Who Remembers Laserdisc and BETA Tapes? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 03-09-2010, 10:02 PM

This online reviewer I follow who specializes in retro things has posted some cool YouTube vids on Laserdiscs and BETA tapes.

The Laserdisc Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtP5QrzuPSY
The BETA Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhEXD_uJnJw

Marvo301 · 03-09-2010, 10:06 PM

I remember walking into video stores back in the early 80's and they would be divided into two sections. The VHS section and the Beta section.

JamesG · 03-09-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I remember walking into video stores back in the early 80's and they would be divided into two sections. The VHS section and the Beta section.

I have no memories of the BETA tapes but I do remember the Laserdiscs.

They officially stopped around the year 2000 and I do remember seeing them sold in places like The Wiz at one point. They were still not mainstream.

I also remember those small tapes that you had to get the machine to adapt it. We had that type of camera throughout the 90s.

Zoneboy · 03-09-2010, 10:37 PM

I had a large beta collection and 2 Sony Hi-Fi betamax's. I'd put those units up against any standard dvd player out there today in regards to picture quality. I had several thousand music videos from the 80's but eventually got them transferred to DVD and sold the Sony's on eBay.

Torgo · 03-10-2010, 11:45 AM

I remember the BETA VHS split at video stores, the BETA side at the video store I went to back then would get smaller and smaller- eventually it was just one rack while the rest of the store was VHS.

I have a huge laser disc collection. I lost a few lasers to "laser rot" which can't be repaired so you end up with a giant coaster. I still buy lasers if it's a rare movie that can't be found on DVD, I then transfer it to DVD since it is better quality than VHS(I did this for Eyes of Fire).

The prize of my laser collection-
Phantasm Limited Edition Box Set(even comes with the Phantasm soundtrack on CD) Signed and numbered by Don Coscarelli.

I also have the Tron and Aliens box sets.

JamesG · 03-10-2010, 04:03 PM

^ how big exactly are the Laserdics? How do they compare to a vinyl record?

Torgo · 03-10-2010, 04:05 PM

They're about the same size.

catlover79 · 03-10-2010, 05:12 PM

Ahhhh, BETA - state of the art back then, garbage today. Kind of like 8 tracks. (Just my opinion, of course.)

Torgo · 03-10-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Ahhhh, BETA - state of the art back then, garbage today. Kind of like 8 tracks. (Just my opinion, of course.)

BETA though was far better quality than VHS, VHS just happened to corner the market.

Torgo · 03-10-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Ahhhh, BETA - state of the art back then, garbage today. Kind of like 8 tracks. (Just my opinion, of course.)

8-track on the other hand was just crap.

dlemond · 03-10-2010, 05:19 PM

I had a laserdisc player.

But I only bought a few discs- I rented them. Looking back I'm certainly glad that I did not go any further.

I had:

Star Wars
Goodfellas
Fantasia
A karaoke disc

Pretty sure that was it.

catlover79 · 03-10-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

8-track on the other hand was just crap.

Totally - how long were 8 tracks made, anyway? It seemed they were out almost as soon as they were in! (Of course, cassette tapes helped hasten their demise!)

JamesG · 03-10-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Totally - how long were 8 tracks made, anyway? It seemed they were out almost as soon as they were in! (Of course, cassette tapes helped hasten their demise!)

Late 60s to early 80s.

By the 80s they were mainly obscure but they officially stopped releasing 8-track format by then.

JamesG · 03-10-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlemond

I had a laserdisc player.

But I only bought a few discs- I rented them. Looking back I'm certainly glad that I did not go any further.

I'm sure the people who didn't decide to go for the HD-DVDs "the new way to look at DVD" feel the same way.

Retro4Life · 03-10-2010, 05:57 PM

I was one of the first people in my town to get a VCR back in 1983. It was a birthday gift from my parents; I agreed to pay half since it was a very large expense back then.

It was a Beta machine. It wasn't long before I realized I probably should have bought a VHS since most movies were in that format and it grew increasingly hard to find blank Beta tapes.

Great memories, though. At least in those days there were things I actually wanted to tape!

03-09-2010, 10:02 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Who Remembers Laserdisc and BETA Tapes? This online reviewer I follow who specializes in retro things has posted some cool YouTube vids on Laserdiscs and BETA tapes. The Laserdisc Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtP5QrzuPSY The BETA Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhEXD_uJnJw Attached Images

03-09-2010, 10:06 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I remember walking into video stores back in the early 80's and they would be divided into two sections. The VHS section and the Beta section.
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03-09-2010, 10:37 PM	#4
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: 34,404	I had a large beta collection and 2 Sony Hi-Fi betamax's. I'd put those units up against any standard dvd player out there today in regards to picture quality. I had several thousand music videos from the 80's but eventually got them transferred to DVD and sold the Sony's on eBay.
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03-10-2010, 11:45 AM	#5
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	I remember the BETA VHS split at video stores, the BETA side at the video store I went to back then would get smaller and smaller- eventually it was just one rack while the rest of the store was VHS. I have a huge laser disc collection. I lost a few lasers to "laser rot" which can't be repaired so you end up with a giant coaster. I still buy lasers if it's a rare movie that can't be found on DVD, I then transfer it to DVD since it is better quality than VHS(I did this for Eyes of Fire). The prize of my laser collection- Phantasm Limited Edition Box Set(even comes with the Phantasm soundtrack on CD) Signed and numbered by Don Coscarelli. I also have the Tron and Aliens box sets.
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03-10-2010, 05:12 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Ahhhh, BETA - state of the art back then, garbage today. Kind of like 8 tracks. (Just my opinion, of course.)
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03-10-2010, 04:03 PM	#6
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	^ how big exactly are the Laserdics? How do they compare to a vinyl record?

03-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#7
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	They're about the same size.

03-10-2010, 05:19 PM	#11
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I had a laserdisc player. But I only bought a few discs- I rented them. Looking back I'm certainly glad that I did not go any further. I had: Star Wars Goodfellas Fantasia A karaoke disc Pretty sure that was it.

03-10-2010, 05:57 PM	#15
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I was one of the first people in my town to get a VCR back in 1983. It was a birthday gift from my parents; I agreed to pay half since it was a very large expense back then. It was a Beta machine. It wasn't long before I realized I probably should have bought a VHS since most movies were in that format and it grew increasingly hard to find blank Beta tapes. Great memories, though. At least in those days there were things I actually wanted to tape!
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