For how long will VHS tapes be readily available?

[pshreck]

More specifically, when will companies stop releasing their films on VHS / when will places like Best Buy stop selling VCR's?

[Sponger15SB]

Can you still buy cassette (?) tapes?

If so, I'd say 5-10 years at least.

[istewart]

All I know is that renting DVDs sucks, minus NetFlix. People much prefer owning them, hence the massive hit Blockbuster has taken. That said, VCRs are obviously being phased out.

[Lazymeatball]

Until DVD recorders reach critical mass.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

My mother-in-law went to Best Buy to get a VHS for a Christmas present and got laughed out of the store.

[TimM]

[ QUOTE ]
Can you still buy cassette (?) tapes?

If so, I'd say 5-10 years at least.

[/ QUOTE ]

Two words.

Vinyl LPs.

[YourFoxyGrandma]

VHS tapes only last 20-25 years. So. Not much longer.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
two words.

Vinyl LPs.

[/ QUOTE ]
Vinyl still sells because people think it sounds better. VHS has no such quality.

[YTV]

They stopped selling VHS tapes at Circuit City in 2003.

[pshreck]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Can you still buy cassette (?) tapes?

If so, I'd say 5-10 years at least.

[/ QUOTE ]

Two words.

Vinyl LPs.

[/ QUOTE ]

They have redeeming qualities that people believe can't be found on CD's, so individual artists have some of these released. However, it's not the case for VHS tapes.

[ilya]

I said 2-5 years, although I think a small market will remain even after that for this cheap and durable format.

A related question: how long will DVDs last? I say 6-8 years. Broadband view-on-demand.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

[ QUOTE ]
I said 2-5 years, although I think a small market will remain even after that for this cheap and durable format.

A related question: how long will DVDs last? I say 6-8 years. Broadband view-on-demand.

[/ QUOTE ]
DVD won't be around as long as VHS was/is/whatever, that's for damn sure.

[pshreck]

[ QUOTE ]
I said 2-5 years.

A related question: how long will DVDs last? I say 6-8 years. Broadband view-on-demand.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think Bill Gates said this year, that all forms of physical media will be gone in 10 years.

I think our grandchildren will laugh at us that we actually had physical items with songs/movies on them. They will be in a much more advanced digital age where the idea of physically holding this information will be funny.

EDIT:

I also think I remember reading that ITunes just went to over 1 million song sales per day.

[YourFoxyGrandma]

I think DVD or something very similar is going to be around for a long time. There's something about keeping some sort of collection that people aren't going to easily give up.

[ilya]

[ QUOTE ]
I think DVD or something very similar is going to be around for a long time. There's something about keeping some sort of collection that people aren't going to easily give up.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's true, the collecting aspect is very important & it's hard to create that feeling without something to arrange, look at, & fondle. It's not unlike the difference between watching porn and actually having sex.