Why do VHS recorders no longer have an "LP" speed?

[Flammable Materials]

This is something I can't understand. LP was a great compromise between the picture quality of SP and the extended length of SLP/EP.

And since VHS players without LP recording capabilites can play tapes recorded in LP mode ... it just doesn't make any sense.

[Deja Q]

1. Because somebody in the industry thought 'LP' stood for...

'lesbian porn' and 'lengthy penis' and decided that 'LP' could no longer be used? :shrug:

Maybe they did a survey and found nobody used LP. (Well, I had...)

[Flammable Materials]

2. EP/SLP flat out sucks as an archival speed, SP is too damn short.

I guess I really need to start saving up for a DVD recorder. Since I've gotten Dish Network, I've been archiving way too much good programming from Free Speech TV, Link TV, IFC, and Sundance.

[fugue]

3. Supposedly there was low demand

Recorders in Japan never had the feature (nor the ability to play it--I swapped tapes with someone in Japan and had to switch to SP for him). They claim no one used it. I find this odd since many people I know used it.

You're not gonna win this one now: the industry is committed to DVD and is trying to phase out VHS.

[liberalitch]

4. Mine does....

and it's was new last christmas.

[Kellanved]

5. I believe it has something to do with S-VHS

They don't want people to record on the cheaper VHS tapes. A few brands still have the LP feature (Panasonic,...)

Of course the ultimate LP is D-VHS: 24h on one tape in superior quality.

[Flammable Materials]

7. 24h?

Damn, I'd almost buy one of those machines.

But with my luck with electronics, it'd break down and I'd be stuck with an apartment full of useless tapes.

[Kellanved]

8. don't know if they would be useless

Unlike DVD, D-VHS is HDTV capable: the popularity of disc-shaped media will prohibit it from getting really big, but for Home Cinema there is nothing better right now. Even the LS3 24h mode still has DVD quality.

[NoPasaran]

6. LP had some technical troubles

That kept some features like search or still from working very well, so it was eliminated after SLP machines became widely available.

[Demonaut]

9. easy, panasonic stll has three speeds but jvc who owns most patents

uses a different head configuration and uses only two speeds, the two longer speeds have no discernable difference and most companies no longer use them.