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Why VHS Was Better Than Betamax

Posted by timothy on from the whole-systems-approach dept.

Vladimir Kornea writes "This article argues that 'when someone buys and uses a product, the technological aspects are a small and often uninteresting part of the decision' and that the when the 'whole product' (a term commonly used among marketing people) is considered, VHS was better than Betamax, and that the Wintel PC is better than the alternatives." Update: 01/29 04:26 GMT by T : Apologies for the dupe.

5 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. first post! by yobbo · · Score: 5, Funny

    oh wait... dupe

    second post!

  2. slashdot's new theme... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    news for amnesiacs, stuff that mattered

  3. Re:DUPE! by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny
    Didn't this story run like yesterday?

    Just like a good movie on a VCR tape, this story worth rewinding and playing again and again.

    I never get tired of VHS vs. Betamax flamewars. Nothing could be more compelling, relevant or engaging than debating the relative merits of these 20-year old tape formats a few more times.

  4. Perhaps this article can also explain by E1ven · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why Slashdot is better than Kuro5hin.
    Before you mod me down as a troll, look at the idea-

    Kuro5hin has many of the features people consistantly ask for (voting for stories)
    Kuro5hin isn't owned by a large, closed source software-company.
    Kuro5hin has more intellegant discussion, and fewer duplicated stories

    But Slashdot has more users. Slashdot is an amazingly popular weblog, /because/ it is an amzingly popular weblog.

    Think about that. The main reason Slashdot is popular is because of it's base of users. Because of the comments. And higher-installed base makes it more attractive to many people.

    That is exactly the argument made in this article.

    Just some thoughts.
    Colin

    --
    Colin Davis
  5. Ever see the movie.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Groundhog Day?

    Ever think you were in it?

    Ever think the slashdot moderators were in it?