Someone just gave me a load of VHS tapes

[Barry777]

You can still buy VHS and S-VHS tapes, but you have to go online to get any kind of selection. I agree that the DVD format will shortly be replaced by memory cards or a similar format - or more likely, downloads.

Since I prefer something that works "all the time", I stick with tapes whenever possible, and tapes are also less susceptible to damage. Many will argue that the quality of tapes suffers over time which is true of course. But unless you handle your DVD's with cotton gloves and keep your system in a cleanroom laboratory, DVD's will long be ruined from scratches before a VHS tape will wear out - not to mention that most DVD players crap out within 3 years, whereas I have 30 year old VHS machines that are still pumping along nicely with routine maintenance.

Myself, I'd rather sacrifice a bit of picture and sound quality and have something that I know will work when I hit the "play" button. I have never once gotten a "disc error" message on any of my VCR's.