Date: Sun, 4 Mar 1984  16:05 EST
From: Gene Hastings <HASTINGS@CMU-CS-C.ARPA>
To:   Edmund.Clarke@CMU-CS-G.ARPA
Subject: VHS or BETA?
In-reply-to: Msg of 4 Mar 1984  11:54-EST from Edmund.Clarke at CMU-CS-G

	You won't be cheated if you buy a (Sony) Beta; they perform very well.
(Depending on your budget you may wish to look into Beta HiFi.) Most VHS
machines also perform very well. There is, in fact, more variation among
different models of VHS than there is between VHS and Beta. The main
consideration is, "Who or what do you want to be compatable with?" Do you have
friends or relatives you wish to exchange tapes with (either home movies or
off-air)? Look at what features you might want, not just timer but things like
fast scan, slow motion and still frame (these you have to judge from a
thorough test report or a trial in the store; some models do not have all
featurs at all speeds). 
	In terms of rentals, check with the larger distributors (or small ones
carrying a similar line) for what formats the sorts of thing you want to see
are available in. You can find on some news stands (and advertised in video
magazines) directories for films "in print", from whom, and in what format.
These days it's beginning to seem that there is more of a gap in films offered
on disc vs tape as opposed to VHS vs Beta. 
	Also note that Sony is (at the moment) committed to seeing new and
interesting titles become available, as par tof the push for Beta HiFi (which
runs PCM stereo audio interleaved with the video [yes, it is backwards
compatible] whith results that are said to be superior to most audio discs. 
VHS HiFi machines are slated to appear starting this spring. 
	For what it's worth, every RCA VCR I've seen has been at best
indifferent, and frequently a dog.
	I'll be glad to answer anything I've left out or muddled.

							Gene