They could. But....
>
> A home DVD-Video recorder costs around $2500.
So did the first home CD player. That can drop if it catches on.
>
> A portable DVD-Video player w/ 4" LCD panel costs around $900.
Actually $675 or so in Sam's Club. The price is dropping already. When they
first came out they were a grand.
> I don't want to to think about what a portable DVD recorder would cost.
But would the actual electronics involved in making the unit cost the manufacture
much more than a portable MD recorder? I doubt it.
> So, what would "M-DVD-Audio" entail? The ratification of the DVD-Audio
> specification for a start. The spec exists, but the RIAA has been bitching
> about the lack of copy protection on it.
OK, so we have to put up with SCMS again. It's already in place.
> Then a "mini-DVD" specification
> needs to be defined for the smaller form factor media. Then all of the
> existing DVD specifications need to be revised to incorporate the new media
> type. Once all that is done, manufacturers can start producing and selling
> units.
This would depend upon Sony and whom ever (does anyone know who has the license
for DVDs?) has the license for the DVD format. Don't forget Sony and Phillips
managed to get together bring out the CD (then they split and came out with the
MD and DCC).
I know a patent usually expires on a product after 17 years. But I wonder how
standards work. Once the patent expires it seems that you can change the
specifications and maybe your product will be backwards compatible (if you want)
or not-if you don't care.
> Backwards compatability always insures that people will not feel they have to
> through out their existing collection of what ever (like 5 1/4" floppy discs).
> But it can drastically limit the improvements that you can make to something
> new.
>
Have a nice weekend, Ratman (some day you have to explain to people like me who
are the uninformed, why you have the handle Stainless Steel Rat, or why anyone
would want to for that matter).
Of course in a backhanded sort of way I can think of one compliment for the
rodent) not the person, the actual animal).
"What's the difference between a lawyer and a rat? There are some things that a
rat won't do"
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