Oh, ironman. You sound like the technologically impaired who screamed we don't need DVD, VHS is fine. All your "facts" are based around pesonal preference, or just not wanting to admit you are wrong.
Ever since the Final Standard Profile 2.0 was agreed upon for Blu-ray players, it is mandatory for them to have internet capabilities. This doesn't mean Wi-fi, though some models do support Wi-fi. True, older models weren't required to, but they are now. This is to utilize the BD-Live features found on most Blu-rays. And as of the end of the first quarter of 2009, the DEG has stated that 3/4 of all Blu-ray players in homes were BD-Live capable. Sorry that's a fact.
How is DLC (technically we're talking digital media downloads, but it's much easier to type DLC) cheaper and eaiser than a firmware update? Firmware updates are free, and given you have an internet connection very easy to install. Sorry the majority of the world are not as scared of tech as you are. Our tech is advancing everyday, and with that comes updates. And guess what, people update. Now if you can show me a poll or study that proves otherwise, then I'll concede. But until that, sorry, you're just wrong. And anyone on these boards will tell as much. Besides we're comparing Blu-ray to DLC, not DLC to firmware updates.
I have a question. Do you really use Linux? Do you ever have to update anything on that? What do you do if you have to? Do you panic, or just hit update? Because you want to put firmware and software updates apart from each other, but they both have the possibility of crashing your computer. What does someone so afraid of tech even have a PC for? Let alone try something so open-sourced as Linux.
Seriously, what does 8-track have to do with Blu-ray? Just because you tied them together, and are faced with the fact that 8-track was a success, you want it to have failed so Blu-ray failed? Sorry but 8-track was not a failure. Failures do not stick around for 2 decades. Or become the prefered format for ad and jingle recording by DJ's for 3 decades. Failures last maybe 5-10 years, if that, with low sales and then fall into obscurity, only to be brought up to bash. But it's funny how older comedians can talk about when they had an 8-track player, and everyone in the crowd cheers.
And don't ask me to ask someone, like I asked you before, because I have. Both parents, their brothers, sisters and friends, as well as the older guys I work with. They all had them, or had parents who owned them. Hell, my uncle bought a run-of-the-mill stereo in the mid 70's that still had a port for 8-tracks. The point is, they were seen as a success by those who lived in that time period, as well as the companies who continued to put them out. Just because you were born in an era where you couldn't see them, or because they are no longer around, doesn't mean they were a failure. Don't be blinded by cassettes HUGE success in the 80's from seeing others' successes. Can cassettes be considered a failure since they were replaced by CD's. What about children who are too young to know of VHS? Should it be considered a failure to them? Will DVD have been a failure when it's dead and gone? If you answer yes, don't bother answering.
Betamax was a failure. Even with it's quality and size superiority, it only garnered a cult following from videophiles. Except for Japan where Betamax was more popular, they lasted for 13 years, when Sony started making VHS players. Now the only reason these ran on for so long was because of the success in Japan, and maybe a little stubborness from Sony. So it might not have been a dismal failure, but a failure none the less. But the real point is that if something that is just outside the realm of failure last only 13 years, how can something you call a dismal failure last for almost 20, and still be looked back upon by many who had them favorably?
Of course it's expensive to replace your DVD collection. That's why most won't do it. And they don't have to. Or are you going to ignore that fact as well? And you do realize that Blu-ray is actually a larger leap in quality over DVD than DVD was to VHS, picture quality wise. And again don't ignore that I have agreed that DLC is going to gain some of DVD's market share. But most analysts agree it won't be the majority. And really DLC does have an advantage, as VOD/PPV is counted in it's sales numbers. Either way, it doesn't stop Blu-ray from continuing to gain market share.
Wal-marts are going to differ. The point is in the following years those DVD players will be gone to make room for Blu-ray completely. It's just how the times are a changing. What's funny is, I believe that if anyone else made Blu-rays, maybe MS, people like you would eat them up. Me, I just know they're the coming future. No point in hating, unless you want to look like alll those old DVD haters.
