Just when we've got the VCR sussed

The humble VCR has taken a step towards the scrapheap with the launch of the first DVD machine that can record.

A new Philips machine can record and re-record on its discs - eliminating any advantage held by the long-serving VCR.

The new recorder's launch at an exhibition in Berlin prompted a rush of orders. Retailers on London's Oxford St claim that they will start to phase out the VCR as early as next year.

The DVD1000+RW recorder is available only in Europe. But it is expected to be launched in the United States and other key markets, including New Zealand, towards the end of this year.

Its arrival, and the probable demise of the VCR, will close a chapter of entertainment history fondly remembered by many New Zealanders.

The VCR first appeared in the US in 1976 - a Sony Betamax box that had to beat Supreme Court challenges from television and movie companies before it revolutionised viewing habits.

By the late 70s, the first Beta and VHS models were being rented out in New Zealand. Ownership then of a giant silver top-loading monster was enough to guarantee the envy of many a suburban street.

Now, just as thousands of Kiwi families have finally got the hang of programming the VCR, the DVD recorder is expected to again change the way we view the world.

But don't expect the VCR to go quietly. The sticking point for consumers wanting a new DVD recorder will be its opening price - £1300 ($4266) and £20 for each rewriteable disc.