las wrote:
>
>Hi all.
>
>I just thought about something. If MDs had come out BEFORE
CDs, I wonder if
>CDs would have caught on as well?
>Yes, it would have. CD caught on because it had a significant
>and
>revolutionary difference over any other existing format at the
>>time:
>Random Access. It also had improved sound quality, although >I
>don't
>believe that's why the masses flocked to CD. I'm pretty sure
>the reason
>CD was readily adopted is one of convenience. Being able to
>skip from
>track to track and NOT have to FFWD or RWD is a huge
>convenience.
Maybe you have heard of these things called "records"? They have random
access last time I checked, and they were by far the most common mainstream
music medium of the time, even though minicassete and 8 track were still in
production. I've even seen programable turntables.
I don't think being able to access tracks was something that helped CD catch
on, but it might have doomed CDs if they didn't have the feature.
One of the biggest things that helped CD catch on IMO, was the fact that in
the 80s people were always looking for something new and cool to blow their
cash on. The same is pretty much true today, but people are so paranoid
about being stuck with a "looser" format that they won't buy new formats no
matter how good they are. It's like they are afraid of being made fun of or
something.
When it was obvious that MP3 wasn't going to be abandoned (mainly because no
large companies are in control of it, it's fame is purely fan-made) that's
when things like the Rio became popular. People won't buy MD because they
are afraid it will get dumped, even though it's a decade old, most Americans
think of it as some new looser format. Of couse this is a self-fulfilling
profecy...if people don't buy it, it *will* be dumped.
Chad Gombosi
Member SCP www.scponline.net
Chad's Game Music Page www.chadsgamemusic.com
MP3.com page: www.mp3.com/signofzeta
"Let me explain a couple of things. Time is short. That's the
first thing. For the weasel, Time is a weasel. For the hero,
Time is heroic. For the whore, Time is just another trick.
If you're gentle, your Time is gentle. If you're in a hurry,
Time flies. Time is a servant, if you are its master. Time
is your god, if you are its dog. We are the creators of Time,
the victims of Time, and the killers of Time. Time is timeless.
That's the second thing. You are the clock, Cassiel."
Emit - Far Away So Close
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