Ian Forrester wrote: > I don't know guys, it may have been said multiple times but the only winner > in this battle must be the online services. > > However I'm still left wondering when the general public will get their head > around non-physical media. People seem to like the look and feel of physical > media like CDs, Vinyl, DVDs.
Are you sure it's a physical thing? Could it be that the early adopters saw the flaw in the plan? Why rent something that you could buy for the same amount or less? Why be dictated to about how many times and how quickly you could watch/hear something? So I bought a 100" Projector - and I should watch Pirates of the Carribean sitting on a stool in front of the PC screen in the study? You want me to listen to music on those tinny speakers? Car listening is verboten? So I need this program for that show, this other program for this tune, I need to upgrade my OS and then I can't play the game I bought last month - bugger off! I'm buying a DVD/CD/games console. Granted the public don't understand all/most of this - but there is *so* much wrong... What works for me: * Squeezebox : sleek and small. Plays mp3s that I rip and archive. * CDs : Higher quality than mp3, no DRM (it matters to me), integrated backup, lend/shareable. * MythTV frontends : small dedicated box in the lounge/bedroom - plugs into TV. Watch anything anytime. Download shows that have been broadcast and mis-recorded. * DVDs : High quality films/sound. Compact, work on my TV-box. Buy and anticipate. Plan and watch with friends. Integrated backup. lend/shareable. What doesn't work for me: * DRM music recorded at low bitrate that I can't listen to in the car or on my last-gen portable player or when the company goes under/changes it's mind. * Film download/playing applications that make the lounge feel like the office * Being told what I can do with something I bought * Not being able to buy a 2nd-hand CD/LP from the dawn of time What other non-physical/intangible items do people buy? Is online so different? * e-tickets * insurance * club/gym membership David - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/
