Why was Betamax better than VHS?

[kazzer]

I hear this all the time.......I'm just curious

[Faustus]

It can be argured both ways actually, but many do think beta was the better, tape size and quality being two commonly quoted things... Also I know alot of pro stuff used only BETA until very recenly. Oh yeah and VHS was a check of alot cheaper to produce if I understand correctly...

[MOVIEGEEK]

Whoa.....Flashback to 1983
Beta had a better picture(3 heads)and the tape was about 33% smaller than VHS(2 heads)but was more expensive due to Sony patents.JVC came out with VHS as a cheaper alternative and the rental shops bought more of them.

[Faustus]

And there was more porn...don't forget the porn!

[kazzer]

And there was more porn...don't forget the porn!

Ha Ha! yeah i heard that and wasnt sure how true it was!

Thanks for your replies!


Regards.

[jeex]

although i'm not old enough to really remember the betamax vs. vhs wars, i've also heard that vhs tapes could contain more video.. i think betamax only held like an hour.

[ChrisX]

Betamax was a better VCR than VHS because of its resolution as superior.

The main problem with the Betamax VCR is maintenance and expensive to have. The heads can get dirty, parts can get out of order and broken, the tapes can get jammed and very costly to repair. The VHS is bit better on maintenance and costs and still a problem.

The VHS tapes are longer and more reliable than the BETA tapes. The maximum length of the BETA tape is 3 hours and 15 minutes on one speed only. I am more confident of using VHS for this reason and have less of a worry if anything goes wrong such as a tape jam. A DVD player is even better with no moving parts and not a repair yet.

I am fading out the videotape movie collection in favor of the DVD. I just finished getting rid and cleaning out most of my BETA and VHS videotape movie collection and keeping the best. The old videotapes were taking too much room. I am not buying any more VHS videotapes. The VHS end is coming with digital recording.

I am in the process of getting rid of a Beta machine and keeping the best one. I am also at the moment transferring my favorite movie collection from BETA to VHS, as the last BETA VCR will be gone later this year.

My 23 year BETA VCR history is almost over. Anyway the last BETA VCR is very useful as a video sender from the TV to the computer’s video card.

Anyone out there got a BETA VCR? I would like to know and the BETA got no macrovision.

[boss]

what does VHS actually stand for? i've always wanted to know!
i presume 'v' stands for video and 's' for system, but the "h"?
any ideas?

[pbhalerao]

what does VHS actually stand for? i've always wanted to know!
i presume 'v' stands for video and 's' for system, but the "h"?
any ideas?

VHS stands for Video Home System (I think).

[bugster]

what does VHS actually stand for? i've always wanted to know!
i presume 'v' stands for video and 's' for system, but the "h"?
any ideas?

VHS stands for Video Home System (I think).

actually I believe it stands for something a lot more technical, Vertical Helical Scan, whic refers to the way the tape is scanned by the rotating head.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[ChrisX]

what does VHS actually stand for? i've always wanted to know!
i presume 'v' stands for video and 's' for system, but the "h"?
any ideas?

VHS stands for Video Home System (I think).

actually I believe it stands for something a lot more technical, Vertical Helical Scan, whic refers to the way the tape is scanned by the rotating head.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, you are right. I just checked my JVC video manual. It says like this for video recording system: Rotary two-head helical scan system. The same for the Panasonic VCR with the same description.

On the Dictionery says VHS stands for Video Home System. I think VHS stands for something more technical like Vertical Helical System.