" Hello! I am moving to Amsterdam in about a month and I am still getting organized and trying to cover all of my bases. One thing that I am still concerned about is my electric appliances. Most of what I currently have I will be getting rid of before I go and replacing once I arrive. However, a few items I will be bringing over with an American system/voltage and hoping to just use converters. However, I have heard that the converters bought at Radio Shack are not always that reliable. Does anyone have any experience or advice on what brand of converter is the best to get? where to get it? and what sorts of problems I''d be running into if I have a cheap converter - will it cook my appliance or just itself? Also, I have a question about VCRs - I know the US system is different from the European system; which is why I am intending to get a code-free DVD player and start buying DVDs (so moving between Europe and US won''t be a problem). However, I have a ton of VHS videos (70-80) that I will still want to bring over and watch, thus, I am going to bring my US style VCR. I know the TV I buy over there will not work with my VCR - and I am assuming there is some sort of converter for the signal to be gotten. Any ideas on price, brand, ease-of-finding? Any advice is a huge help! Thanks, Ben "

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" Hi Ben. I moved from LA,CA to the Hague last year and after moving here I found out that I could have used *most* of my electronics from the states. First of all, they do have VCRs here that have NTSC playback. NTSC is the format used in the USA and PAL is what is used here in Europe. You can buy a VCR here with NTSC playback for as little as $150 (300 NLG). Of course, you can also spend much more. Depending on what kind of TV you buy here would depend on whether or not your VCR from the states will work. The TV must support NTSC viewing as well as have a RCA adapter (the little plugs that go from the VCR to TV). Most TVs here in Europe us SCART adapters (which is a plug system like nothing I have ever seen before). But, I can promise you it won''t plug into a VCR bought in the USA. They do sell SCART to RCA adapters here at electronics stores, but I have found that you lose some quality with them. As far as good brands, we have found Phillips an their under-brand Astonia to be outstanding products. Plus, the TV we bought here (Astonia) does support both PAL & NTSC play. We can plug our video camera from the USA straight into the TV and it plays great. As far as price, it all depends on how big a TV you want. Beware, at first glance the prices here are much higher than in the USA, but the price you see does include tax. You will probably need to spend at least $500 (1,000 NLG) for a nice TV that will do everything you want. As far as the converters, you do not want to get a Radio Shack one, it might cause you more problems than you would want. I would recommend waiting to buy a converter here, once you know exactly what you will be plugging into it. Plus, you would not have to deal with a plug converter issue. More than just the voltage, the plugs are different here. If you bought the converter in the USA, then you would have to have an adapter to plug into the wall socket here. If you are determined to buy a converter there, then go to a store like Best Buy''s or Fry''s Electronics and spend at least $50 on a heavy duty floor model than one that just hangs off the wall. I hope that this helps you and if you would like any more information, I would be happy to share what I know with you, email me at: Melanie@trust-factory.com. Good Luck! "

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" Hello Ben, Check out the www.dvdoverseas.com site for information on brand, model and prices on multi-system VHS and code free DVD. Good luck "

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