[Skooz]

Beta wasn't really better than VHS. Beta featured a far more complicated mechanism to roll the tape through the tape heads for display. VHS is much simpler and easier to repair. The repair costs for Beta machines were quite high.

[Swordmaker]

Beta produced 300 lines of resolution compared to the 240 lines of the VHS system. SuperBeta because the standard and provided 350 lines... VHS was still 240. BetaED raised that standard to 500... while the the best premium VHS offered only 400.

Beta offered a better color handling system:

"Beta Fact:
Unlike the rival format (VHS) Betamax records an additional pilot color burst onto tape which results in more accurate color reproduction."

Contrary to your assertion, a simpler and more reliable tape path that allowed more special features such as the ability to play slow-motion both forward and reverse. Because of that reliability and features, the Beta system is still used today by many television news crews in the 1/2inch format BetaCams although many are switching to digital cameras.

[Swordmaker]

Beta produced 300 lines of resolution compared to the 240 lines of the VHS system. SuperBeta because the standard and provided 350 lines... VHS was still 240. BetaED raised that standard to 500... while the the best premium VHS offered only 400.

Beta offered a better color handling system:

"Beta Fact:
Unlike the rival format (VHS) Betamax records an additional pilot color burst onto tape which results in more accurate color reproduction."

Contrary to your assertion, a simpler and more reliable tape path that allowed more special features such as the ability to play slow-motion both forward and reverse. Because of that reliability and features, the Beta system is still used today by many television news crews in the 1/2inch format BetaCams although many are switching to digital cameras.