Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!lll-winken!taco!hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu!kdarling From: kdarling@hobbes.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc Subject: Re: CDTV misleading???!? Air Mouse and things. Message-ID: <1991Jun6.081240.5858@ncsu.edu> Date: 6 Jun 91 08:12:40 GMT References: <1991Jun4.204135.17497@cs.wayne.edu> <1991Jun5.002829.22492@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <1991Jun6.005113.7848@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> Sender: news@ncsu.edu (USENET News System) Distribution: na Organization: North Carolina State University Lines: 46 es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes: >thomas@capitol.capitol.com (Mark Thomas) writes: > [partially out of order for readability] > >> 1. CD-I is expandable. There are provisions for keyboard, mouse, >> SCSI port, parallel and serial ports, floppy drives... > > [...] if the initial CD-I [players] aren't expandable, that will hurt > them in the long run, even if it changes. Magnavox will be advertising > this Christmas and they won't be able to claim any expandability. You're assuming that expandability is a main feature. For the single sourced one-model-only CDTV unit, that may be true. But with diversity comes choice, and CD-I consumers will have multiple model/price choice. Consumers understand and _expect_ this. That's why there are both expandable and non-expandable stereos, 35mm cameras, CD players, etc. >>There are at least three other manufacturers that are going to have >> players by Christmas. > > [...] I'd doubt that you'll see three other CD-I players by Christmas, > at least not in any quantity. If they weren't prepared to show up at > CES, even with a prototype, I can't believe they'll finish in time. Huh? Whether they show up or not for Christmas, and in quantity or not, has nothing to do with being shown at CES. How provincial of you :-). In any case, a dozen different CD-I players were already shown in Japan last fall, as you know if you've been keeping up. I would suspect that companies such as JVC, Magnavox, Matsushita, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, RCA, Sanyo, Sharp, Sylvania, and Yamaha can pump out units whenever they're ready to. >> 2. By Christmas CD-I will probably have 50 titles out. I think you'll >> find they will be of consistantly high quality both in content and >> image quality. Don't judge CD-I by what you see in the demo booths, >> there's a lot of discs that haven't been seen yet. > > Same point as above. If they haven't been seen yet, > what's the likelihood that they'll be widespread by Christmas? Same _non-point_, you mean. "If it hasn't been seen, it must not exist". Ever heard of movies still in editing rooms? ;-) I think it's rather refreshing that discs aren't shown before they're completely ready! best - kevin