Leonard Nimoy may be best known for his portrayal of Spock, the half-human, half-Vulcan character on “Star Trek” starting from the very first TV episode, in 1966, to the film Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013, but those around in 1981 may have seen him showcasing the latest technology at the time. The actor demonstrated the gigantic Magnavision VH-8000 LaserDisc Player, which employed gas helium–neon laser tubes to read discs and had a red-orange light with a wavelength of 628 nm.
As you can see, this machine was not the easiest to use. However, most laserdisc players made after the mid-1980s were capable of also playing audio CDs, utilizing a 4.7-inch indentation in the loading tray, where the CD would be placed for play. On a somewhat interesting related note, did you know that the Pioneer PR7820 was the first mass-produced, industrial LaserDisc player? That’s right, it was sold originally as the MCA DiscoVision PR-7820 to many GM dealerships as a source of training videos as well as to present the company’s new line of vehicles in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- 14" HDTV supports up to 1080p with Dual Tuners ATSC and NTSC
- Built-in Battery Provides up to 4 Hours of Use
- Built-in Stereo Speakers and Headphone Jack for Private Viewing
