Betamax vs VHS emergence of dominant design

[Muscleduck]

3:25 He calls porn 'works of art' I love it hahaha.

[RUCKERMAN]

It really was like this back in the 1980s. I bought my first VHS VCR in August 1980 and it cost $700. By the time I was ready for a new machine in May 1983, the price had gone down dramatically. I don't remember precisely what I paid for it, but it was in the $325 range. My favorite video store had a porn library in the back too. I checked out quite a few tapes from that section over the years. I don't know if I would call the films the porn houses put out "works of art" but some were funny.

[Akira1422]

I like how he called porn a "work of art"

[TheAnneRobinson]

0:07 Atari 2600

1:05 Vectrex

2:36 Atari 2600 (Again) VHS VCR NES

[DAVEMC1000]

I have the same VCR @ 0:45 and still use it, no joke.

[rastaxp]

This man, founder of ultimate 80's internet radio, seems to live the 80's today. Pastelcolored shirt and a white blazer. He looks like some cokesnorter on Miami Vice.

[rick62008]

@socialontology Which episode was this? Thanks in advance!

[Myrtone]

Actually, Sony did attempt to licence Beta before VHS came to the market, but JVC refused. VHS won because it did what consumers wanted, record a two hour movie unattended, Beta did not.

[cygil1]

@Myrtone The documentary severely misrepresents this issue, like most coverage. Sony, anticipating the competition, introduced the Beta-II speed that allowed for a 2 hour recording time on a standard Betamax cassette in 1977, the same year VHS machines were introduced into the US. Throughout the 80s the VHS and Betmax-II formats were virtually identical in quality and recording time. You're repeating a common myth, unfortunately.

[Oerg866]

What documentary is this? I'd like to watch it. The technical explanations in this are great. I love it!

[EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME]

dvds suck donkey vagina

[slightlytwistedagain]

Haha it wasn't the fact that VHS had cheaper and longer playing tapes, it was the fact that Sony got fucked over by porn.

[pvx]

@slightlytwistedagain I've heard that whole porn theory, wasn't that just an urban legend (I haven't seen any offical research about that)?

[slightlytwistedagain]

@pvx Not too sure but I find it funny that it might be the case.

[dustYCartridge]

i still use both but i use VHS more cus i have like 550 vhs movies and only 32 betamax tapes.

[jjraper100]

VHS is better

[jjovereats]

When you use HiFi stereo or NICAM, one mono track is recorded on the side, then Audio Frequency Modulation is used to record the audio on the underside of the video.

[idontsignin]

It caused an explosion, no pun intended. Lol

[friedcrispy]

my kids will probably never even know these things existed

[morrismagic08]

What about the V2000? they played the tape on both sides like an audio cassett. Some had long play giving up to 12 hours or somethig! How V2000 never became the dominant format il never know.

[kisrms]

They don't make vcr's anymore, sniff :(

[AccordionManiac]

Great video. I wonder if there's a full documentary on the video format war (vhs-beta)

[ObiTrev]

I miss my toploader

[Riddler95]

This is a great video.

Now let's see one on Laserdisc.