The first Betas didn't come with a display. A separate analog clock/timer was used for making unassisted single recording. The first built-in clock/timer appeared as a fluorescent tube located on the front and it has remained an integral part of almost every Beta VCR ever since. Most decks employ the type of display where the characters light up but there is another kind of display, the one shown above. Known as the LCD (liquid crystal display), its main attribute is that it requires very little power to display the characters. These type displays are intended to be read when illuminated externally, or from behind. It is employed when conservation of power or special environment demands it. This makes them ideal for portable Betas or devices where illuminated characters could be distracting, or a power drain. The example above shows the tape speed and the tape's location in hours, minutes, and seconds. It shows it to be at the beginning. Some screens were larger and included a lot more information. This could come in the form of special characters like arrows, dots, or symbols dedicated to various functions. This is in addition to providing the numerals for clock time and timer settings. ©Misterßetamax go to homepage