"Do Not Change Channel. Taping Dallas."

This month we once again celebrated the anniversary of the day in 1977 that VHS tapes (R.I.P.) were introduced to America. This leads me to fondly recall my childhood - where many excited trips into the living to watch television were ended by a sternly worded note taped over the television screen warning others not to change the channel on a recording in progress.

My parents must have really saved up. Check out the price of the first VCR unit:

The system was called Vidstar. The VCR would cost $1,280. That's about $4,600 in inflation-adjusted dollars. Blank tapes were priced at $20 ($72 these days).

I know DVDs are far superior when it comes to audio, picture quality, durability, special features and the simple act of jumping around from one scene to another - but who doesn't in some strange way miss adjusting the tracking on a VHS tape? Who's with me?

(Via Wired)