There has never been a better example of just because a technology is superior doesn’t mean it will win out than the Betamax. Released in Japan on May 10, 1975, Betamax would eventually find a competitor in VHS a year later which would win the format war, due largely in part to better marketing. Unlike VHS, which phased out over a decade ago, Betamax has still enjoyed a small, but loyal following in Japan and in some production offices.

Now, Sony is finally ready to put the format to rest.

According to a press release from Sony, Betamax cassettes will no longer be produced, meaning you have little time to stock up on supplies. That’s because come March 2016, Sony will bring their last Betamax production line to an end.

It’s worth noting that no manufacturer, including Sony, has produced a Betamax player for a long, long time meaning any players available are extremely old machines. Still, it’s a relic of the past that, while it became a costly defeat for Sony and a punchline for them as they attempted to introduce new formats in the future, also taught them a few lessons which they were able to put to use against Toshiba and HD DVD with Blu-ray, the Sony-engineered format winning out.

Though I never had a first-hand experience, I remember growing up that we were one of the households with a Betamax player. I guess I was always destined to run this site – right?

Discuss:

Did you ever have a Betamax player?

[Via Sony]