House, Fast Times, Ferris Bueller, Blues Bros, Dirty Harry, Office Space, etc.) with my collection of movies in various media formats.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by mimberly

I might be wrong but it seems like the VCR ones held up better than the DVD. I have kids movies as old as my oldest daughter and she is 26. They have been played and played. With the DVD they are dirty or if they get scratched then you have to get them cleaned. I have youger kids too and their hands find a way to touch them. With the VCR Although I had a few VCR tapes pulled apart by the kids.

You aren't wrong. The lifespan of VHS tapes was seriously understated, and the lifespan of DVDs is overstated. It has to do with the image density on the media and the inherent problems that the media can have. I was one of the early adopters of the Betamax, and I also had a commercial recorder for a while. Those tapes were still good when I finally had to tape them to VHS many years later.

[kelly237]

Trying to downsize/clean out what we don't use and I am
trying to figure out if we need to VHS collection.

Along that same theme I am trying to decide if I need to keep
the 100's of CD hard plastic cases.

All the CD's are in CD notebook style holders but as soon as I toss
the cases I will decide it was a mistake

[harry chickpea]

CDs and DVDs - I don't like the notebook holders, but have a few of these:

Discgear.com - DVD & CD Storage and Organization. Find the right disc, right now

They have albums for the liner notes as well. The selector 100 is IMO the best, since the round top keeps people from stacking stuff on it.

What to do with those jewel cases? How about this:

MAKE: Blog: DIY CD jewel case photo frames

Craftzine.com blog: CD Jewel Case Bird House

MAKE: Blog: DIY CD Jewel Case Photo Calendar Printing

[pitt_transplant]

I move alot so I chucked my cases and all Cds are in a notebook. I am VERY careful with my stuff. But I think books end up putting scuffs on a disc no matter what you do.
Home movies should be kept in jewel cases and others can go in the book.

I just tossed all my tapes. I made a list on paper of everything and priced it to rebuy in person and online. Its cheaper just to get the real thing because you know you are not going to be throwing it out because of writing errors. The movie house discs hold up better to replaying and handling and they are already in a jewel case.
CDRs seem tohave a really bad degrading problem too.

And my god...this last move was so much better because I didnt have the army of heavy VHS cases to lug in.

Mega cheap to rebuy these old movies in lots on ebay or amazon.
Others can be found for a dollar or two at local record shops.

[kelly237]

Originally Posted by pitt_transplant

I move alot so I chucked my cases and all Cds are in a notebook. I am VERY careful with my stuff. But I think books end up putting scuffs on a disc no matter what you do.
Home movies should be kept in jewel cases and others can go in the book.

I just tossed all my tapes. I made a list on paper of everything and priced it to rebuy in person and online. Its cheaper just to get the real thing because you know you are not going to be throwing it out because of writing errors. The movie house discs hold up better to replaying and handling and they are already in a jewel case.
CDRs seem tohave a really bad degrading problem too.

And my god...this last move was so much better because I didnt have the army of heavy VHS cases to lug in.

Mega cheap to rebuy these old movies in lots on ebay or amazon.
Others can be found for a dollar or two at local record shops.

Very good points and exactly the way I need to be looking at it.
It would force me to think thru exactly which VHS movies I like enough to
replace in CD. (probably 30 % of them)

Next huge challenge is all the books. I am an avid reader and would like a library room in next house or office/library. I guess I just weed out the
books that don't fit my dream library.

Typing errors are because sleeping pills have kicked in LOL

[NWPAguy]

Originally Posted by sgresident

I don't know about the rest of you, but we have a ton of kids VHS movies that we purchased when our kids were younger. You know, every disney movie ever! I was thinking that they really are next to useless to hang on to, however, I know that my husband will have a difference of opinion. Just want to hear what others think might be a good idea to do with all of these videos.

Send 'em all to me. I still prefer VHS over DVD, because when a VHS tape gets a bit of dirt on it, nothing happens... it has to get really screwed up even to get a bit of snow into the picture... when you get a bit of dirt onto the playing surface of a DVD, the whole freaking thing can go blooey. Tapes can't rewind and fast-forward the way DVDs can, but I still think they are tougher and stronger.

Not to mention, there's one other thing I absolutely despise about DVDs... they can program your player to temporarily "disable" certain buttons on the remote... such as the "forward skip" button (such that the disc can force you to watch the annoying previews and the FBI information that we all know about already). At least with VCRs, what you press is what you get... and the player is smart enough to adjust automatically for the play speed of the tape.