CompuServe Messages

Iain: >Nowadays, virtually all TVs and VCRs sold in France are dual standard – PAL *and* SECAM – but they are different from machines sold outside France, which don't bother with SECAM at all.< Thanks for clearing that up! BTW, doesn't a lot of (what used to be) Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union use SECAM as well? (What a crazy thought–SECAM was a Communist plot to rule the world through inefficient television! <VBG>) >The upshot is – your friend in France could *almost* certainly play back a PAL tape, but it may be best to drop them a note first.< I already did–I'm waiting to hear from him now to see if he can view my PAL dubs. In anticipation of which, I've already made one for him… >It would be nice if there were one worlwide format, but the standards were made a long time ago, and I guess global sharing of video seemed kind of unlikely then.< I know–unfortunately, it's pretty typical, eh? Between computers and video (both of which I use in my business and write about), I seem to be trapped in incompatible format hell… Best, Tim