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To: yard_man who wrote (52789)	5/10/2001 10:14:50 AM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 77397

Actually, you are wrong about tape versus digital. I have a friend in the movie industry who explained to me why movies aren't all digital now. The problem is that alot of the mega movie companies went out and built these megaplexes with 20 screens and they are crawling in debt and poor cashflows. So many of the movie theater chains can't afford to buy the digital playback equipment, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to outfit a theater. In addition, all the movie producers have to buy digital equipment to film the movies in. One of the few who is currently pioneering this type of work is none other than George Lucas of Star Wars fame. Then lastly, but not least, you have the economics. The movie industry is scared shitless of digital movies because of the threat of piracy. Remember napster? They fear the same type of thing. They aren't as shrewd as Bill Gates, so they don't realize that you have to take the bull by the horns and accept the fact that piracy will always occur, but you have to accept your losses and make it up with volume distribution. It will happen within the next 10 years, but you have to be patient. As it happens, these networking companies, like Cisco are going to be swimming in money.

To: yard_man who wrote (52789)	5/10/2001 12:01:14 PM
From: Charles Tutt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 77397

An 18-wheeler full of magnetic tape is probably the cheapest way to move data, yet people use networks. Go figure. I think a lot of people will opt for speed, convenience, and availability over a trip to Blockbuster's (ever get there and they don't have what you want, go home and find the tape is munched, or have to stand in a long checkout line and step out the door to find it's started to rain?). The price point remains to be determined. Plus, you don't have to rewind! JMHO. Charles Tutt (TM)

To: yard_man who wrote (52789)	5/11/2001 11:06:25 AM
From: Graystone	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 77397

Do you own a theater? or Typesetters needed. It doesn't matter if average joe wants access to libraries or first run stuff, he can't have it. The current infrastructure won't support it. Technical effort inside a single system can make video systems work, proprietary systems can make it work but IP traffic over autonomous systems with any kind of reliability is still not here. Certain consumers in certain markets may enjoy the possibility, but that is it. The future of IP traffic is linked to streaming formats that will gobble up bandwidth, but more importantly, demonstrate the "weakest links" in the network. Sure we have bandwidth glut right now, but why ? Regional carriers with "networks on steroids" have to hand off most of the traffic to other networks, people share time and buy time to make a larger network work and everyone is doing something a little different. Bad decisions made a few years ago (DLC deployment) have restricted sales for a lot of telco's to the most affluent customers, those in new suburbs. Budgets won't allow those decisions to be revisited for years in some cases. Lawsuits are required to decide who has the right to work on your local wire. I am guessing that average joe will take to live streaming media and movie library access like a fish to water. I am guessing that no proprietary system will succeed, it will take many more billions in spending and concerted effort to solve the backbone problems. Local feeder plant is the weakest link in the network today, all the bandwidth in the world is no good if you can't fill it with tributary traffic.

To: yard_man who wrote (52789)	5/11/2001 9:44:45 PM
From: Victor Lazlo	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 77397

tippet the average Joe deosn't have a huge high-res monitor. He also lacks good audio on the computer. So why would Joe use his computer for movies when he has a home theater system with a 4' screen in the next room? IMO streaming video is being hyped way beyond its real potential. It's the last thin hope of people who think Cisco is going to 75 again soon. Sure a few geeks will actually get into it, but I hope they enjoy it. btw, isn't cisco hastily retreating from optical internet and streaming video?? Sure looks that way to me.. Victor

To: yard_man who wrote (52789)	5/18/2001 9:25:27 AM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 77397

tippet and Victor, here's an article about digital distribution of movies. It's happening, even as both of you tell everyone that it will never happen because it's a gimmick. Keep on doubting, because your doubt won't make a bit of difference. The economics are already there. Now they just need to work out some of the issues, like security, who will pay for the equipment, and who get's control of the distribution. public.wsj.com