On Wed, Jan 31, 2001 at 11:15:15AM -0700, Steve Young wrote
> Anybody know why VHS beat out beta? Was there some preference other than
> technical superiority in this case?
The idea that betamax was superior turns out to be an urban myth. When
Betamax and VHS apeared on the market there was no descernible quality
difference between the two technologies (at least to the consumer). but
VHS offered longer tapes that could record an entire ball game...
It was only after Betamax had lost the battle to become the consumer
standard that Sony started to produce high-end systems geared towards
the broadcasting market, with success.
Incidently there was also another system, video2000 from Phillips, which
was technically superior to both Betamax and VHS, but which, amongst
others, required you to turn the tape in the middle of the programme...
video2000 was extensively used for educational videos when I was in
highschool... It is no more though.
Krist
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Krist van Besien [EMAIL PROTECTED]
