Back when TV remotes still made clicking noises when you pushed the buttons, there were these devices many of you might recall called VCRs and Betamax. In November 2015, years after Betamax lost the home viewing device war, Sony finally stopped production of the Betamax tapes, much to the surprise of a large population who wasn’t even aware these tapes were still being made.
Sony’s Baby
Sony came out with the Betamax just a few short years after the VCR was made. Because Sony had such a sound reputation when it came to recording devices and the elements that went along with them, the company assumed that the Betamax would be a success. However, there were two major components that made this reality impossible: cost and functionality.
Recording Times and Price
No one is really sure exactly what drove Sony to create a device that could only record for 60 minutes, when most movies last at least 90 minutes. Perhaps Sony was trying to make an extreme effort to end cable piracy? Or more likely, sell more tapes. Since VHS was less expensive and could record for 120 minutes, it was easy enough for customers to make a choice between the two.
At this time, there are still those who are either so devoted to Sony or so set on not being trendy that they continue to rely on a Betamax for their nostalgic entertainment. For those who chose this path in lieu of Blu-Rays and devices that have present-time remote control codes, let the world have a moment of silence as the dust begins to gather on the production machines for Betamax tapes. Farewell, Betamax: The machine that would change for no man.