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TiVo Buries the VCR

Posted by Zonk on from the i-don't-want-to-go-on-the-cart dept.

Biul drolly writes "Apparently, TiVo's marketing department had difficulty with figurative speech in school." Specifically, News.com reports that TiVo held a mock funeral for the VCR this week. From the article: "While the death of VCRs and the VHS format has been long expected, it may be a bit premature to announce its arrival. Some 97 million households still have at least one VCR, according to the International Recording Media Association. However, TiVo's stunt does point out how fragile the VCR market is. Panasonic and Toshiba still make VCRs, as do lesser-known companies such as Lite-On, a Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer that sells its recorders through Wal-Mart Stores. But several manufactures have quit making VCRs. Brian Lucas, a spokesman for Best Buy, said that the retailer carries less than 10 models of standalone VCRs now. Ten years ago, it carried more than two dozen."

6 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Tivo's funeral is not that far away either by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny


    One might think considering how fast they are loosing the customer base.

  2. Have vs USE by mac123 · · Score: 4, Funny

    >>Some 97 million households still have at least one VCR, according to the International Recording Media Association.

    I have three....count 'em THREE VCRs still plugged in, taking power and giving me the time very reliably.

    With 2 Tivos, when was the last time a VCR tape actually spun in one of these 3 decks? Over 3 years ago.

    The tapes are loud, look like crap, and are unwieldy on the shelf. I don't even know where I buried the tapes.

    Why don't DVD players display the time on the front? Then I could get rid of the clock/VCRs :-)

  3. Re:Huh? by SoSueMe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Bugger.

    And I just got my VCR to stop flashing "12:00".
    A little duct tape over the LED worked fine.

  4. It _can't_ be dead... by MikTheUser · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...as long as Netcraft doesn't confirm it!

  5. Publicity Stunts by N8F8 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good thing you picked up the story or the idiot who came up with this publicity stunt would be out of a job.

    --
    "God fights on the side with the best artillery." - Napoleon, Marshal of France - speaking truth to power
  6. Re:Huh? by Air-conditioned+cowh · · Score: 2, Funny

    "My wife and I just watched the whole series of Dr Who on the laptop."

    Considering the number of Dr Who programs made you must have now been married a long time. Congratulations :-) Now you may both need treatment for neck injury and deep vein thrombosis after all that time sat in front of a laptop.