"I bought this multisystem VCR so we could watch tapes purchased in Europe and Russia. After shopping around quite a bit, I finally decided this was the best "bang for your buck" and bound up purchasing it at Barrel-Of-Monkeys.com.

The main problem I wanted to solve in purchasing this particular multisystem VCR was that I needed a VCR that would do more than just play PAL and SECAM tapes... I needed one that would actually do the multisystem PAL/NTSC conversion so that my NTSC Television would be able to play PAL/NTSC VHS. Its an important distinction because there are plenty of VCRs out there that will play PAL/SECAM, but you must have a monitor capable of showing those formats. This multisystem VHS player and recorder actually does all the conversions enabling you to watch your international VHS videos on any regular American NTSC TV set.

In fact, it doesn't just convert one-way. You can, for instance, play an NTSC tape out to a PAL or SECAM monitor or a SECAM tape out to PAL or NTSC...it also supports multple power voltage, types of input/output cables... it really IS a "World" multisystem VCR.

There are also lots of great features that add class to this multisystem VCR. The list is long and I discover more of the features all the time. For instance, the remote control glows in the dark to make it easier to find. Or, when you're taping something off the air, it will notice you are running out of tape and slow down to a lower format to try to fit in what you wanted to tape. Or if you go to do a timer recording and the tape in the VCR is write-protected, when you turn the power off it will eject the tape to warn you. It also has mostly "useless" features like the ability to put artistic effects on whatever you are watching (either live on the air or off a tape) or to pause video that is live on the air."

The Bottom Line: This is a great way to watch the videos you purchased abroad...be aware that you'll own a PAL/NTSC VHS converter and all your friends will want you to convert stuff for them!