My how things change.

[mapsedge]

I remember when Hollywood movies on VHS and BETA (remember that?) were $100. I worked at a video store called "Video Exchange", a revolutionary concept in retail where you could rent Hollywood movies. We all believed that dubbing the tapes would somehow alert someone and we'd get in trouble.

I remember when blank VHS tapes were $25 each, and you could get a recorder for the bargain basement price of $799.

Back when the Mercer twins and I were making movies - that would have been, say...1984-1990-ish - it was about $10 film + developing for three minutes worth of Super-8 Kodachrome film*.

I'm going to record the concert tonight, burn it to DVD as a keepsake for the benefit-ee's family. I'm going to Wal*Mart to buy two tapes - about two hours - for $8. Let's take a moment and do the math, shall we?

Super-8, Kodachrome 40, chosen for it's tight grain structure and better color reproduction** in normal light: ~$ 3.50 a minute, and you have to wait a week to see the the results of your efforts.

Mini-DV. Hi-Def 1080i or DV 740p: ~$.07 a minute. The results are immediately viewable, and you can reuse the tapes.

Damn.


* By that time the price of VCRs had dropped to an astoundingly low $300
** As compared to Ektachrome, which was better for low light, but was unpleasantly grainy.

Comments

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

As a Beta head, being on the losing end of that one, I'm holding well off until HD-DVD and Blue Ray get done fighting before buying anything.

That battle may well be over. Blockbuster has already adopted Blu-Ray, as has the adult entertainment (aka, porn) industry. It was adult videos that shifted the tide away from BETA to VHS...it may likely be the same here.

[iarraidh.livejournal.com]

We'll see.

I have no investment in either side like I did with Beta, so I'll go with whoever Wins.

I just want it to be decided SOON