Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site wateng.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!wateng!bjroehl
From: bjroehl@wateng.UUCP (Bernie Roehl)
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: VHS vs Beta
Message-ID: <757@wateng.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Feb-84 16:19:45 EST
Article-I.D.: wateng.757
Posted: Wed Feb 22 16:19:45 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Feb-84 04:42:41 EST
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 24

Well, I recently considered the purchase of a VCR but decided instead
to lease one.  My reasons for leasing were simple: I did't want to have
to worry about maintenance, I didn't want to commit to VHS or Beta until
the smoke clears, and I didn't want to lay out $500 all in one shot.
  The VCR I got runs VHS format, and I've since had an opportunity to
compare the quality I get with the quality out of a Beta VCR; the short
answer is that in my case the difference in quality is non-existent.
Reviews of systems using the two formats tend to support this, saying in
effect that the two are equivalent.  I suspect the "noticeable differences"
some net posters have mentioned are attributable to difference in tape
quality (which I notice a tremendous variation in, on both VHS and Beta).
  I can't speak for the midwest or west, but can say that in the Eastern
United States and Canada, VHS is by far the more prevalent system.  Many
video stores are carrying only VHS, and those that do stock Beta are
phasing it out.
  If I were to purchase a VCR at this point, I would choose VHS; the
greater availability of programming suggests that, right or wrong, it's
the system that will prevail (at least until the new 8 mm format becomes
popular and supplants both VHS and Beta).



-- 
        -Bernie Roehl    (University of Waterloo)