Next big things that never lived up to the hype, failed, or disappeared without a trace... What do you remember??

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Like the disc camera, they took VHS and made it twice a sh!t whilst claiming it was better.

Betamax is different story. It failed as a home video format because it was a professional quality format, far superior to VHS and remained popular (in the industry) until digital video came along.

My experience was that it WAS better than the VHS of the time. YMMV
 

TheDoctor

Noble and true, with a heart of steel
Moderator
Location
The TerrorVortex
and V2000

Ah yes. The format that came third in a two-horse race.
 

nogoodnamesleft

Well-Known Member
Betamax is different story. It failed as a home video format because it was a professional quality format, far superior to VHS and remained popular (in the industry) until digital video came along.
I don't remember the contest between Betamax and VHs (lot of other things on around the early days of VCRs, but wasn't recording time also a big aspect to the retail success?
 

StuAff

Silencing his legs regularly
Location
Portsmouth
^^^Full possible length thread title that^^^ 😆

EDIT: Who shortened it? 🤦‍♂️

Anyway, Segways for a start, but there will be many, many other things, like Advantex cameras, iPods, Blackberries, etc.

What do you remember?

iPods were most definitely not a flop. 450 million sales over 20 years, and laid the groundwork for its (eventual) replacement, the iPhone. Which did for Research in Motion (Blackberry) as well, of course.
 

Webbo2

Veteran
iPods were most definitely not a flop. 450 million sales over 20 years, and laid the groundwork for its (eventual) replacement, the iPhone. Which did for Research in Motion (Blackberry) as well, of course.

I’ve still got a working ipod, it’s got a cracked screen but I occasionally use it on the turbo.
 
and the Austin Allegro???

Was eclipsed by the Alfasud in terms of aesthetic and driving pleasure. Sadly turned to rust as you watched
 

Profpointy

Legendary Member
Like the disc camera, they took VHS and made it twice a sh!t whilst claiming it was better.

Betamax is different story. It failed as a home video format because it was a professional quality format, far superior to VHS and remained popular (in the industry) until digital video came along.

A little side-note on Betamax: when both formats were kind-of rivals Betamax did well in Port Talbot for whatever reason, and all video shops catered mainly for Betamax. It remained as a small island for the format for a few years after VHS had won elsewhere
 

Dogtrousers

Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
We keep a UK road atlas in ours.

Sat Nav is great but an atlas gives more context in unfamiliar parts of the nation. Especially for planning longer excursions, etc.

Especially when the motorway gantries say there are delays between junctions X and Y. I don't have a clue about junction numbering even on motorways I drive regularly. Time for the passenger to get the map book out and find junction X.
 
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