FORMAT:VCR-LP     DATE: 1978 PRICE: £490 [2005: £1880] 56x37x16cm 18 kg

At first glance, the N1700 looks identical to the N1502, from two years before. Closer inspection shows that the controls have once again been re-designed - a sliding tracking control replacing the rotary one, a different clock, and lower-profile control buttons. But the most crucial difference between these two machines is not immediately visible, merely hinted at by the legend on the case: "LONG PLAY". In fact this machine was an entirely new format, VCR-LP, which could record for well over two hours on a standard 60-minute VCR cassette. For the first time, an entire feature film could be held on a single video cassette.
Philips acheived this remarkable increase using a new technique called Slant Azimuth recording, where the heads themselves were mounted on the drum at a slight angle to the track being written. The two heads were set at opposite angles, which prevented one head from picking up interference from adjacent tracks - since these had been recorded at the other angle. So, there was now no need for 'guard band' gaps between the tracks, and they could be recorded much closer together on the tape. This in turn meant that the tape could be run at less than half the speed of a VCR format machine.
The basic layout of the machine is the same as the 1502, though nearly every detail has changed. The tilting carriage now has the eject button mounted on it directly -- you press this once to unlace the tape, then again to actually eject the cassette. Although VCR and VCR-LP machines used the same cassettes, the two formats were not compatible. The 1700 could not play recordings made on a 1500 or 1502 - unlike modern VHS-LP machines, which will always be able to play standard VHS recordings. No dual-standard VCR / VCR-LP machine was ever produced.

VCR-LP and VCR cassettes; the difference is purely in the labelling.

Shortly after the 1700 was released, a 1702 was produced which added a longer timer - able to be programmed up to two weeks ahead - and a few nicities like a test-signal generator to make tuning the TV into the machine's output simpler. The 1702 looks identical to the 1700, apart from an extra digit on the timer display, and a slightly different "champagne" case colour. Internally there are some improvements to the electronics, and the 1702 is said to be the best and most reliable of the "square tape" machines.At the same time, three-hour cassettes were also released, using thinner tape to pack more into the cassette case.