XPost: comp.sys.cbm   
   From: joe@user.com   
      
   "Chris Young"  wrote in message   
   news:bkxvg.4001$5_1.1012@fe07.lga...   
   >   
   > Out of curiosity, what did a video tape machine cost "Joe consumer" in the   
   > early 70's? Were the public sector models all black & white or could you   
   buy   
   > a color version too?   
   >   
   > -Chris   
   >   
      
   I saw my first 'Beta' unit in 1974 at a high end stereo store in Florida.  I   
   THINK   
   it was the Sony SL-5200, and I seem to recall it was $2299.  It may have   
   been   
   on sale...   
      
   I later bought one, in 1978, used.  I think I paid a couple of hundred   
   dollars for   
   it.  1-hour max with standard tapes.  90 minutes with an 'optional' tape   
   that   
   had lower quality.  Then there was a hard to find 100 minute tape (the   
   L-830)   
   that was VERY hard to find, and gotten eaten in machines that weren't   
   perfectly aligned.   
      
   At that time, I saw a PWM unit for about $6000 for beta that gave great   
   recording for stereo when hooked to a beta deck.   
      
   Thing is, I picked up a broken SL-7200 (2-speed) beta deck for $100   
   in 1980 and fixed it.  And then about 1984 picked up a HiFi Beta unit   
   (3-speed) that had an audio mode which suppressed the video luminance   
   and gave more audio dynamic range.  It was $600 new, but recordings   
   on it rivaled my friends brand new CD player.  Except for tape glitches...   
      
   Mike   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)