RonAmok!

Social Media for Executives
Feb 23, 2008

Atoms or Bits?

Last weekend I upgraded the software on my AppleTV.

Tuesday, Toshiba threw in the towel on the HD-DVD format, clearing the way for Blu-ray dominance over every new DVD player produced.

Today, I’m thinking through the ramifications.

You see, I have a bad habit. In the past, I’ve had a tendency to purchase a copy of a movie at every advance in technology. Let’s take the movie “Scrooged” for example.

  • First, I paid to see it on the big screen.
  • Then, I purchased it in VHS-tape format.
  • When magnetic tape joined Vinyl in the “yesterday” bin, I bought the DVD.

It seems that every significant increase in technology has me purchasing my favorite content in a new physical medium. But today, with the upgrade to AppleTV and the Toshiba announcement, I’m faced with something new: I have two very different technologies to choose from. I’m asking myself:

  • Blu-ray or Download?
  • Atoms or bits?
  • Moore’s Law or Moore’s Law?
  • Choice or Convenience?

I dunno. I gotta stew on this one a little. What do you think?

Tags:

Filed under: Miscellaneous
« Google WiFi
Disgruntled UGC »

  • JTM
    I don't want to sound like one of the old media types you so often pan for their stubbornness, but I can still play records at my house. I am, however slowly transferring them to CD so that they are more "portable."
    I don't want to buy the same thing over and over again for every generation of media type that comes out! Why, for example, would I want to hear The Beatles better than they ever were originally?
    I think new technology is great, but leave that for the new content as well.
    Just because they can colorize "It's A Wonderful Life" doesn't make it better!
    Now, for those people who can say "It's only money..." go ahead, drive the economy forward with your spending. But as for me... I use things until they are no longer usable, and then move forward. Heck, I've still got a year left out of these old TVs too! HA!
  • Great points...

    "Blu-ray or Download?"

    I vote for "Neither" DVD is good enough for most people and has large market penetration.

    In my opinion, the benefit from DVD to Blu-ray is not as great as from VHS to DVD. The extra costs for the hardware and the media is not justifiable except for those who can actual tell (or care) about the difference. (Dora the Explorer doesn't get any better in Hi-Def)

    Downloads are great for (temporary) rentals but I don't see people replacing the long lasting DVD with a hard drive (that can crash).

    Keep the great posts coming.
blog comments powered by Disqus