15 Pointless Media Formats That Wasted Our Money - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James28 · 06-14-2026, 04:56 PM

Upon seeing this last month, I thought this would be a good watch for everyone else in the SitcomsOnline community so they could see if they ever dealt with any of these formats themselves... or maybe something that would make Dude111 get riled up given his infatuation with obsolete technology.

Quote:

In the 90s and 2000s, tech corporations weren't just selling products, they were selling "formats". They wanted to own the way you watched movies and listened to music, forcing you to buy your entire collection all over again. Today on BeforeWiFi, we are exploring 15 pointless media formats that wasted billions of our collective dollars.

From the infamous "self-destructing" DivX discs and the Sony UMD "prison" to the $100 million failure of HD-DVD and the endless, overpriced variants of the Sony Memory Stick. We take a nostalgic look at the gadgets that promised the future but delivered only empty wallets and drawers full of useless plastic.

According to retail data, the average tech consumer spent over $1,200 on formats that vanished in less than 3 years. Let's find out why "convenience" was sometimes just a corporate trap.

Dude111 · 06-14-2026, 05:04 PM

Thank you buddy!

My 2 favourite Media formats are VHS and Videodisc (CED)

When I was at salvation army the other day I saw some BETA cassettes!!

If I put the beta tape into a VHS cartridge and try to play it on my VCR,will it play does anyone know?? (Im curious if the 2 are compatible video formats)

stevea · 06-14-2026, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

Thank you buddy!

My 2 favourite Media formats are VHS and Videodisc (CED)

When I was at salvation army the other day I saw some BETA cassettes!!

If I put the beta tape into a VHS cartridge and try to play it on my VCR,will it play does anyone know?? (Im curious if the 2 are compatible video formats)

No, the formats aren't compatible. Compare the size of a VHS tape to a Beta tape. A VHS tape is big and clunky and a Beta tape is slightly more compact.

To put it simply, it don't fit.

One of the reasons Beta "lost" was slightly longer record time for VHS. To me you don't want to use SLP mode anyway, due to the decrease in quality. With VHS and DVD recorder, I've always used SP.

stevea · 06-14-2026, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

Thank you buddy!

My 2 favourite Media formats are VHS and Videodisc (CED)

When I was at salvation army the other day I saw some BETA cassettes!!

If I put the beta tape into a VHS cartridge and try to play it on my VCR,will it play does anyone know?? (Im curious if the 2 are compatible video formats)

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

No, the formats aren't compatible. Compare the size of a VHS tape to a Beta tape. A VHS tape is big and clunky and a Beta tape is slightly more compact.

To put it simply, it don't fit.

One of the reasons Beta "lost" was slightly longer record time for VHS. To me you don't want to use SLP mode anyway, due to the decrease in quality. With VHS and DVD recorder, I've always used SP.

Oops, sorry, I reread the question. I doubt that would work due to the difference in technology. But if you like to tinker you're welcome to try, however the tape might jam in the VCR.

Dream Canteen · 06-14-2026, 06:41 PM

stevea · 06-14-2026, 06:59 PM

Well, the Youtube video answers the question--the tape formats aren't compatible.

James28 · 06-14-2026, 09:17 PM

Another media format that wound up a big-time bust: "Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED)" -- or "Movies On Vinyl".

I have also seen a few YouTube videos on the CED and how it ended up being a huge failure. A few factors included:

Its release (in 1981) being 17 years after it was first conceived by RCA (in 1964) because of internal mismanagement and technical hurdles
A complete lack of recording capability (being playback-only unlike VHS)
Cumbersome playback (the discs can only hold 60 minutes per side and a particular movie had to be split into multiple parts, or even multiple discs entirely)
Fragile media and stylus wear (CEDs were read with an incredibly fine stylus—much like a traditional phonograph record. The grooves were so delicate that human oils could destroy the video, and even a single speck of dust could cause skipping)
Fierce competition from magnetic-tape formats and LaserDisc (which were already dominating the home-video market)

A great website about the CED format: https://cedmagic.com/

Dude111 · 06-14-2026, 09:31 PM

Thank you Dream for that video!!

Its interesting isnt it buddy??

1960'sTVfan · 06-14-2026, 10:45 PM

I have absolutely no use for Blu-ray but I like VHS and DVD. I still have working VCR's and DVD machines that play and record.

Dude111 · 06-15-2026, 12:25 AM

Wow you have a DVD recorder??

Ah man!!

1960'sTVfan · 06-15-2026, 08:45 AM

Yes, I have two of them. When recording, I use DVD-R media.

One thing that I'm currently not able to do is record CD's for music. My stereo system has a cassette player/recorder, but the CD unit only plays CD's, it doesn't record. I have one of those Crosley stereos that plays and records CD's, but the record function stopped working properly some time ago.

Dream Canteen · 06-15-2026, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1960'sTVfan

Yes, I have two of them. When recording, I use DVD-R media.

One thing that I'm currently not able to do is record CD's for music. My stereo system has a cassette player/recorder, but the CD unit only plays CD's, it doesn't record. I have one of those Crosley stereos that plays and records CD's, but the record function stopped working properly some time ago.

I don’t have an optical media player anymore, but I did most of my CD and DVD burning on my computers. I never had a standalone CD or DVD recorder.

Zoneboy · 06-15-2026, 12:35 PM

Of the dinosaurs mentioned in the video the only ones I ever owned were a DivX player, a laserdisc player and video CD recorder. I never used the DivX and the VCD was good for TV shows, but you could only get 3 half-hour episodes on one disc. The laserdisc player and my Twilight Zone discs were eventually sold on eBay, the VCD stopped working entirely and the DivX is sitting in a storage shed gathering dust.

stevea · 06-15-2026, 12:45 PM

The Panasonic DVD recorder (2005) was a great item to have. It has an integrated hard drive which allows editing before copying to a recordable DVD.

I still have one hooked up but it's becoming increasingly irrelevant. The only tuner I can record from anymore is an old Comcast DTA (Digital Transport Adapter) box. It's from around 2010, a little after the digital TV conversion.

1960'sTVfan · 06-15-2026, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dream Canteen

I don’t have an optical media player anymore, but I did most of my CD and DVD burning on my computers. I never had a standalone CD or DVD recorder.

My desktop computer has a CD/DVD drive, but I haven't used it to try burning CD's or DVD's. I've always used the standalone devices.

Not a big priority for me right now, but eventually I may try shopping on Ebay for a used CD player/recorder that's in good working order.

06-14-2026, 06:41 PM	#5
Dream Canteen Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 11, 2023 Location: California Posts: 343
	__________________ The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.

06-14-2026, 09:17 PM	#7
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,977	Another media format that wound up a big-time bust: "Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED)" -- or "Movies On Vinyl". I have also seen a few YouTube videos on the CED and how it ended up being a huge failure. A few factors included: Its release (in 1981) being 17 years after it was first conceived by RCA (in 1964) because of internal mismanagement and technical hurdles A complete lack of recording capability (being playback-only unlike VHS) Cumbersome playback (the discs can only hold 60 minutes per side and a particular movie had to be split into multiple parts, or even multiple discs entirely) Fragile media and stylus wear (CEDs were read with an incredibly fine stylus—much like a traditional phonograph record. The grooves were so delicate that human oils could destroy the video, and even a single speck of dust could cause skipping) Fierce competition from magnetic-tape formats and LaserDisc (which were already dominating the home-video market) A great website about the CED format: https://cedmagic.com/
	Last edited by James28; 06-15-2026 at 01:23 AM.

06-14-2026, 05:04 PM	#2
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,966	Thank you buddy! My 2 favourite Media formats are VHS and Videodisc (CED) When I was at salvation army the other day I saw some BETA cassettes!! If I put the beta tape into a VHS cartridge and try to play it on my VCR,will it play does anyone know?? (Im curious if the 2 are compatible video formats)

06-14-2026, 06:59 PM	#6
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,532	Well, the Youtube video answers the question--the tape formats aren't compatible.

06-14-2026, 09:31 PM	#8
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,966	Thank you Dream for that video!! Its interesting isnt it buddy??

06-14-2026, 10:45 PM	#9
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,081	I have absolutely no use for Blu-ray but I like VHS and DVD. I still have working VCR's and DVD machines that play and record.

06-15-2026, 12:25 AM	#10
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,966	Wow you have a DVD recorder?? Ah man!!

06-15-2026, 08:45 AM	#11
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,081	Yes, I have two of them. When recording, I use DVD-R media. One thing that I'm currently not able to do is record CD's for music. My stereo system has a cassette player/recorder, but the CD unit only plays CD's, it doesn't record. I have one of those Crosley stereos that plays and records CD's, but the record function stopped working properly some time ago.

06-15-2026, 12:35 PM	#13
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,362	Of the dinosaurs mentioned in the video the only ones I ever owned were a DivX player, a laserdisc player and video CD recorder. I never used the DivX and the VCD was good for TV shows, but you could only get 3 half-hour episodes on one disc. The laserdisc player and my Twilight Zone discs were eventually sold on eBay, the VCD stopped working entirely and the DivX is sitting in a storage shed gathering dust.

06-15-2026, 12:45 PM	#14
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,532	The Panasonic DVD recorder (2005) was a great item to have. It has an integrated hard drive which allows editing before copying to a recordable DVD. I still have one hooked up but it's becoming increasingly irrelevant. The only tuner I can record from anymore is an old Comcast DTA (Digital Transport Adapter) box. It's from around 2010, a little after the digital TV conversion.