I have a questions to native speakers. Since everyone knows what a video recorder is I don't have to remind you that it is a machine used to record things from e.g. TV. But there also exists a machine that does not have the recording capability and by means of which you can only watch films on video casettes. Now I was wandering if the latter machine is also called a video recorder or maybe a video player. In a word, does the term - video player - exists in English or not. Thanks a lot.
I think even if I couldn't record on my VCR I'd still call it a videocassette ''recorder'' [VCR]. I've never heard the term ''videocassette player'' or ''video player''.
I mean I don't think ''I would''.
Not, ''I don't think I would.'' ''I would.''
The term video player certainly exists in English. I think you'll find that a video player is something like Real player - you cannot record with it, you can only play videos and mpegs etc...
A video recorder is definitely a machine that you can both play and record on. Personally if I bought a video recorder that didn't record I would send it back!
I hope this helps.
8-)
But is there a device that is used for watching only?
It is called a television set, mike.
Some VCRs can only ''play'' videos. My VCR can, but even if it couldn't I'd still call it a videocassette ''recorder'' [VCR]. I've never called my VCR a ''video player''. Yeah, Only the cheap VCRs don't record. I wouldn't buy a VCR that didn't record.
But is it logical to call a machine recorder even though it cannot actually record? And , Lynne, is the video player you are writing about a real machine you can get in a shop or is it software?
I think she's talking about the software. A VCR is a video cassette recorder. In other words, it can play and record. A video player simply plays videos (not necessarily cassettes). So my Real Player on my computer can play videos, but it is not a VCR.
Oh, I got ''video player'' and ''VCR'' confused. They are two different things.
Yes mike, I have actually seen a "video player". This was many years ago before VCRs were so common and inexpensive.
Pentatonic
Was the machine commonly known as a 'video player' and if so is the name still being used in the U.K or the U.S?
The most common term for something you play videotapes in in the U.S.A is ''VCR''.
Hi Mike,
It's been probably 20+ years since I saw that so I can't remember if it was called "video player" or "video cassette player". While it is correct that most such devices nowadays are called VCRs, (almost) all of them record. A company could not legally sell something called a VCR that doesn't record.
In my opinion you are correct to call a player that doesn't record a "video player", and to me it doesn't sound odd. Most people would quickly call it a VCR but they would also be surprised to know that it doesn't record since such devices are uncommon.