Xref: utzoo rec.video:7024 sci.electronics:6883
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!sharkey!clmqt!lopez!flash
From: flash@lopez.UUCP (Gary Bourgois)
Newsgroups: rec.video,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: S-VHS this generation's Beta?
Message-ID: <692@lopez.UUCP>
Date: 11 Jul 89 01:32:06 GMT
References: <2727@blake.acs.washington.edu>
Organization: GWN UPLink, Marquette, MI
Lines: 51

Well I for one hope that the format does not die, as it is quite a bit
superior to "regular" VHS.  I have been into VIDEO for over ten years, with
both UMATIC and VHS, and I find my JVC HRS-8000U a real joy to use.  With
it, and a Panasonic PVS-350 camcorder I have edited some video productions
that look better than what I was getting with a Panasonic 96OO Umatic
system I was working with four years ago.  The system holds up reasonably
to the third generation, though after that, I would have to give UMATIC the
edge, but only because of Chroma noise...  SVHS still has better
resolution.

I am rather disgusted though with the whole outcome of SVHS...  Now I know
how the BETA people felt (I teetered back in 1978, and finally went VHS
instead of BETA, or I would have been a BETA die hard, I am sure...]

The problem *IS* the price.  When $199 will buy a standard VHS deck at
GOOFY LENNIES, who in their right mind would spend a KILLOBUCK on a VCR.
(Having spent over a grand on my first two speed VHS, I think the SVHS
machines are a STEAL.  SO price of the machine is a factor.  PRICE OF THE
TAPES is another factor.  I have HUNDREDS of regular VHS tapes, but only
about 25 SVHS tapes.  I use them strictly for camera recordings, and
editing.  I have one SVHS tape for my FAVORITE MTV videos in HI FI stereo.
(in one year I have managed to collect five or so....)  I just can not
justify spending three times for SVHS blanks to use them for movies and
time shift.  BUT WHEN I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING SHINE with the same quality
as the original, SVHS can not be beat.  

I like the clean assemble and insert edits on the JVC, just as good as
UMATIC...  I also use the maching as an AUDIO deck, though one does not
need SVHS for this application, as the HIFI audio is available on many
regular VHS machines at half the price...

WILL SVHS survive?  I think it will, since the format has made significant
inroads into the Professional Market, where it is an obvious successor to
3/4".  There will be machines made for the home market for a few more
years, but if the prices do not come down, I think this segment will dry
up.  Professional SVHS machines are far more expensive than home units.  If
really high quality SVHS home machines were available for $4OO - $5OO, it
would be difficult to justify the $25OO+ that a professional machine with
similar features brings in.  For this reason, I believe the prices of home
SVHS machines will remain artificially high, perhaps killing off this
market segment, meaning that those of us who are addicted to it will have
to pay even higher prices (as the serious videophiles did when the only
option was the SONY VO-16OO UMATIC)

Ah well, all is fair in love, war, and BUSINESS...

-- 
| Gary Bourgois  flash@lopez.UUCP  ..rutgers!mailrus!sharkey!lopez!flash |
|              Great White North UPLink, Marquette Michigan              |
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