Alba VCR6000 SIL

Alba VCR6000
Features: On-screen displays, 80 memory for presets, auto TV station search, 2 speed recording/playback, timer recording, one touch timer record, video index search, auto rewind, auto eject, auto power off, zero return, on screen language display (English, French or German), scart socket and an infrared remote control.

This VCR was my first VCR and it is still in perfect working order after having daily use for a year and a half. I find that it is a very reliable video recorder-when ever I use the timer record function it has always recorded the right programme at the right time.

I find that I often use the index search feature-this allows you to fast forward or rewind to when you started to record something; I find this useful when I am searching through a tape to try and find something because it allows me to quickly search the tape instead of rewinding/fast forwarding.

The remote control is very easy to use-everything on it is very clear and the buttons are laid out in a fashion that makes it easy to operate.

Arguably the actual VCR is rather plain (being metallic silver in colour) and it has limited controls on the main ‘body’ (power on/off, fast forward, rewind, play, stop, record and channel selector) so if you did loose the remote control then the VCR would have a limited number of settings avaliable to you since nearly all of them are opperated using the remote control.

In the box you get the VCR, a coaxial lead (connects the VCR to the TV), a remote control and batteries for the remote control, so everything you need to get started. There is also a detailed user guide which I find is very easy to understand since it shows you step by step how to perform the different functions and it even shows you which buttons on the remote control you need to use to carry out that function. Also included is a ‘Quick Set-up Sheet’-this tells you how to program the VCR to your television and how to set up the channels

In conclusion I think that this video recorder is perfect for someone who wants a cheap, reliable and practical VCR that can carry out all of the basic functions that you would want from a video recorder (I bought mine for £40 from Argos around one and a half years ago).