OT: Video Disc Player and discs

[Giles Orr]

Pictures:

http://www.videointerchange.com/images/ced.jpg

http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/storage/SelectavisionRCA-ad.jpg

I'm not sure there was more than one player in the three years it was in
existence - these are the same as the one we have here.  Both pictures show
discs as well as the player.

The cartridge is reminiscent of the eight track, but in this case after
inserting the disc you pull the cartridge back out while the disc remains
in the player.  And after you've watched half the movie, you have to put
the cartridge in, take the disc out, flip it, put the cartridge and disc
back in, pull the the cartridge out ... and then play the second side of
the disc.  Video quality (per Wikipedia) is on par with VHS-SP - but as the
system requires physical contact, I guess the discs will eventually degrade.

The discs are 12" in diameter and quite heavy.  If you're thinking vinyl
discs (a reasonable idea), I'd say 2.5 times as heavy.


On 28 November 2013 09:31, Tim Tisdall <tisdall-DXT9u3ndKiSh7up9GtFB90EOCMrvLtNR at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> Any chance you could post some photos of the player?  This is the
> first I've heard about this technology!
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 27, 2013 at 5:19 PM, Giles Orr <gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > Some co-workers of mine found an RCA Video Disc Player (NOT Laser Disc,
> see
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitance_Electronic_Disc ) and some
> discs.
> > It works - we tested it.  While I'm fascinated by the technology involved
> > (and so assume some percentage of other geeks will likewise be
> fascinated),
> > I don't need another piece of outdated technology in my house.  If anyone
> > wants it, it comes with copies of "Dragonslayer," "Vertigo" (first disc
> > only!), "WarGames," "2010," and "Close Encounters."  Pick up at North
> York
> > Civic Centre, free.  (It's fairly heavy.)
> >
> > Even if you're not interested, I encourage you to skim the Wikipedia
> entry:
> > it's interesting to think how different things would be had RCA
> succeeded in
> > getting this thing to market in the 1960s as they should have done -
> instead
> > of in 1981 when it had to compete with LaserDisc, VHS, and Betamax.
> >
> > --
> > Giles
> > http://www.gilesorr.com/
> > gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
> --
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-- 
Giles
http://www.gilesorr.com/
gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
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