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Received: from CMU-CS-G by CMU-CS-A; 4 Mar 84 15:00:29 EST
Date: 4 Mar 1984 14:48-EST
From: Douglass.Locke@CMU-CS-G.ARPA
Subject: Re: VHS or BETA?
To: Edmund.Clarke at CMU-CS-G    
Message-Id: <447277729/cdl@CMU-CS-G>
In-Reply-To: Edmund.Clarke at CMU-CS-G's bboard message of 04-Mar-84 11:53    

How about 2 cents worth -- A recent issue of the Wall Street Journal
indicated that VHS accounts for about 60% or more of the 1/2 inch video
tape market currently.  There is no technical advantage to either
format, and there is no reason for cost to differ significantly between
them, other than local discounting.  Beta was developed by Sony, and is
even now chiefly sold by Sony.  Many (perhaps most) industry observers
seem to think that VHS will prevail, which is why there seem to be more
VHS prerecorded tapes available.  Either will give satisfactory
performance for home use, although neither is broadcast quality.  VHS
tapes may be up to 8 hours long, while (last I checked) Beta was
limited to 5 hours.

Have fun, good luck.

				-- Doug