A Caution To Early Adopters

Here at the TechNudge family of web sites, we love to be on the cutting edge even more than the next guy. Whether it's the latest dual core processor, faster optical drive, or louder speakers, you can bet we just love pushing it to the max, and even just one more step beyond.

However...I'm really just not fired up about the next generation of optical drive formats. You've probably heard of them as Blu-Ray, and the competing HD-DVD discs by now. I've been sitting back as the largest format war since VHS and Betamax has had manufacturers taking sides. As there appears to be no peace truce in the form of a unified standard, or at least some type of dual format drive (like what finally put an end to the DVD-R and DVD+R squabble) I'm not jumping into this one with even one foot, let alone both.

The other issue is that for a technology to be successful and adopted, it has to address a need. However, the majority of us are quite happy with current DVD standards. I have set top players, and the discs can play in my computers as well. The quality of the audio and video is quite high. Yes, you can see flaws on a 40 inch plasma, but most of us are not quite in that league when watching TV. In other words, DVD is quite acceptable quality for now, and the foreseeable future. And let's not forget the shelves of DVD's in my local Blockbuster, public library, and Best Buy just waiting to be watched.

I read this on the Popular Mechanics blog:

It's official: Blu-Ray, one of two competing high-definition-ready disc formats (HD-DVD is the other one), is here. Or it will be, soon. On June 25th, Samsung's BDP-1000 Blu-Ray disc player goes on sale at a head-turning $1000 price point. Make that neck-cracking, whiplash-inducing, jaw-droppingly high, etc. We had a chance to sit down with this new player for an hour, trying out three titles (eight movies in all will be available by player's launch) on a 60-in. DLP hi-def TV, with the requisite 5.1 surround sound.

Wow! I don't know if I'm more amazed by the price tag of a grand, or that there will only be 8 titles available at launch. Remember when DVD's first came out? The players were well north of $500, and lacking in features. It seemed like a big deal when they added the capability to play audio CD's, and then again with MP3's. Who knows what features might get added to the blu-Ray players once the price drops!

Between the ridiculous opening price tag, and the lack of content, Blu-Ray could very well be another great technology that never quite catches on. History does often repeat itself, and this Blu-Ray technology reminds me of laser disc. A progressive technology that was overpriced, never gained popularity, and really only paved the way for something better as well as more affordable. My advice, which I will heed, is to proceed with caution.

--Jonas