Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Forgotten Tale of Cartrivision's 1972 VCR

Posted by timothy on from the don't-remember-this-at-all dept.

harrymcc writes: In 1972 -- years before Betamax and VHS -- a Silicon Valley startup called Cartrivision started selling VCRs built into color TVs. They offered movies for sale and rent -- everything from blockbusters to porn -- using an analog form of DRM, and also let you record broadcast TV. There was also an optional video camera. And it was a spectacular flop. Over at Fast Company, Ross Rubin tells the fascinating story of this ambitious failure.

1 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. Innovation: first != successful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In the history of technology, the first to develop a technology and attempt to bring it to market is usually not the one that is ultimately successful.