The VCR era was peak physical media.

layer8 · 2025-01-26T00:37:36 1737851856

Nah, the peak was in the 2000s with DVDs. Then streaming services started, and the HD disc format war and price hikes for HD discs didn’t help.

snide · 2025-01-26T00:55:01 1737852901

VCR let you record anything. Something on TV you wanted to watch later? Set the timer, it recorded on that channel at that time.

A DVD might have been peak consumer, but it didn't have nearly the versatility of VCR. Hell, I could record 6 hours of content on 1 tape!

layer8 · 2025-01-26T01:01:02 1737853262

I guess it depends on how you define peak. With regard to sales of prerecorded media, DVDs were the peak. For TV recording, DVRs were so much better quality-wise and more convenient than VCRs.

int_19h · 2025-01-26T01:30:36 1737855036

Enshittification already started with DVDs with all the "you can't do that" stuff blocking fast forward etc for parts of the video.

layer8 · 2025-01-26T01:35:11 1737855311

Yeah, I was lucky to have DVD players with a mod chip that defeated those restrictions.

chrisblackwell · 2025-01-26T00:45:09 1737852309

100%. Nothing else like it. Your own controllable media and DVR with full control.