Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site trwspp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!trwrb!trwspp!stassen From: stassen@trwspp.UUCP Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Re: If one is good, two must be better! (one of each) Message-ID: <581@trwspp.UUCP> Date: Thu, 20-Sep-84 11:58:45 EDT Article-I.D.: trwspp.581 Posted: Thu Sep 20 11:58:45 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 26-Sep-84 03:30:18 EDT Organization: T R W, Redondo Beach, CA Lines: 48 [] I would recommend one of each (plus a plugboard-type device which lets you configure them easily). If you're going to buy a fancy one, I would suggest that you buy the Beta deck as your better one. Right now, you can get a really good Beta deck for less than a really good VHS deck, and the Beta decks are a *little* better. Eventually, one of these formats will phase the other out (or so it appears at the moment). VHS has sheer popularity going for it, and Beta has a slight lead in technology. You could (if you had both), store your tapes in whichever format you found convenient, and later (when one or the other is all but gone, move your whole collection to the format which survived. You would have the advantage of being able to borrow anyone else's tapes and play them; you could rent either Beta or VHS movies -- if you don't find the title in one section, try the other. As much as I think that VHS will eventually phase out Beta, I cannot see into the future. Had I the money, I would invest in one of each just to be safe, should Beta be the eventual victor (it is a possibility). And eventually, when format 'X' is gone, and your format 'X' deck ignites itself, you can replace it with another deck of format 'Y' and still have a great system. Of course, you stand to lose a little more if VHS takes over (your more expensive deck would become obsolete), but that is several years down the line, and anyone who is buying two of these at once can't be worried about losing a little money. A point that I'm not addressing (and I'm sure the Beta-philes will jump on it) is that VHS to VHS doesn't make the greatest copies. Beta to Beta does much better. Has anyone tried Beta to VHS or VHS to Beta? I would think that it would be acceptable as long as you don't make a living out of copying your programs from one machine to the other and back. (VHS to VHS is pretty good for one or two copies - you tape a program (0), edit it (1), and give a copy to a friend (2) - means two VHS-VHS copies). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The opinions expressed in this document are my own. They are not intended to reflect the views of my employer - TRW - or anyone else. Intelligent and responsible commentaries should be directed to me; Flames to the bit bucket. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Christian W. Stassen [decvax!trwrb,vortex,ihnp4!vortex]!trwspp!stassen "If we knew what the hell we were doing, then it wouldn't be research."