My husband and I were rearranging our entertainment center the other day to accommodate some new external speakers that we bought. When it came time to hook the speakers up, we discovered that our power strip didn't have enough room for yet another plug. We had to move something out of the entertainment center. After thinking for a moment, my husband suggested moving the VCR to the spare bedroom. "Anyway, when was the last time you used it?" he asked. I honestly couldn't remember. So, he took it away.

It's hard to believe that just a few years ago, I couldn't imagine giving up my VCR so easily. But the popularity and affordability of DVD players and digital hard disk recorders these days makes VCRs all but obsolete. They are becoming the 8-track players of our generation! I really cannot think of a situation in which I would need my VCR for either playing or recording purposes. When we go to the video store to rent a movie, we always get DVDs. When we purchase movies for our home collection, we always get DVDs.

We don't need the VCR for our archived media, either. Over the course of the last year or so, my husband and I have slowly been converting our old home movies to DVDs by means of our computer. This process takes a long time (mostly because we are not experts and have to frequently refer to various tutorials), but it is really worth it. Not only are we saving our memories in a more durable format, we are also significantly reducing some clutter in our home. Who knew how much room videotapes could take up?

Our digital hard disk recorder has successfully supplanted the VCR as our must-have electronic toy. The digital hard disk recorder works almost like TiVo, but with perhaps a more limited range of functions. We can record programs to the hard disk without having to use videotapes or DVDs. When we come across a program that we want to save, we can then burn it to a DVD (which is a feature of the unit and doesn't require additional equipment) and keep it. Also like TiVo, the digital hard disk recorder allows us to pause or rewind live TV programs, or to review a segment in slow motion. I'm not too familiar with TiVo, but I think one of the differences between TiVo and a digital hard disk recorder is that TiVo has a search function that allows the user to find a bunch of similar programs to record. But then again, TiVo requires a monthly subscription fee whereas the digital hard disk recorder doesn't. Any way you look at it, having a digital hard disk recorder means I don't need a VCR to record my favorite programs.

So as technology continues to develop and advance, some of our formerly indispensable appliances are quickly becoming outdated. If just a few years ago I couldn't imagine life without my VCR, I wonder what the future holds for my other favorite electronic goods? Which items that I use today will still be an integral part of daily life 5 or 10 years from now? Only time will tell!