|
Well, yes and no. CDs were a great improvement over LPs and tapes for audio playback, both in quality and durability of the format. CDs are also portable, and lots of people use them in cars and portable players. DVDs are an improvement for audio, but not nearly as great (at least for most people). LPs sold very well, and they could not record, and audio recording was done for either copyright violations or portable use. CDs covered the portable use.
DVD, of course, is vastly superior to a VCR in video quality, but there is a wide base of VCRs that most people think look just fine, and can record programs when they are not home. Portability is not usually an issue, and durability of the format is not as big a problem as with audio; nobody watches a movie as many times as they listen to a CD. When my VCR was working, I used it a lot to "time-shift" - record shows I didn't have time to watch at their viewing time. Many people do this and would find it a waste of money to buy a playback device that didn't have the functionality of their trusty VCR. Nor can DVDs play back home videos, also important to some people. (I use a Hi-8, so I have to hook it up; it's not a problem for me, but you've seen the ads hawking the camcorders "whose tapes play in your VCR.") So you can't directly compare CDs and DVDs.
Alright, before you blast me, let me conclude with the following. DVD will be BIG, no ENORMOUS, over time. I think the time period for it to reach this enormity would be considerably shortened, however, if they had recording capability at a mass-market price. 1998 will be the year for DVD. All the major studios will release DVD movies, (although some only on Divx, but that will create controversy and publicity, and spark consumer interest in DVD). DVDs are replacing CD players in PCs and Macs, and there is more DVD awareness than ever before. HOWEVER, Joe Six-pack and his dog won't buy a DVD player at $400 - "I'd rather get me one o' them VCRs for $150 - an' it records too ... if I could only unnerstand them instructions ..."
Price. It all comes down to price in mass market goods. |
