BetaMax versus VHS. Anybody remember that fiasco? When VCR’s first came into the mainstream, there were two versions of tape, BetaMax and VHS. Sony was behind the BetaMax version, while JVC was behind the VHS version of tape.
To add to that mix, there were also two disc-based systems called the Capacitance Electronic Disc and the LaserDisc. Not many people had this equipment, and there were not that many titles put out in these formats. Another detriment to these two devices was the fact that they could not record television programs.
As such, the majority of movies were put out in either BetaMax or VHS for a time when VHS finally won the battle. I believe the main reasons VHS won that battle was because you could record up to 4 hours of programming with VHS while BetaMax could only record two hours. In addition to this, all the advancements seemed to be headed in the VHS direction with Hi-Fi stereo sound, high speed picture search and eventually up to 8 hours of record time.
As a result of this struggle, many consumers were left with expensive but worthless BetaMax machines since no new material was being distributed in the BetaMax format.
Flash forward to the present. VHS is still around, but that technology is on the verge of being replaced by the DVD. The DVD hasn’t completely replaced VHS machines mainly because VHS has been around for over two decades and people still have their home movies and favorite shows on VHS. However, as DVD recorders come down in price, many people will start transferring their videotapes to DVD’s.
Of course, the DVD industry now has to watch their own back, as high definition television sets and digital technology comes into our homes.
To view DVD’s in “Hi-DEF,” viewers had the choice of HD DVD and the Blu-ray Disc. There were attempts at avoiding a “consumer mêlée” but those attempts failed. This meant viewers had the choice of getting high definition videos in either format.
Today, Toshiba, the main supporter of HD DVD, threw in the towel and gave up the HD DVD format, clearing the way for the Blu-ray Disc to be the format for high def entertainment.
Moral of the story—NEVER buy any new format. The electronic industry literally changes day by day. Consumers need to give the industry a chance to sort out what they really want to market, as was the case with the BetaMax/VHS days.
Of course, the other really important notion behind all this is money. All new technology is expensive. Over time, that new technology becomes less expensive and more affordable. I still marvel at the fact that just a couple of years ago; DVD players cost about $200.00. Now, you can pick up a DVD player for as low as $30.00 if you look around!
So, for all of you people that haven’t bought HD television sets yet…wait a little longer. They will come down in price and when they do, you’ll be getting quite the deal!
I guess when it comes down to buying electronics; the consumer needs to watch their own back!
Moving to a different subject, I was reading Marianne Paskowski’s blog over at TVWeek.com
Ms. Paskowski was writing about a casualty of the writers strike, the FOX show, “24.” During the strike, the show lost a creator and executive producer in Joel Surnow. After the strike ended, FOX announced there wouldn’t be enough time to properly write, shoot and edit an entire season of 24 episodes, so the decision was made to can the show for this year and bring it back in 2009.
She believes that the year hiatus will be the “kiss of death” for the hit FOX show. As much as I like the show, she could very well be right. Last year’s show wasn’t exactly the “high water mark” of the series. There was no real cliffhanger and everything had pretty much been resolved.
I’m not sure it left people with the feeling of wanting more. When it does return, will people even remember where the show left off?
Hey, all I want to know is if Ex-President Logan survived his wife’s attack! I guess we may find out in 2009 if they decide to re-visit that plot point.
