Sony says goodbye to Betamax tapes. - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

electronicskip · 27th Jan 2016, 8:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC/HL

I believe the fact that Thorn were prominent in both the VCR and the rental markets helped.

I used to work for Rumbelows which at the time were owned by Thorn EMI , and we would rent out maybe 20 VHS video recorders to 1 against any other format available at the time (Betamax,V2000).

greg_simons · 28th Jan 2016, 12:13 am

A near neighbour of mine knowing I was in the radio tv trade asked me which format video recorder to get, technically the beta format was better so I advised him that way, he asked if I could get one a Sony SL8000 through the trade, one was duly sourced for him via a couple of favours, the machine was installed and all seemed well for about a week whereupon he started moaning that no prerecorded films could be obtained for it and might the offending equipment be returned, it caused me no end of trouble and almost ruined a friendship with the fellow colleague who supplied the recorder, never again did I offer any buying advice no matter how hard I was pushed.

Station X · 28th Jan 2016, 10:14 am

Apparently when houses were burgled Betamax VCR's were never stolen, unlike VHS ones.

cheerfulcharlie · 28th Jan 2016, 12:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Station X

Apparently when houses were burgled Betamax VCR's were never stolen, unlike VHS ones.

It always amazes me the snobbery around VHS and Betamax, but time has told the VHS has proved to be the most durable format,(even against some pro formats) the fact is many people now have 30 year old VHS tapes that just pop in the machine and play no nonsense to this very day.

In contrast we have arthritic old Betamax tapes and basket case, life wasting machines like the Sony C5 and C7.

28th Jan 2016, 12:13 am	#22
greg_simons Octode Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Evesham, Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,422	Re: Sony says goodbye to Betamax tapes. A near neighbour of mine knowing I was in the radio tv trade asked me which format video recorder to get, technically the beta format was better so I advised him that way, he asked if I could get one a Sony SL8000 through the trade, one was duly sourced for him via a couple of favours, the machine was installed and all seemed well for about a week whereupon he started moaning that no prerecorded films could be obtained for it and might the offending equipment be returned, it caused me no end of trouble and almost ruined a friendship with the fellow colleague who supplied the recorder, never again did I offer any buying advice no matter how hard I was pushed.

28th Jan 2016, 10:14 am	#23
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Sony says goodbye to Betamax tapes. Apparently when houses were burgled Betamax VCR's were never stolen, unlike VHS ones. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.