Part 3/8:
VCRs: The Complicated Competitors
In stark contrast to the CED player, VCRs presented a sophisticated array of components, operating with intricate mechanics like rotary video heads and helical scanning methods. The complexity of VCRs came with a steep price tag that made them less accessible to everyday consumers.
Yet, RCA believed in the market viability of the CED, reasoning that the simpler and cheaper videodisc players would offer an attractive alternative. The logic was partly rooted in a lack of consumer education about the intricacies of home video.