CompuServe Messages

I know you're aware of this, but I'll ask the obvious anyway. The VHS units _are_ 4-head decks, aren't they? My first VHS unit was a 2-head deck, and the SP speed wasn't all that great in comparison to the 4-head decks even at the time. Like I said, I don't remember Beta being as impressive as you state. I'm not sure of the spelling, but I do seem to remember that they used a shorter, more phonetic spelling for cassette, probably to avoid confusion with the Phillips compact type. It was indeed a 1/4" audio tape format, based loosely on videocassettes and reel-to-reel audio. During play the tape was pulled from the cassette (ala VCRs) and run across a trio of seperate erase, record, and play head (ala reel-to-reels). The size of the cassette was roughly the size of compact cassettes and not much thicker due to the compact cassettes enlarged head area. They definitely had a better S/N ratio and I believe they ran at 3-3/4 ips for a better frequency response. The decks were made by several manufacturers (Sony and TEAC for sure, and I think others) but I only saw them in audio magazines in advertisements and mail order. Something like a year after I saw the first ad they disappeared and people were writing letters to the editor complaining about being orphaned and owning expensive paperweights. Never did see either tape or machines in retail stores. I seriously considered getting a unit myself but decided to wait due to a buddy's experience with quad, and I was leery of Beta due to this narrow escape, so I could've been prejudiced.