The video business was different in 1981. There was no Amazon, no Netflix. An inexpensive VCR (predecessor to a DVD player) sold for $1,200. Movies rented for $4.95 each. You had to make sure to get a VHS movie or a Beta movie, depending on which model VCR you owned.
VHS tape to play in your VCR
Huge Variety of Usual and Unusual Laptops