I have been very uneasy about the new high definition DVD formats.
Since it already has the points I want to make, the following is a quote I made in a manifesto on technological obsolescence I wrote for school last year:
Quote:
| Since it’s introduction in 1997, the DVD not only virtually rendered the VHS tape obsolete, but it also became the most successful consumer product ever. Nonetheless, companies are already well underway on creating High Definition DVD systems, such as Sony’s BluRay. The companies never really took the opportunity to enjoy DVDs success. Instead of celebrating the fact that DVDs have become the most successful consumer product ever, they instead decided to go and create an “even better” system, which would effectively render the existing DVD players useless. Think of how much money you would have to spend when HD-DVDs come out. First, you have to buy the new HD-DVD player and because there are two competing HD-DVD technologies (BluRay and Toshiba’s HD-DVD), that may be hard; since one of those new technologies are bound to go obsolete faster than the other (though recent evidence, such as studio support, suggest BluRay will come out on top). In addition, you will probably have to purchase a new fancy High Definition TV, so you will be able to have full advantage of the HD-DVD technology. Also, don’t forget that you will have to lay down money to purchase the new HD-DVDs for the player. Sure, your current discs will probably still work, but who knows how long they will be supported and you know for sure that they would not have as nice a picture. |
I just don't like thinking that I spent HUNDREDS of dollars on DVDs over the last few years and that they may be useless in just a few years.
The change from VHS to DVD was a big leap - from magnetic tape to compact optical disc (I say compact because of the existence of laserdiscs for years before DVD).
What's the difference between DVD and HD-DVD? A better picture?
I for one plan to stay far away from High Definition DVDs (unless of course I'm forced to because of....you know...my current collection becoming obsolete)