Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!taco!hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu!kdarling From: kdarling@hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: What the heck IS "Interactive TV"? (long) Message-ID: <1991Apr15.140416.15388@ncsu.edu> Date: 15 Apr 91 14:04:16 GMT References: <1991Apr11.143222.13728@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> <511c11w164w@ozonebbs.UUCP> Sender: news@ncsu.edu (USENET News System) Distribution: usa Organization: North Carolina State University Lines: 34 vsolanoy@ozonebbs.UUCP (Victor Solanoy) writes: >> CDTV players will mostly be used for games and information retrieval. > > I'll have to dispute that.... the real market in this interactive TV thing > is in education. Bingo! Meaning I agree, at least as a market where CDTV could win big; and more importantly from my viewpoint, actually be an okay I-TV system. > CDTV is just such an appliance... it's educational (it could be if marketed > correctly). Apparently (I assume/hope I'm giving away no secrets) some at CBM do realize the educational possibilities. I am given to understand that they're looking for universities who wish to develop CDTV discs. There is, or will be, a deal where if a university buys a CDTV development system, their first disc will be mastered for free if CBM gets demonstration rights. More than fair! > At the price CDTV is set at, it's not going to have all too much competition > since there very few (if any at all) competitors that have a CD-ROM and > computer built into one machine. No, not at first. But they'll need to move quickly. CDROM-equipped computers are getting cheaper and more numerous almost by the week. Cheap writeable CDROM technology is not terribly far off now, which may change everything. Another CDTV advantage is in authoring tools; this'll change in the next year. And other educational giants (or wannabes) such as Tandy, may get into the CDROM player market before the end of the year. I give it 50-50 odds. Apple already said they will. I personally think Commodore would've won bigger with an inexpensive CDROM-equipped Amiga. By opening the player Pandora's Box, they have (among other things) lit a shorter fuse under their educational window. regards - kevin