A friend recently passed along a near-new JVC S-9600U. I must concede that it handles tapes with as much finesse as the Betas, does amazing things at EP and otherwise just seems very good. Looks as if its editing is no slouch either, were I so inclined. (Not.) Does better on VHS than a previous hors de combat Sony managed, though it may have a strange / infrequent glitch; I can live with less than perfection.

(I have yet to run down an S-VHS tape on which to experiment; best attend to that before the local ... If Everybody doesn't want it - nobody Gets It ... marts drop them.)

It really IS amazing IMO - what recent machines can do with EP! (Some folks, unclear-on-the-concept of Vision - persist in using that sluggish pace on off-air material.. oh well.)