In the 90s and early 2000s, we watched cartoons, movies and weddings from cassettes. For many people, the word "videocassette" automatically equal to "VHS". But really all cassettes were in VHS format? Let's figure it out.
What does VHS mean?
VHS (Video Home System) is a videocassette standard created by a Japanese company JVC in 1976. The format was designed specifically for home use: simple, inexpensive, and compatible with almost any VCR.
It was through VHS that video rentals became mainstream, and every family had a shelf with recorded films.
Why do we call all VHS tapes?
Because VHS in its own time defeated all competitors -it's become the most massive format in the world. People have hardly seen any other options, so the word "kaceta" = "VHS". It's like now with diapers or photocopier - the brand has become a common name.
And what were the other formats?
Not all cassettes were VHS. Here are some popular (or not so popular) alternatives:
Betamax (Sony) - better quality, but lost to VHS due to more expensive technique and shorter recording time.
Video 2000 (Philips/Grundig) - interesting format, but rare and more complex.
VHS-C - small compact cassettes for video cameras (through the adapter, they could be watched in a regular VCR).
MiniDV - digital format for camcorders of the 2000s.
So VHS is just one of the formats,just the most popular.
Why exactly did VHS win?
longer recording time (up to 4–6 hours with tape stretching);
cheaper tape recorders and cassettes;
openness of the format - many companies could produce equipment;
demand for video rentals for large cassettes with long films.
As a result, VHS became de facto home video standard for 25 years. VHS — is not just a "video cassette" but one of the formats that once became so dominant that people started calling all cassettes exactly. But there were actually many other, lesser-known standards.
