My first VCR was a BETA (Sanyo - top loader). My second VCR was a BETA (Sony SL-5200). My third VCR was a BETA (Sony). My fourth VCR was a BETA (Sanyo VCR-7200B - which I still have and still works). It wasn't until 1989 when I finally made the move to VHS and purchased a Panasonic S-VHS VCR (PVS-4980). For me (and for others still out there) the BETA format VCR was best option for home video recording until the advent of S-VHS. However, with the newer video recording technologies, such as DVRs and recordable DVD (I own a Philips DVDR-985 DVD recorder myself), it is a logical assumption that previous video formats, including BETA and VHS would fall by the wayside.
Ever since BETA and VHS arrived on the scene, proponents and detractors of both formats have heatedly argued the virtues of each. However, those that invested in either format have contributed to the success of home video. Although BETA has been considered as the "loser" , BETA's loss was not in vain. Millions of BETA VCRs were sold around the world and thousands are still in use today. The innovations introduced in the BETA format pushed the makers of VHS to improve their own product.
It is interesting to note that even though the VHS camp was able to meet the challenge of BETA's innovations at every step (usually about a year later), they never really were able to exceed BETA, except for one important feature; recording time. While BETA provided an excellent option for home video recording, the fact that VHS could come up with a 6-hour EP/SLP recording speed (by sacrificing video quality), was a major factor in the defeat of BETA in the mainstream marketplace.
However, without the battle of the BETA/VHS video formats, such current tape formats such as Digital8, miniDV, and D-VHS, as well as tapeless video platforms, such as the DVR and DVD recorder, may not have appeared on the scene at all or would have been delayed by several years.
I will never lose sight of the fact that it was BETA that really started the momentum for the current home video recording revolution.
