The Next Format War ...

wolf · 11-14-2004, 12:06 AM

This time, the fight will be over DVD Primacy. The loser last time (show of hands, who actually owned a Sony BetaMax?) is trying to position itself to be the winner this time ... with Blue-Ray DVDs. The competing format is HD-DVD, from Toshiba.

Sony is trying to put a lock on the market by putting their Blue-Ray into PlayStation 3 units, and there is already an agreement on the table with Dell to put Blue-Ray Drives into their machines.

Oh, and there's a reassuring statement at the end that both HD-DVD and Blue-Ray will be backward compatible to currently available DVDs.

sycamore · 11-14-2004, 12:19 AM

My HS history teacher had several Betamax VCRs...he spent part of a class lamenting Beta's downfall.

He was a character...

Bullitt · 11-14-2004, 01:30 AM

Well i never personally owned one, but i am guilty by association. All of my early childhood video are in beta. We just recently had them converted to dvd.

wolf · 11-14-2004, 02:04 AM

I was always of the understanding that BetaMax was by far the superior videotape format as far as quality, but Sony made the "Apple mistake" by developing a proprietary format that they wouldn't let any other company produce. Anybody who made VCRs could use the VHS format, so they were able to be price competative and outsold the Sony line. That Sony has already started developing licensing agreements for the use of their format is putting them in a better position this time out.

jaguar · 11-14-2004, 06:38 AM

Sony has a long history of its own formats, most of which sucked badly, betamax being the exception. I hope this fight is nicer than the DVD+R/-R+RW-RW mess that confused everyone for a while.

BrianR · 11-14-2004, 07:33 AM

(raises hand) I owned a Beta unit once upon a time. The video WAS superior to VHS, but has less recording time. They should have heard of open-licensing back then...

We'll see if this time is different and Sony learns from past mistakes.

jaguar · 11-14-2004, 07:50 AM

judging by the recent spectacular failure of that ATRAC rubbish they tried on, the desire for control is still there.

busterb · 11-14-2004, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt

Well i never personally owned one, but i am guilty by association. All of my early childhood video are in beta. We just recently had them converted to dvd.

OK In my early child there was no video, play stations, tv, & ETC. And just maybe the world was a better place. IMHO

Beestie · 11-15-2004, 06:34 AM

On a somewhat related note, our neighborhood Blockbuster announced that, as of January, they will stop carrying VHS tapes.

Cyber Wolf · 11-15-2004, 07:22 AM

I have a Betamax. I adopted it from my parents at least. And it still works

Good thing too, because once I get me a decent DVD-burner, I'll be able to rescue a ton of movies I've got on Beta before the tape disintegrates.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-15-2004, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busterb

OK In my early child there was no video, play stations, tv, & ETC. And just maybe the world was a better place. IMHO

Yeah.

sycamore · 11-15-2004, 08:52 PM

So...how many Betamaxes do you own, Bruce? 3? 4?

Beestie · 11-16-2004, 07:02 AM

Another entrant tosses its hat in the ring:

Quote:

A 20 GB Red Laser, High-Definition Reflective Multi-layer Disc (MVD) recently demonstrated by New Medium Enterprises has, it's claimed, several advantages over emerging Blue laser light standards Blu-Ray and HD DVD.

Capable of storing at least 3 hours of High Definition video in its 20GB format, the company is also set to launch into production and sales of 15, 25 and 30 GB discs and drives by around the third quarter next year.

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News...x?NewsId=11515

xoxoxoBruce · 11-16-2004, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamore

So...how many Betamaxes do you own, Bruce? 3? 4?

1 Beta, 4 VHS including 2 Go Video dual decks.

11-14-2004, 12:06 AM	#1
wolf The other bright meat Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 17,854	The Next Format War ... This time, the fight will be over DVD Primacy. The loser last time (show of hands, who actually owned a Sony BetaMax?) is trying to position itself to be the winner this time ... with Blue-Ray DVDs. The competing format is HD-DVD, from Toshiba. Sony is trying to put a lock on the market by putting their Blue-Ray into PlayStation 3 units, and there is already an agreement on the table with Dell to put Blue-Ray Drives into their machines. Oh, and there's a reassuring statement at the end that both HD-DVD and Blue-Ray will be backward compatible to currently available DVDs. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-14-2004, 12:19 AM	#2
sycamore User that is decolonizing the MRSA camp Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA Posts: 11,566	My HS history teacher had several Betamax VCRs...he spent part of a class lamenting Beta's downfall. He was a character... __________________ my blog \| my Twitter page \| my music project \| Church of the Whale Penis

11-14-2004, 01:30 AM	#3
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron/Canton, OH Posts: 1,990	Well i never personally owned one, but i am guilty by association. All of my early childhood video are in beta. We just recently had them converted to dvd. __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

11-14-2004, 02:04 AM	#4
wolf The other bright meat Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 17,854	I was always of the understanding that BetaMax was by far the superior videotape format as far as quality, but Sony made the "Apple mistake" by developing a proprietary format that they wouldn't let any other company produce. Anybody who made VCRs could use the VHS format, so they were able to be price competative and outsold the Sony line. That Sony has already started developing licensing agreements for the use of their format is putting them in a better position this time out. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-14-2004, 06:38 AM	#5
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	Sony has a long history of its own formats, most of which sucked badly, betamax being the exception. I hope this fight is nicer than the DVD+R/-R+RW-RW mess that confused everyone for a while. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

11-14-2004, 07:33 AM	#6
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,865	(raises hand) I owned a Beta unit once upon a time. The video WAS superior to VHS, but has less recording time. They should have heard of open-licensing back then... We'll see if this time is different and Sony learns from past mistakes. __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

11-14-2004, 07:50 AM	#7
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	judging by the recent spectacular failure of that ATRAC rubbish they tried on, the desire for control is still there. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

11-15-2004, 06:34 AM	#9
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 3,973	On a somewhat related note, our neighborhood Blockbuster announced that, as of January, they will stop carrying VHS tapes. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

11-15-2004, 07:22 AM	#10
Cyber Wolf Keeper of the Drawer of Assorted Evil Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: On a huge rock covered in water, highly advanced moss and 6 billion parasites Posts: 935	I have a Betamax. I adopted it from my parents at least. And it still works Good thing too, because once I get me a decent DVD-burner, I'll be able to rescue a ton of movies I've got on Beta before the tape disintegrates. __________________ "Don't look back. And don't run. You must never run from anything immortal; it attracts their attention." - The Unicorn "Oh god, I'm engaged to a Douglas Fir..." - Schmendrick

11-15-2004, 08:52 PM	#12
sycamore User that is decolonizing the MRSA camp Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA Posts: 11,566	So...how many Betamaxes do you own, Bruce? 3? 4? __________________ my blog \| my Twitter page \| my music project \| Church of the Whale Penis

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