Re: [dvd-discuss] DVD Descrambling Code Not a Trade Secret

[Steve Stearns <sterno(at)bigbrother.net>]

Steve Bryan wrote:

> I don't know if this is the right forum to discuss this aspect of the 
> issue but I wonder if they might face the same apparent fate as the 
> audio world. Specifically there has been an underwhelming response to 
> SACD and DVD-Audio so far. I think it would be hard to argue that an 
> important part of this non-response is that most of the enthusiasm is 
> about things like compressed audio and devices like iPod that allow your 
> whole audio collection to fit in a small portable package and always be 
> available.

Well most of the underwhelming response, I suspect, has to do with the 
fact that most people can't tell the difference between those higher 
fidelity audio formats and a CD.  People went to CD because the format 
is substantially better than tape, and much more durable than vinyl. 
But why would anybody but the ultimate audiophiles take an interest in 
these new audio formats?  They are expensive, and most people cannot 
tell the difference.

> SACD and DVD-Audio are actively hostile to being incorporated in this 
> new regime so that rather than losing crumbs they aren't even invited to 
> the table. I have HDTV and DVD and my own current preference is for any 
> video that can be easily ripped to my media server and viewed from there 
> on any networked device (TV, Mac or PC). If HD-DVD makes this process 
> unavailable I'll probably end up ignoring it. The fact is that DVD's can 
> be very good which could undermine efforts to close off higher 
> resolution platforms if their restrictions are too tedious. In order to 
> participate in the future world of home media servers and networks the 
> content needs to fit in well which will expose it to infringement. The 
> 'strength' and 'weakness' come from the same source: effortless 
> networking. I don't think you can have one without the other.

I think HD-DVD is going to be another story.  Now that there's a 
significant market of people who have HDTV's, it makes sense for their 
to be a DVD capable of supporting that.  People do see the difference 
between HD and non-HD, and so people will be willing to pay a premium 
for the higher quality.

Most people aren't going to concern themselves with ripping the video. 
The way people play a movie is very different than how they play audio. 
  Having a jukebox is a natural evolution of music so that you can mix 
things up, etc.  With video, you pick something out, you play that one 
thing, and it's usually an involved 90+ minute activity.  I mean, I'm a 
geek, I don't listen to CD's anymore, I just use them as masters for 
mp3's, and I've never really done much in the way of DVD ripping.  I 
tried to do it as an experiment, but the size of the data files just 
made it a hassle and it was easier to just have the disc.

---Steve