HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: wolfi@opal.cs.tu-berlin.de (Wolfgang Schwanke)
Subject: Re: Distortion with rented videos
Organization: Techn. University of Berlin, Germany
Distribution: rec
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 21:42:29 GMT

brown@vidiot.UUCP (Vidiot) writes:

>In article <1992Sep22.015800.11043@newshost.unh.edu> tcw@kepler.unh.edu (Timothy C Webb) writes:
><In article <BuwLp4.36F@unccsun.uncc.edu> krgorden@unccsun.uncc.edu (Kirk Ruel Gorden) writes:
><>   Two weeks ago I bought a four head RCA VCR from Sears.  It works 
><>perfectly, even on my 20 year old RCA TV.  However, rented tapes always
><>seem to produce a bad picture.  Specifically, the top part of the
><>picture is distorted, sometimes badly.
><>   
><>   This does not happen with tapes I record and play back, just rented
><>tapes.  Adjusting the TV or VCR tracking has no effect.
><
><   I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the problem is
><with the TV, not the VCR. You mention that it is twenty years old, and it is
><not uncommon to see videotape distortion (especially at the top, as you say) on
><older TV sets.
>
>It is the Macrovision signal on the tape that is affecting the TV.  My TV isn't
>that old and it flags as well.

I wouldn't be so sure that it's Macrovision. I had a similar problem with
an older portable. The upper part of the screen wasn't flashing, but shifted
sideways (to the right), hence a synch problem of the older TV that wasn't 
tuned to the higher synch tolerance it needs for VHS. At least that's what I
understand.

The problem showed up not only on rented videos, but on anything that was
recorded on a different VCR, and even old tapes recorded on the same machine.

The new TV never had that problem.

>-- 
>      harvard\                          spool.cs.wisc.edu!astroatc!vidiot!brown
>Vidiot  ucbvax!uwvax..........!astroatc!vidiot!brown
>      rutgers/            INTERNET:vidiot!brown%astroatc.UUCP@spool.cs.wisc.edu
>                                   brown@wi.extrel.com



Wolfgang


--
* Wolfgang Schwanke * Technische Universitaet Berlin * Germany * wolfi on irc *
* email: wolfi@cs.tu-berlin.de       *      wolfaefg@w250zrz.zrz.tu-berlin.de *

   Everybody needs a little love sometime; stop hacking and fall in love!
From: 0004861036@MCIMAIL.COM (James Millick)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: The Special Collector's Edition of THE ABYSS
Date: 5 Oct 92 01:10:00 GMT
Organization: The Internet


	Here's an update for those of you waiting on the Special 
Collector's Edition of THE ABYSS. The original date was slotted 
before the holidays, but to put together the best possible edition 
possible (you've got to admit that ALIENS will be tough to top) 
they've decided to take a little more time to get it tuned to the 
max. As any of you who have seen the ALIENS supplement, you can 
imagine how long it takes to put that together. As for how long 
the wait will be, the story that I'm now hearing it will be out 
probably in February or March. We may also get a limited 
theatrical release of this expanded version, so that's very good 
news (except for those of you who shun the theaters, (and some of 
them deserve it)).


Jim
From: fag2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Farul A Ghazali)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Panasonic 4250 VCR ejects tape without playing
Date: 28 Sep 92 22:03:23 GMT
Reply-To: fag2@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Farul A Ghazali)
Organization: Columbia University


In article <1992Sep28.182738.10551@ulysses.att.com> you write:
>
>I have a Panasonic 4250 VCR that is still under warrantee that has one
>minor and annoying problem.  Each time I try to play our copy of
>"The Little Mermaid" it ejects the tape.
>
>All other tapes from various sources (video rentals, other Disney tapes,
>previously recorded programs etc) work just fine.

The problem might be with the tape itself, since all other tapes work
okay. Try the tape on another VCR.

>The 4250 always tries to wind the tape around the heads when you push in
>any tape whether it will play it immediately or not.

This happens because of the machine's quick play feature. The closer
the tape is with the head, the faster it can switch from stop to play. 

One question about this feature though. Are there any side effects of
having the tape close to the head all the time? I would occasionally
keep my tape inside the VCR while the machine is on for long periods
of time. Would this wear out the tape or the head? Thanks.


---
Farul Ghazali. (Columbia University, Class of '95)
206 Ruggles Hall, 1116 Amsterdam Ave. New York, NY 10027.
"... then you die, she dies, everybody dies!"  - Heavy Metal the Movie.
From: heilerr@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Richard Heiler)
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 18:52:17 GMT
Subject: Sony TR 101 Hoax!
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: rec.video

Does anybody know how to get a Sony TR 101 at the mail order advertised 
price of $1048.

I called all of the mail order houses in Camcorder magazine and they lied.

They don't have it or won't sell it at their advertized price.  


Does anybody have any suggestions on obtaining it.





Rick Heiler

rick@hpprsd1.mayfield.hp.com
From: borowski@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Don T. Borowski)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: lubrication?
Date: 30 Sep 92 15:30:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: hpspkla.44480003
Organization: Hewlett Packard Company, Spokane, Wa.

In rec.video, albcraj@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu (Craig Albert) writes:

>What is the recommended lubricant for the moving metal and plactic parts in
>a VCR?  The play function on mine seems to be inhibited by some friction.

Usually 'Lubriplate', a light weight white grease.  I have seen old grease
get hard.  Be sure to clean out the old stuff.  Make sure your belts are in
good condition, too.  Replace them if there is any doubt.


Donald Borowski    WA6OMI    Hewlett-Packard, Spokane Division
"Angels are able to fly because they take themselves so lightly."
                                       -G.K. Chesterton
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: kimp@rs6310.ecs.rpi.edu (Phil Kim)
Subject: How many Star Wars?
Reply-To: kimp@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 19:09:28 GMT

I visited a video store this weekend and saw three different versions of Star Wars laserdisc: CLV P&S, CLV Widescreen, and CAV.  Unfortunately, all three were out of stock.  My question is this: Is CAV P&S or Widescreen?  The price for CLV P&S was $25, CLV Widescreen (LTX) $65, and CAV $60.
From: mjensen@BBN.COM (Martin Jensen)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: TR-101 Clones
Date: 28 Sep 92 18:43:54 GMT
Reply-To: mjensen@BBN.COM (Martin Jensen)
Distribution: na
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: reliant.bbn.com

I'm looking for a camcorder, and have been very impressed with  the  Sony
TR-101  (as, I presume, has the rest of the world :-).  I would prefer to
purchase through mail-order to save $$$ over local retail, but I've  seen
some  of  the  recent  comments  on  the  lack  of  TR-101's  through the
mail-order houses.

Someone recently posted on the Nikon VN-750 which I gather is a clone of
the Sony model.  I've also seen an ad for a Ricoh, which seems to be
another clone.

Does anyone have a more complete list of the TR-101 clones?  Also, any
info (pro or con) on purchasing a clone vs "the one and only" Sony.  Are
these units Sony boxes with [Nikon,Ricoh] labels ... or are there other
significant differences?

Inquiring minds, and all that ...

Thanx

---   Martin Jensen     \   BBN Communications     \  #include          ---
 ---   mjensen@bbn.com   \   150 CambridgePark Dr.  \  <std.disclaimer>  ---
  ---   (617) 873-4859    \   Cambridge, MA   02140  \                    ---
Newsgroups: rec.video
From: bknouff@voyager.larc.nasa.gov (Brian J. Knouff)
Subject: Stupid Question Time
Reply-To: bknouff@voyager.larc.nasa.gov (Brian J. Knouff)
Organization: yyy
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 14:27:47 GMT

What's Macrovision?

later
From: dhs@cs.utexas.edu (Douglas H. Steves)
Newsgroups: rec.video
Subject: Re: Remastered Godfather I/II/III
Date: 30 Sep 1992 12:46:58 -0500
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: victoria.cs.utexas.edu

In article <BvDI4E.L5H@news.cso.uiuc.edu> jhc819@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (chung jason ho yong) writes:
>From what I have heard, they will be on 12 sides plus the same documentary
>that was included on the original Godfather set.
Where did you hear this?

>I assume the first two movies will be remastered and it will be sold in a 
>leatherbound case for $180.

Did they say anything about offering the movies separately?
Godfather III was probably the worst and certainly the most
disappointing major movie I've seen in the last 10 years.

Doug
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Subject: Re: New Star Wars transfer?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 16:41:57 GMT


In article <BvGAny.Drq@fmsrl7.srl.ford.com> bengt@fires1.uucp (Bengt A. Palsson) writes:
>
>users" or something along those lines. Also while watching [Star Wars] there
>seemed to be additional scenes in there that I don't remeber seeing in the
>movie before.

What happened in these scenes?

Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: jonke@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Stephen Jonke)
Subject: Re: It's official: MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL on LD (Criterion, late Nov.)
Organization: NASA GSFC
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 14:38:51 GMT

In article <1992Oct2.065133.12232@tc.fluke.COM>, moriarty@tc.fluke.COM (Jeff Meyer) writes:
> 
> Ken Crane just came out with an ad for the Criterion laserdisc of MONTY
> PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL.  Lists at $99.95 from Criterion, 4 sides CAV,
> and features:
> 
> *   Constant commentary on the film by both Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones
> 
> *   This is the European edition, with six minutes of footage never seen
>     in the states
> 
> *   Supplementary material: out-takes, deleted scenes, script notes,
>     production "stuff", and "more"
> 
> *   Director-approved film-to-video transfer
> 
> Scheduled for release in late November.
> ----


Well, I presume (hope) that this is letterboxed -- correct?????

Steve
From: ss@wpi.WPI.EDU (Scott Streeter)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: Alien SE
Date: 26 Sep 92 18:08:45 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: wpi.wpi.edu

Well less than a week til the Alien SE LD is out.... Anyone holding
there breath yet?
-- 
                        Scott Streeter
                        ss@wpi.wpi.edu
From: boisvert@yaya.WPI.EDU (Brian Richard Boisvert)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: New Star Wars transfer?
Date: 30 Sep 1992 22:29:33 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: yaya.wpi.edu

	I have heard that the soon-to-be released (November?) letterboxed
VHS versions of the Star Wars movies are from a new, beautiful digital
transfer that is much clearer than past video versions.

	1)  Is this true?

	2)  If it is, are there any plans to release a letterboxed 
	    laserdisc set of this transfer?

Thanks.
-- 
Brian R. Boisvert    Worcester Polytechnic Institute    boisvert@wpi.wpi.edu
From: fn00@gte.com (Farshad Nayeri)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: The movie "Eating"
Date: 6 Oct 92 14:23:41 GMT
Organization: GTE Laboratories, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA


I have been looking for the video release of the movie "Eating" after
its (not-so-wide :-) release to movie theaters. For a while, our local
video store (VideoSmith) had it on their "future releases" list, but
after a while it disappeared off the list, and I have never heard
about it since. Does anyone know if this movie was ever released on
video?

--farshad
--
Farshad Nayeri                Intelligent Database Systems
fn00@gte.com                  Computer and Intelligent Systems Laboratory
(617)466-2473                 GTE Laboratories, Waltham, MA

  "Our research shows that even double-clicking can be hard concept for
  some new users to grasp." -- John Cook, Apple consumer product manager
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: corwin@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (carl.w.smedberg)
Subject: Re: Criterion Prince of Tides--NO GO!!
Summary: Prince of Tides/Criterion
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 16:09:06 GMT

Does anyone know what Criterions' position is on the problem? 
Even if they were totally wrong on going ahead with production
I'd feel a greater loss if Criterion went under than if something 
happened to poor Barbara! Maybe we should let her know how we feel.

Just my .02 

Carl Smedberg at AT&T in Beautiful Lisle Illinois
att!ihlpm!corwin
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: fineberg@win31.nas.nasa.gov (Samuel A. Fineberg)
Subject: Re: Criterion Prince of Tides--NO GO!!
Organization: CSC, NASA Ames Research Center, NAS Division
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 92 20:57:04 GMT
Reply-To: fineberg@nas.nasa.gov

In article <1a4nd8INNs2r@early-bird.think.com>, paco ojeda <ffoogg@macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu> writes:
|> I just read in the latest Sight & Sound catalog that Criterion is not
|> releasing their version of Prince of Tides since it did not meet
|> Streisand's specs.
|> 
|> Any comments?
|> 
|> Paco
|> 
|> =======================================================================
|> Paco Ojeda-Gonzalez               |   ffoogg@macmailgw.dfci.harvard.edu
|> Macintosh Consultant              |
|> FOG Midi Pre-Production and       |                      ffoogg@aol.com
|> Graphic Services                  |
|> Boston, MA - USA                  |
|> =======================================================================
Yea, I think getting the directors approval is a good idea but it can be
carried too far.  I hope this doesn't destroy Criterion (since I have heard 
they have a lot of copies in a wherehouse that they can't sell).  

Sam
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: good@pixar.com (I'm so smart I make myself sick.)
Subject: Re: LTBX VHS (was No complete Beauty and the Beast on laserdisc ?!)
Organization: Pixar -- Point Richmond, California
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 08:11:01 GMT

In article <1992Sep25.194147.8411@pubnet.com> paul@pubnet.com (Paul Telles) writes:
:In article <38418@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> rcook@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Robert Cook) writes:
:>I'm one of those unfortunates who don't have laserdisc players.
:>Would any company actually release LTBX VHS tapes?  Is this a silly
:>question?  I know it would strain the already limited resolution of
:>VHS tape, but I don't think I'd mind.  Can anyone give me any other
:>reasons VHS tapes aren't LTBXed?  Thanks.

The resolution argument is, to my mind, meaningless.  A huge drop in spatial,
color, and contrast resolution is an unavoidable artifact of any transfer
from film to video.  Another factor of 2 in the vertical axis isn't going to
matter for spit.  But a loss of original composition, or aspect ratio, is a
completely avoidable artifact.  Thus there is no argument of artistic nor
technical merit for ever cropping a movie.  Some argue that people wouldn't
buy tapes that were letterboxed.  There are doubtless some such people, but
I believe them to be few and educable.

Every Pixar short film has been transferred at the original aspect ratio (the
ratios are 1.66 and 1.85).  They are (so far) available only on tape, and to
my knowledge we haven't recieved one complaint about "those black bars".  There
have been letterboxed music videos and TV commercials for years now.  AMC
(American Movie Classics) has started broadcasting movies in the original
ratio.  Wide Screen transfers are considered a premium item now.  I therefore
think there is no longer any significant marketing reason for cropping.

To sum up: There is only one proper aspect ratio for any film to tape transfer,
which is that of the original film.  The delivery medium, whether HDTV or
laserdisc, or whether VHS or QuickTime Movie, is irrelevant.

So there.

		--Craig
-- 
	good@pixar.com
-
Vote for a change this fall! 
Vote all those Liberal Tax-N-Spendocrats out of Congress!
From: ss@wpi.WPI.EDU (Scott Streeter)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: Alien SE. This week?
Date: 5 Oct 1992 13:53:22 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: wpi.wpi.edu

So is the Alien SE LD still scheduled for this week (10/8) or 
was it pushed back again?


-- 
 Scott Streeter                             Keeper of the Star Wars Archive
 ss@wpi.wpi.edu                             wpi.wpi.edu        130.215.24.1
From: rcook@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Robert Cook)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: Re: LTBX VHS (was No complete Beauty and the Beast on laserdisc ?!)
Date: 28 Sep 92 16:19:06 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <1992Sep28.081101.12293@pixar.com> good@pixar.com (I'm so smart I make myself sick.) writes:
>The resolution argument is, to my mind, meaningless.  A huge drop in spatial,
>color, and contrast resolution is an unavoidable artifact of any transfer
>from film to video.  Another factor of 2 in the vertical axis isn't going to
>matter for spit.  But a loss of original composition, or aspect ratio, is a
>completely avoidable artifact.  Thus there is no argument of artistic nor
>technical merit for ever cropping a movie.  Some argue that people wouldn't
>buy tapes that were letterboxed.  There are doubtless some such people, but
>I believe them to be few and educable.

IMO, any kind of video at the current market level of technology
stinks--a comparison with film is futile.  This (and my budget) is
why I put up with VHS.  I would agree that people can learn about
aspect ratios, but I wouldn't say only a few people prefer cropping.
Maybe I'm hanging out with the wrong crowd, but most people I know
think letterboxing is weird and distracting.  I couldn't disagree
more.  Most of these people don't care if the picture is cropped,
which is very unfortunate.

>Every Pixar short film has been transferred at the original aspect ratio (the
>ratios are 1.66 and 1.85).  They are (so far) available only on tape, and to
>my knowledge we haven't recieved one complaint about "those black bars".  There
>have been letterboxed music videos and TV commercials for years now.  AMC
>(American Movie Classics) has started broadcasting movies in the original
>ratio.  Wide Screen transfers are considered a premium item now.  I therefore
>think there is no longer any significant marketing reason for cropping.
>
>To sum up: There is only one proper aspect ratio for any film to tape transfer,
>which is that of the original film.  The delivery medium, whether HDTV or
>laserdisc, or whether VHS or QuickTime Movie, is irrelevant.
>
>So there.
>
>		--Craig
>-- 

Agreed.  Wanting to see the entire picture should not be labelled as
a "purist" ideal, as it often seems to be.  Matte the screen at a
typical movie theater and people will notice.  Crop the image for
video and most, in my experience, are completely indifferent.  I
guess they think that the entire image is magically contained within
a television screen.  Those who understand the difference and still
prefer Pan&Scan are the ones in the minority.  Everyone else seems
unaware, as many companies appear to be.  Disney, of all companies,
should realize this and preserve the aspect ratio of their animation
(which is painstakingly drawn, not incidentally filmed at the
edges).  Congrats to Pixar for being smart.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my original post.


- Robert Cook
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: sdt8s@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Steve Tilson)
Subject: Suggestions for how to break my mom's heart?
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 00:13:45 GMT

My mother has bought me all three Star Wars movies on VHS,
starting in 90 and finishing last year. Now there's a
letterboxed edition of the trilogy coming out. How am I going
to tell her that her gift was, in essence, wasted? If I don't,
how am I going to explain to her the presence of the
letterboxed versions?

And why the HELL didn't Fox take the fucking hint before?
--
Language is a virus from Outer Space.      |-----------------------------|
And hearing your name                      | Steve Tilson                |
Is better                                  | sdt8s@poe.acc.virginia.edu  |
Than seeing your face.   (Laurie Anderson) |-----------------------------|
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
From: conty@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (OtakuRoach)
Subject: Re: Fist of the Northstar
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 18:24:37 GMT

In article <1992Sep26.163137.1@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz>, tom_r@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz writes:
> 
> 
> Hi does any one have the cartoon Fist of the Northstar. t good?,can you send it
> to me? .Thanks send email if you can help

It's available on video from Streamline Pictures, and is currently
distributed to video stores and comic book shops through Central Park
Media.
-- 
			    E n r i q u e  C o n t y
			The Incredible Man-with-no-Life
			      jester@ihlpl.att.com
		    Disclaimer: You're not dealing with AT&T
From: long-morrow@cs.yale.edu (H. Morrow Long)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: Re: Laserdiscs Promoted by Maltin/ Siskel & Ebert
Date: 5 Oct 1992 12:50:33 -0400
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: sparky.cf.cs.yale.edu
Keywords: laser discs, movie reviews, television


I've noticed that both Leonard Maltin and Roger Ebert have CD-ROM
versions of their respective 1993 movie review books.  Both also
appears to be multimedia with graphics, images (and sound bites?).

Anyone looked at or bought either one?

					- Morrow
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases,misc.forsale
From: cht@leo.irv.icl.com (Cuong Tran)
Subject: FOR SALE: Japanese LD "The Last Emperor"
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 20:26:01 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: ICL Advanced Development Group, Irvine CA


For Sale: Japanese LD "The Last Emperor" in New Condition.
	  This version is letter-boxed, in English, and about 
	  one hour longer than the version released in USA.

Asking $45.00 OBO.

Contact:  Cuong Tran
	  E-mail: cht@irv.icl.com
	  Tel: 714-458-7282 Ext. 4707 or
	       714-661-3549 (home).

From: jayj@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Jay Johannes)
Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1992 17:47:21 GMT
Subject: Re: No complete Beauty and the Beast on laserdisc ?!
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: Fist of the Northstar
From: tom_r@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Date: 26 Sep 92 16:31:37 NZST
Organization: Welligton City Council, Public Access.
NNTP-Posting-Host: kosmos.wcc.govt.nz



Hi does any one have the cartoon Fist of the Northstar. t good?,can you send it
to me? .Thanks send email if you can help
-R.Tom
From: otto@jybox.jyu.fi (Otto J. Makela)
Newsgroups: rec.video.releases
Subject: Re: Abyss Collector's Edition
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 04:06:23 EDT
Organization: Jyvaskyla Electronic Mailbox

Mike_Quigley@mindlink.bc.ca (Mike Quigley) writes:

> I don't know if this has been discussed here in the last few days (I've got a
> lot of messages to catch up on), but here is the poop on the new letterboxed
> Abyss: [...]
> Restored footage not included in the theatrical version

Is this the famous "Invasion Earth" version people have been waiting for,
ie. the one which tells also what happened after the original release ended
with the aliens coming up from the ocean bottom ?

   /* * * Otto J. Makela <otto@jybox.jyu.fi> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
  /* Phone: +358 41 613 847, BBS: +358 41 211 562 (V.32bis/USR-HST,24h/d) */
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