As far as your new VCR and forwards compatibility - fuhgedaboutit.
What you have to do is make sure that there is a way to get a NTSC composite and or SVHS component signal into the new LCD you will select - in other words that the new unit is backwards compatible. You will always need a coax or RCA or S cable to output from the VHS deck. Ain't never gonna change though someone like Rat Shack will make an adapter for sure.
The VHS deck will never get any better then it is - it just is what it is. There is certainly no next-gen technology to look for - evolution pretty much stopped with S-VHS and pre-Tivo programming strategies...
Frankly I have no idea what could possibly keep you watching VHS that far into the future. My advice is to begin a transition to a newer playback medium sooner then later - lots to like in a $200 DVD player and NetFlix... Ease of use, plentiful media, pretty kidproof - like wash with soap and water....
If you have a lot of archival material, look into a DVD writer and burn the tapes to a platter before they deteriorate - half life of a tape is very finite especially if the transport is not regularly maintained (cleaned, de magged) and gentle tape handling is not practiced. Once that little sucker twists up you are SOL
What you have to do is make sure that there is a way to get a NTSC composite and or SVHS component signal into the new LCD you will select - in other words that the new unit is backwards compatible. You will always need a coax or RCA or S cable to output from the VHS deck. Ain't never gonna change though someone like Rat Shack will make an adapter for sure.
The VHS deck will never get any better then it is - it just is what it is. There is certainly no next-gen technology to look for - evolution pretty much stopped with S-VHS and pre-Tivo programming strategies...
Frankly I have no idea what could possibly keep you watching VHS that far into the future. My advice is to begin a transition to a newer playback medium sooner then later - lots to like in a $200 DVD player and NetFlix... Ease of use, plentiful media, pretty kidproof - like wash with soap and water....
If you have a lot of archival material, look into a DVD writer and burn the tapes to a platter before they deteriorate - half life of a tape is very finite especially if the transport is not regularly maintained (cleaned, de magged) and gentle tape handling is not practiced. Once that little sucker twists up you are SOL