What ultimately decided the format war between Betamax and VHS?

Some claim that it was the relatively short recording time of the Betamax as compared to that of the VHS. Others argue that it was Sony's short-sightedness not to bring in other manufacturers to help make Betamax machines.

Some other theories range from the "cutting-edge" deployment of pause buttons and timer features on the VHS machines/remote controls to the vastly superior marketing techniques employed by the backers of VHS.

there are even some that still maintain that it was the availability of pornography on VHS that tipped the scales in its favor. And then, there are those that claim it was a vast government conspiracy.

All of these reasons probably played a part towards the ultimate demise of Betamax, but the real reason that VHS emerged as the clear winner in the format war was because of you, the consumer. Ultimately, for whatever reason, people chose VHS over Betamax.

Thirty years later not much has changed. You still have the power to decide the outcome of the high def DVD format war.