Poop Shute

The New Betas

For those of you who do not remember, in the late 1970's and early 1980's there was a format war between two different types of video cassette. There was BetaMax and VHS. We consumers were offered both types of player, and both types of cassette could be found side-by-side at the rental shops for years. In the end, VHS won and the consumer market never looked back.

Now, for those of you who don't know, it's happening all over again with a new type of DVD. The difference is pretty straightforward. Our standard DVD's are burned with a red laser. Red light has a wider wavelength than blue light, so now they've devised a blue laser that can cram more data into the same-sized disc as your standard DVD. A LOT more. The applications in computers are totally worth the technology there, but I'm skeptical of any need in the video market.

When audio and video made the move from cassettes to CD and DVD respectively, we saw a BIG improvement. Not only better quality, but in the case of video, a navigable multimedia experience with extras became the new standard. It was revolutionary, and most of us can't get enough of it. This newest upgrade, however, is just not worth the trouble.

PC Magazine released a list of "Do Not Buy" items for 2006. At the top of the list was an HD and/or a Blueray player. I say, follow their advice. The difference in picture quality is only incrementally better, and only really enjoyable if you spend a $1000 or more on an HD TV to use it on. Few of us have that money, or even want to drop that kind of cash on a TV and a new video disc player and re-buy an entire movie collection in a new format.

If we're smart, we'll all continue buying standard DVD's and ignore both new formats. Don't forget, supply is driven by demand, and WE are the demand. Vote with your wallet and stick with what is already working just fine. I recognize that it will take millions of people agreeing with me to make this stand work, but I am one of many websites, PC Magazine included, that advocates this. Funny thing is too, I know a couple folks that actually already own HD TV's, snd they agree with me on this. They don't even need to drop the thousands like most of us would, and even they agree; there is just no incentive to want this.

This upgrade is not needed. Spread the word, continue to support plain ol' DVD,
and let's make two new Betas.