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From: gordonl@microsoft.UUCP (Gordon Letwin)
Newsgroups: rec.video,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: S-VHS this generation's Beta?
Summary: Problems with SVHS acceptance
Keywords: S-VHS sales popularity upper side band
Message-ID: <6264@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 11 Jul 89 17:39:37 GMT
References: <2722@blake.acs.washington.edu> <2727@blake.acs.washington.edu>
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 42

Re: the slow adaption of S-VHS:

one of the problems with SVHS is that it's an incompatible format; older
machines can't play it.  VHS HiFi was adapted quickly because, from
a video rental store point of view:
	1) the tapes didn't cost more to buy, and
	2) all customers could use them, benefit or not.

Now, say that you own a video store now, and you're considering buying some
SVHS tapes.  
	1) they cost more - tape formulation more expensive, and
	2) only a few of your customers can play them, and
	3) for every SVHS customer who rents one, you can expect 4 VHS
		customers to rent them out of ignorance, then demand
		their money back, which costs you loss of use of this
		expensive tape, employee time, and you don't even get any
		revenue!
	4) even if (3) is somehow controlled (and yes, just ASKING folks
		if they have SVHS won't work - most don't know.  And
		just saying that "don't know == NO" won't completely
		cover it, because there'll be lotsa bozos who insist that
		they have SVHS when they dont... )

		Well, even ignoring #3, you've tied up your money and
		shelf space on a tape which may sit there due to lack of
		potential customers, while other customers are going else
		where to rent that hot seller in VHS...

the alternative is to buy it in VHS, and dispense with all of these
problems.

Considering these market forces, I expect that SVHS will be a long
slow grind, if it ever makes it.    If it's marketed cheap enough that
most people buy it anyhow - even if it does them no good, then when you
get 80% penetration a video store would start to carry the tapes.
Hold your breath...

So as for SVHS being the new "beta" - it's worse, since beta tapes
didn't cost more and there was relatively little confusion about whether
or not your machine could play them.

	gordon letwin