Friday, November 27, 2009

Nation & World

Washington Whispers by Paul Bedard

It's Beta Vs. VHS for Homeland Czar

January 21, 2007 12:00 PM ET | Permanent Link | Print

Is it a bad sign that Michael Chertoff, secretary of Homeland Security, chose Beta over VHS way back when? He thinks not and even uses that mistake to explain why it's taken so long for some cities to upgrade their communications equipment. "The investment in communications equipment is a very, very costly and different investment," he says. "It's similar to something that we face in our own lives," he adds. "I remember 20 years ago, maybe 25 years ago, they came out with videocassette recorders, and you had to make a choice between Beta and VHS. I'm one of those people who made the mistake of getting Beta." Which meant, of course, that he had to switch to vhs.

With Dan Gilgoff and Angie C. Marek

Tags: Michael Chertoff | technology

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