By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
thismeintiel on 16 November 2009
Edit Thread
ironman said:
thismeintiel said:


Your whole argument for firmware is ridiculous.  People update firmware, or update products on a regular basis.  You act as if the majority would rather buy a new product rather than upgrade the one they have, which is just not true.  People don't buy a new computer or 360 or PS3 anytime it needs an update.  Nor do they go out and buy new games or software when it needs updating.  To do so would be not only be idiotic, but would also bankrupt you.  I mean you would buy a new product every few months, even weeks, if that were true.  I think it is you that does not understand people.

Yes, the majority WOULD rather buy a new product than update the firmware, This is a disposable society, People would rather not deal with the "hassle" of downloading the update, burning it unto a disc, and flashing their Bluray player. I already cited one example with a DVD player I own. Too bad you didn't read it. Most Bluray players do not auto update like the 360, PS3, or a PC, and that is exactly why people don't go out and purchase new consoles or computers. Besides, as I said before, what benefit would a Bluray disc with more that 25 GB of space, give the general consumers as far as videos go? Absolutely none, not when you can fit an entire film in 1080P with 7.1 surround sound on one dual layer bluray. No, a 1 TB disc will benefit nobody but tech geeks at this point because super HD is still being worked on. 

BTW what kind of DVD player did you have?  I have never heard of DVD player having upgradable firmware via the internet.  Only one I can think of that was upgradable at all was the PS2.  But that was through either random games or demo discs.

Toshiba sd-4000, I suspect this isn't the only one that has ever needed a firmware update. Suffice to say, most people didn't even bother looking for a solution to their sync issue on this model, and around half of those who did stumble across the problem, just decided to go out and buy a new DVD player.  

I'm sorry to say it, but your history is the one that is off alittle.  True, in the early 70's, cassettes did start to gain ground, due to the increase in sound quality.  However, 8-tracks were still popular, and didn't truly start to lose popularity until the late 70's, when companies wanted to decrease the number of formats for music.  Cassetes proved to be cheaper to make, coupled with their increasing popularity, so they were chosen as the format of choice.  However, as I stated before, cassettes hit their larger boom in the 80's, thanks to the introduction of portable players.  Keep in mind also that both 8-track and cassettes were released in the same year, 1964, and it was 8-track that came out on top for more than a decade, so definitely not a flop.

Read the below statement. 

But just for the sake of argument, let's take your history into consideration.  Even if cassettes took over in '73,  that's still 9 years 8-track dominated.  And considering it wasn't until late 1982 that they were completely removed from shelves, that's another 9 years they stuck around.  Now you said VHS stuck around for 3 years after DVD was released, and DVD is looking to stick around 4-6 more years after Blu-ray, I would have to conclude that 8-track was bigger than them both. 

Actually it was about 8 years, and records were still more popular. Records were sold right along side 8tracks until the tape became popular, then both formats virtually disappeared, you had to go to speciality stores to get records and 8tracks after that. 

Just because Blu-ray has more to compete with doesn't mean it will fail.  It only means it will not gain the huge market share DVD had, as it had barely any competition.  But I still feel confident it will rise to having a majority share in the next year or two.  And the fact that not everyone will replace their DVD's with Blu-ray is why Blu-ray will be succesful.  Simply put, you don't have to.  You can keep your old movies and just buy new ones on Blu-ray.  Now I don't know how well upconverting DVD players have done, as I have yet to see any published sale numbers for them.  But considering my last trip to Wal-mart I saw one as opposed to the 6 or 7 Blu-ray players, I doubt there is that much demand for them.

Blueray is expensive, people with a good number of DVDs are not going to buy Bluray to replace their entire collection. that would be stupid, especially since they can buy a good upconverting DVD player that will give them almost the same picture quality.

Now, you said in your above statement that People don't have to replace their entire collection with Bluray...instead they could keep their old DVDs and buy the Bluray version...now, perhaps it's just me...but isn't that replacing your DVD with a Bluray? 

Also, I don't know what Walmart you were in, but the 4 that I have visited recently, all had four Upconverting DVD players (the less effective ones mind you.) and at least two regular DVD players. Then of course, at each Walmart, there were 4 bluray players, and that's not counting the surround sound systems...which all had DVD players... Oh, and let's not forget the two VHS/DVD combos that they had. 

 

There's really no point in arguing with you over things, because you seriously fail to see fact or reason.  True, we may live in a disposable
generation, but that does not extend to all aspects of life.  Especially costly electronics.  And since the the final standard profile for Blu-ray players makes it mandatory to have internet access, updating is easier than before.  But I will admit much older customers won't, but they probably won't really care for the added benefits the upgrade brings.

I find it funny that you continuously speak as if we live in a technologically "stupid" world, yet you see that DLC will win out over Blu-ray.  If people are so confused by tech, DLC has no chance in hell to succeed.  It's so much simplier to stick in a Blu-ray into a player than it is to set up a machine to DL movies from the internet.  I mean what happens when the program they use to download movies needs updating to use?  They'll just say screw it and buy a new one?  Highly doubt it.  We live in a more technologically minded world than you think.  And you better thank God for that if you want DLC to win out over Blu-ray.

Sorry but people weren't popping records into their cars in the 60's and 70's.  Even if you still don't want to go with the true events of that time, a time you yourself admit to have no experience in, you still can't claim that 8-track was a flop.  Even using your history, they had competition of LP's and cassettes, and 8-tracks still stuck around for almost 2 decades since it's launch (nearly 3 if you count radio stations using them).  No matter how you wish to reinvision history, it won't change it for historians or those who lived in that time period.  So just do yourself a favor.  Be humble and admit you were wrong.  8-tracks weren't a dismal failure.  Hell you can even throw in that Blu-ray isn't, but I won't force you.

LOL.  Blu-ray is expensive?  And how much do you think DVD cost in it's first years?  Believe it or not, the prices were pretty much the same.  In fact a lot of DVD players were over $1,000 when they came out.  All electronics are like this.  It's so funny how people forget this so fast, just because it helps their argument.  The fact is Blu-ray has dropped significantly since launch.  In fact some movies sell at $10, granted the movies are a little older.  And a lot of new movies are $25, only $5 more than brand new DVD's. 

You misunderstood me.  I was saying that people can keep their old movies.  But when a NEW movie is released, they can choose to buy either DVD or Blu-ray.  That's why Blu-ray will be successful.  Your old movies will not become obsolete, as VHS did when DVD came out.  And please don't try and say that's pointless because VHS was a failure.  It would only make you seem more ignorant.

The Wal-mart I go to is a Super Wal-mart with a pretty big electronics department (I also go to a regular Wal-mart closer to me, but it's the same situation).  All I know is they had maybe 1 DVD/VHS combo, 1 upconverting DVD player, and like 6 Blu-ray players.  More stores are going to be like this in the next few months, if they haven't already.  Especially as DVD sales fall, and Blu-ray continues to rise.  And until I see any sales numbers for upconverting DVD players, I'm going to have to assume they are not in high demand.  Otherwise there would be more of them on shelves than Blu-ray players.