Vhs Or Dvd Which Is The Better Escape

CORTEZ, David

English 90

Mr. Disbrow

April 09, 2008

VHS or DVD? Which is the Better Escape?

Nowadays, many of us go to the cinema to see a movie or event that will let us escape to another world for at least 90 minutes. Until around 30 years ago the only way to relive that escapist feeling, was to wait for it to come on television. In the early 1980’s a new format arrived: the VCR and with it the VHS cassette. The VCR allowed anyone with a VHS tape to play, fast forward, rewind, stop, and pause any movie with ease. It even offered a record option which allowed a user to create and can then later watch their own VHS programming. Around the last 15 years, an upgrade on how we watched our media came to a shift with the Digital Video Disc or DVD. The DVD allows you to do anything a cassette does, but different. Instead of a rectangular block you have a disc similar to a CD, instead of just a movie; you can access extras, such as deleted scenes or commentary. With all the hubbub of a new media method, many have been quick to throw away their tapes and convert to DVD. But how do they stack up side by side? The similarities and differences are a lot to think about.

You can get DVD’s or VHS cassettes almost anywhere, however due to the outmoding that comes with modern technology VHS cassettes are harder and harder to find probably due to the cost of manufacturing. It costs dollars to make a VHS cassette and only cents to make a DVD. Even in our modern society you don’t necessarily have to buy either if you haven’t seen a particular movie or show. You can rent them, at rental places and later purchase it if it is to your liking. The cost is minimal of course. Most cassettes nowadays cost only a few dollars due to the low production of them and their overall availability. DVD’s can be a little pricier depending on what you’re buying it can be as low as a dollar for a simple movie, to an astronomical price for a collection or boxed set.

The convenience of DVD’s and VHS cassettes is almost everywhere. Almost every person has at least one DVD or cassette due to their availability. You can get most at dime stores, gas stations, even your local 7-eleven, but it’s what they have for you to purchase that may be the tricky part. Unfortunately for the VHS production is slim at best and only convenient in niche markets, but a DVD is almost