Cartrivision
Cartrivision was the first VCR marketed to the American public, back in the early 1970s. It predated VHS and Betamax. However, it soon failed, for a variety of reasons. First, it was sold as a TV/home entertainment center/movie camera combo, which made it very expensive. That is, you couldn't buy just the player alone and attach it to your existing set. You had to buy the whole bundle. Second, you could rent movies for it, but you couldn't rewind the movies, so you could only watch them once. This limitation was designed into it at the insistence of the movie industry. Finally, perhaps its slightly creepy ads played a role in its demise. Maybe it's just me, but I definitely sense a pervy vibe coming off of the dad in the scene below.
More info: retrothing, wikipedia, mrbetamax
More info: retrothing, wikipedia, mrbetamax
Comments
Speaking of home movies (and also since she can't get online to find me out right now) I still have these and more for sale:
"Patty Cake Cheese Cake with Two Baker Men"
"Patty Patty Two Bi Four"
MPG,AVI,MP4,and MKV formats available.
:gulp:
"Patty Cake Cheese Cake with Two Baker Men"
"Patty Patty Two Bi Four"
MPG,AVI,MP4,and MKV formats available.
:gulp:
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 11/04/12 at 10:35 AM
A home made video of a chess game???
BD I may like your video better. How much and can I get it over the border?
BD I may like your video better. How much and can I get it over the border?
Posted by BMN on 11/04/12 at 02:53 PM
This was the eerie when The TV came ALIVE!!!!! :ahhh:
@BD: I've got her e-mail BD and for a very, very reasonable sum I'll not tell her.
@BD: I've got her e-mail BD and for a very, very reasonable sum I'll not tell her.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/05/12 at 12:22 AM
It takes several minutes for WU to load, and I mean each time I go from front page to comments and then again when going back to the front page. That being said, you won't see much of me till the 9th when I am supposed to (damn well better) get my speed back. I cannot even sign into chat or anything right now, it sucks. Getting Time Warner instead of Uverse on the 13th. ATT is incompetent and ridiculous. They claim one department over there cannot email another to get across a message when a dept is closed. But yet they are a huge corporation dealing in communication tech, um...yeah. So there is my current status, I miss you guys, will be back soon! Oh btw, there is no video anywhere ever!
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/05/12 at 10:39 AM
You have to give the company credit for trying to break open the market for inexpensive home video equipment. The fully integrated, take it or leave it, marketing model was probably what strangled it.
Anyone remember Polavision? In 1979 or 1980 Polaroid Corp. had a film movie camera on the market with a self contained cartridge where the film was developed after exposure. The camera was reasonably priced and the cartridges were not really higher priced than the standard Super-8 film carts after processing. What killed the system was the required playback machine which was easily priced at twice more than the camera. It was a good system for those who couldn't wait for the processing but the inexpensive VHS cameras were just penetrating the market and forced its demise.
Anyone remember Polavision? In 1979 or 1980 Polaroid Corp. had a film movie camera on the market with a self contained cartridge where the film was developed after exposure. The camera was reasonably priced and the cartridges were not really higher priced than the standard Super-8 film carts after processing. What killed the system was the required playback machine which was easily priced at twice more than the camera. It was a good system for those who couldn't wait for the processing but the inexpensive VHS cameras were just penetrating the market and forced its demise.
Posted by KDP on 11/05/12 at 11:02 AM
We miss you Patty!! :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 11/05/12 at 11:48 AM
Patty who?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/05/12 at 12:08 PM
Patty, open the comments in another window (or tab). Open several pages and keep opening more faster than you can read them. You can manage with a very slow connection if you keep it working as fast as it can all the time.
-Cougar :{)
-Cougar :{)
Posted by Cougar Allen on 11/05/12 at 12:19 PM
There is nothing wrong with your television set.
Do not attempt to adjust the picture.
We are controlling transmission.
If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume.
If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper.
We will control the horizontal.
We will control the vertical.
We can roll the image - make it flutter.
We can change the focus to a soft blur - or sharpen it to crystal clarity.
For the next hour sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear.
We repeat: There is nothing wrong with your television set.
You are about to participate in a great adventure.
You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the Inner Mind to ... the Outer Limits.
Do not attempt to adjust the picture.
We are controlling transmission.
If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume.
If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper.
We will control the horizontal.
We will control the vertical.
We can roll the image - make it flutter.
We can change the focus to a soft blur - or sharpen it to crystal clarity.
For the next hour sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear.
We repeat: There is nothing wrong with your television set.
You are about to participate in a great adventure.
You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the Inner Mind to ... the Outer Limits.
Posted by tadchem on 11/05/12 at 02:50 PM
Patty will be back. Her old AT&T DSL connection unthrottles on the 9th and she cancelled the AT&T Uverse install to Time Warner who has their current analog TV. She gets to keep her analog TV for other rooms plus get Digital TV with a HD DVR (with movie and sports package), 10MBps internet with no bandwidth cap, and phone for the same price as the other stuff.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 11/05/12 at 05:10 PM
Can't wait till I have the new service!
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 11/05/12 at 08:52 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Technology | Television | 1970s