VHS as a medium

[Hobie-wan]

I'm pretty sure everyone who's seen that ep hasn't actually seen a Beta tape in the wild (myself included), so it's easy to forget about them.

It's a Betacam SP tape like TV stations used, but close enough.

[BoringSupreez]

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According to Cowboy Bebop they'll last 85 years or longer so I'd go with them on this one, they are clearly from the future.

That was a Betamax tape. Don't you remember the episode? The distinction between VHS and Beta was a major plot point. Spike and Jet went underground to find a VCR, but the VCR they brought back could only play VHS tapes.

I'm pretty sure everyone who's seen that ep hasn't actually seen a Beta tape in the wild (myself included), so it's easy to forget about them.

I've seen one, less than a year ago at Goodwill. It was Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It's the only time I've ever seen a betamax in person.

[Flake]

Beta was a superior format to both VHS and Video 2000, wasn't it?

[Hobie-wan]

It is superior to VHS, yes. Dunno about the other.

[MrPopo]

Beta was a superior format to both VHS and Video 2000, wasn't it?

Define superior. VHS has longer runtime iirc, which was one factor that helped make it popular for home use.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Was actually thinking about finishing up my DBZ VHS set since they're so cheap. How long do VHS usually last? Not trying to buy something that will die out on me in a couple of years.

It depends on the quality of the Tape actually. Some of the Disney VHS tapes I bought in the '80s still look good without any static or distortion. Some of the cheap tapes I bought in the '90s are looking pretty ragged by comparison.

According to Cowboy Bebop they'll last 85 years or longer so I'd go with them on this one, they are clearly from the future.

That was a Betamax tape. Don't you remember the episode? The distinction between VHS and Beta was a major plot point. Spike and Jet went underground to find a VCR, but the VCR they brought back could only play VHS tapes.

I've seen Beta's before, but both are analog and both are magnetic, so they should have similar lifetimes in proportion.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Beta was a superior format to both VHS and Video 2000, wasn't it?

Define superior. VHS has longer runtime iirc, which was one factor that helped make it popular for home use.

It won because VHS format Porn was cheaper than Beta format porn. No lie, this is actually a well documented fact and literally got mentioned in an old textbook of mine!

[Hobie-wan]

Beta was a superior format to both VHS and Video 2000, wasn't it?

Define superior. VHS has longer runtime iirc, which was one factor that helped make it popular for home use.

Ok yes sorry, I'm thinking of Betacam, which was much different than Betamax which was up against VHS for the home market.

[Octopod]

Beta was a superior format to both VHS and Video 2000, wasn't it?

Define superior. VHS has longer runtime iirc, which was one factor that helped make it popular for home use.

It won because VHS format Porn was cheaper than Beta format porn. No lie, this is actually a well documented fact and literally got mentioned in an old textbook of mine!

Actually I believe that Beta had no porn and VHS did and that that is why VHS won the format war.

[AmishSamurai]

The VHS set Amish Samurai was talking about is this one:
link
This VHS set was released in 1995 after Lucas digitally remastered the video and sound but before all the the extra CG effects and added scenes on the 1997 theatrical re-release. This set is considered by some (myself included) to be the best version of the trilogy. This set is distinguished by its minimalist cover art; don't confuse it with the later VHS tapes with gold borders.

Yes, this is the version I grew up on. Guess I was a bit spoiled, but if I'm to be a snob on anything, it may as well be versions of Star Wars.