Sharp 25VT-K100 25 inch TV/VCR Combo TV

My mother bought me this television as a college graduation gift in May 1998. I was getting married in a couple months and needed a television but couldn't afford to buy one at the time.

So she sent me shopping to all the local electronic chain stores and I landed at a Circuit City, where this particular television was on Clearance! I love a good bargain! At first the features weren't what turned me on - it was the price. I was marked down from $499 to $369. For a 25" television with VCR built in, this was a real steal.

So we bought it... And was I ever, and still am pleased with what I got.

The Picture and menus
It is 25" of crystal clear pictures and easy-to-use menus for recording and programming. You adjust all the color, VCR functions, closed captioning, and date and time from the remote control and the menus. I am not sure if all TVs are like this know, but 2 years ago this was an awesome feature.

The VCR
I have had a few little problems with the VCR, but I am not sure if it was an electric field where I was living that was effecting the player or whether it was the player itself. When we would put a tape in the VCR, the picture would be all fuzzy and we would have to either finagle with the tape inside the player to get a clear picture or take some static off the screen and zap the tape inside. (This got real painful at times) We have since moved and haven't had this problem in the new place. I just figure there are gremlins in it (just like any other piece of electronic equipment).

The Casing
This television is attractive looking but it is HEAVY! When we moved last month it took two people to carry it up the stairs. There is one larger power button on the left below the screen and to the far right are the VCR controls (also forming a circle to balance out the power button on the opposite side). This is nice since I am a real stickler for symmetry. Below the VCR slot are the volume, channel and recording buttons.

The Remote
This thing took some getting used to... and lordie lordie help you if you lose it like we did (luckily we found it in the couch when we moved!) The best thing about this remote is that there is an Eject/Load button on it for the VCR! What an amazing idea!

If you buy a universal remote, programming your VCR can be a challenge since this remote has all the customized buttons for the task.

There are still a few buttons on this remote that I have no clue what they are for and will probably never use them. I figure if I haven't used the feature they are attached to in 2 years, chances are it's not real important to have!

I highly recommend this TV, as well as any SHARP product to anyone. It has held up well so far and I am sure it will last us at least another 5 years.

SHARP has always made quality products. I say this because my mother and grandmother both bought televisions in 1982 (when remote controls only had number buttons and channel/volume up and down) and my grandmother's broke last year and my mother's six months before that. In my book, that's quite a life for a TV.