November 23, 2004

VHS Follows Beta

IT Observer - VHS Format Dies Quiet Death

One of Britain's largest retailers, Dixons, is officially retiring VHS players.

"We're saying goodbye to one of the most important products in the history of consumer technology," Dixons marketing director John Mewett said. "We are now entering the digital age and the new DVD technology available represents a step-change in picture quality and convenience."

VHS was the format which brought video into peoples homes. Until VHS, home video, camcorders and even movie rental was a dream or a toy for the rich, or foolish. VHS let people record and watch television programs when they wanted rather than at the whim of broadcasters.

DVD is the new VHS. Cheap media that can be used for not only television but on your computer as well. High quality video and sound. I repeat, DVD is the new VHS. In fact, VHS is so "out" that new VHS players only account for 2.5% of the market for video players. 80% of video store rentals are now in DVD. 70% of new video purchases are DVD.

Are there recordable DVD's? Or does everyone have TIVO?


Posted by Commissar at November 23, 2004 07:08 AM
Confessions

I've got a DVD player/recorder. Very Nice. Panasonic, I think.

Extracted from: Mikey at November 23, 2004 07:13 AM

I have no television recording technology, largely because I think so little TV is worth recording.

Extracted from: Joe R. the Unabrewer at November 23, 2004 07:37 AM

I download any shows I missed, and I can use my DVD-RW drive if I need it.

Extracted from: Greg at November 23, 2004 10:08 AM

In socialist command economies like New Zealand we despise your bourgoise Tivo techno-toys. And DVD recorders are available (with suitable bribery to Party officials) for a mere $1000.

Extracted from: robertp at November 24, 2004 09:43 AM

sadly i am quite behind the times - technologically speaking. i only have a proletarian cd burner. i have not taken the capitalistic plunge into getting neither a dvd burner nor a tivoesque device. i no longer own a vhs player/recorder. i dl using Azureus or Kazaa Lite. i use an xbox for both games and movies.

Extracted from: fluke_boy at November 24, 2004 08:07 PM

My wife records about two hours of programming a year. Last time, it actually worked.

Extracted from: McGehee at November 26, 2004 01:40 PM