IIRC, there was a VCR in the late 80’s/early 90’s that revisited the dials idea to make digital programming and clock setting easier. Can’t recall who made it though.
I seem to remember the programming was a little tricky, that’s why I asked my dad to setup the times for my shows. Though, setting the clock was easy, since you had buttons underneath the LED screen.
Sony also made VHS decks in the end. A dark day in the view of die hard Beta fans. Beta’s industrial broadcast cousin Betacam became an industry standard though.
Well, Sony had to eventually comply, so they can make some extra scratch. That’s true, Betacam did become an industry standard. I also remember SVHS, which I think tried to duplicate what Betacam was.