Stop the Anti-Divx Madness!

Posted by Bryan P. [IP: 205.188.196.41] on November 20, 1998 at 00:03:07:

In Reply to: Stop the Anti-Divx Madness! posted by David on November 19, 1998 at 03:08:02:

: No one complained when you had to plug the DSS into the phone jack for pay-per-view movies, which is all Divx's modem does: Divx is PAY-PER-VIEW, a concept people could handle before there was a disc (oooh, the evil disc). And if you think no one knows what DVDs you're renting, or what DVDs you're buying, you're living in a dream world. The only differences is WHO knows. Who cares?

Agree on the DSS thing. That's part of why I don't have one. As for the dream world, I know they track what I rent and buy. My point is why give them another input. (And I care...)

: I know how easy it is to get worked up over this. I didn't come up with the idea, and I am only suggesting that we leave the option open to those who wish it.

If only it were that simple. How much do you think the DIVX initiative has impeded acceptance of Open DVD? Just look at how long it took to get some of the major studios to go open DVD when they thought they could make a few extra bucks with DIVX. Seen Star Wars on DVD yet????????

: : 4.)While the "convenience" of not having to return the disc may be appealing to some, I enjoy going back to the store to pick up another I may not have had a chance to get before.

: I'm with you there; I like to browse through the titles in a rental store. Again, Divx is a solution for those WITHOUT DVD rental shops available in their area (though my solution would be NetFlix or something similar).

Yeah, right. The DIVX distribution network is so huge that I'm sure there are a ton of markets that you can get DIVX and can't rent DVDs. NetFlix appears to offer the best of both worlds to me. My mailbox is closer at both ends of the transaction.

: : Personally, I don't rent cars, houses, or furniture. I like to own things. I want to get something for my money. I prefer to buy quality merchandise that will outlast the payment period and still be in great working condition.

: You know, I never asked anyone for their personal choices. I asked that people of OTHER opinions be given THEIR choices. But part of your reason for purchasing vs. renting, that of guaranteeing "great" working condition, is a feature of Divx, which is a rental you can take care of in your own home.

That assumes that it is in great working condition when it is new. Even you agreed that it is an inferior format and incapable of delivering the level of performance of the Open DVD.

: : I don't think I could handle all the "convenience" DIVX offers. Thanks anyway. By the way, are you a lawyer???

: I'm a pediatrician, the near-antithesis of a lawyer. And I never asked you to buy Divx. I never said I'm going to buy Divx. And if you can stop splitting for a second (belief that anything is either all-good or all-bad), you might see that just because I don't want the format killed doesn't mean I'm somehow anti-DVD, and that Divx DOESN'T have to die for DVD to flourish.

I was just kidding about the lawyer, sorry I forgot to "wink". I agree that all should have a choice. I just don't trust a bunch of lawyers and CC to be the ultimate forthcoming knowledge base to educate the consumers before they make a decision. Using your paradigm of letting everyone have their choice, consider the following.

There are certain films I cannot get on DVD because they are only on DIVX. This impinges on my right to make my choice.(No, I'm not a radical civil libertarian. Just following your logic.)

This is exactly why the consumer electronics industry gets such a bad rep with the masses. Most consumers are uneducated as to the specific differences in the formats. There will be a lot of seriously upset people out there if(and when) DIVX fails.

We will experience the same problem with manufacturers who are now selling HDTV ready/compatible sets with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Marketing and the almighty dollar over care of the customer for the sake of return business.

In closing, let me say that this is a great thread and enjoy debating issues in an open forum. Sure glad we have ONE standard so we can all communicate. If the computer industry (no picnic in itself, I'm in it) was as messed up as the consumer electronics industry, we wouldn't be flaming each other today.

Follow Ups:

• Stop the Anti-Divx Madness! David 02:02:51 11/20/98 (0)

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