[opendtv] Re: Replace the VHS VCR
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 07:45:56 -0500
At 11:24 AM -0800 11/9/05, dan.grimes@xxxxxxxx wrote:
>
>The PVR is a great invention. And it is good to hear that the reliability
>has become better (I rid myself of my PVR when my VHS had a 99 percent
>reliability rate and my PVR was at 33 percent). But the cost is still
>triple (or more) and the media is not removable or transferable, without
>another box that is. Sure, I could buy another box, but should I really
>have to?
PVRs - at least the kind we have today - are transitional products.
As you note, reliability has been an issue, but this is mostly due to
problems with program guides and somewhat clunky software that can
easily lead to operator errors.
As I have noted, most PVRs allow you to back up to VHS today. A
handful allow you to archive to DVD-R.
But the real problem here is not the technology but Hollywood. You
would already be seeing the kinds of products you want, if Hollywood
was not working so hard to keep them off the market.
Much of the complexity that is being added is in the content
management layers, where devices must handshake, determine if you
have the right to make a copy, and then allow you to move the bits
around. We have seen many reports this past week about the ability to
make copies being blocked either intentionally or inadvertently by
distributors who can control downstream copying.
ON the other hand, there are examples of systems that protect content
that work quite well. Much of the success of the iPOD, and the iTunes
store, can be attributed to a well designed end-to-end system that
supports a reasonable set of rights for copying and moving your music
across networks and between devices.
There is nothing wrong with complexity, as long as it is behind the
curtain, where it does not get in the way of the user. I find that
most consumer electronics devices are several generations behind
computer applications in terms of the human interface and
ease-of-use. Some of this is due to the fact that the GUI for CE
devices is typically a remote control with limited I/O versus a
computer with a keyboard and mouse. But much of the complexity is
just poor software and systems design.
Remember a few years back when computer applications were broadly
criticized for their branching tree structures where you might need
to go through layers of menus to get to some functions? That's kinda
where the CE guys are today, while next generation digital media
appliances and applications have evolve into much improved
interfaces. Each time an analyst says that Apple's dominance of the
personal music player market is about to end, another analyst points
out that the real reason that Apple is so dominant is the human
interface to the process of managing and using your music collection.
In short, complexity is not the issue. Managing complexity is the issue.
Regards
Craig
>
>In reality, the one box that can do all that the VHS VCR can is the
>computer, with special hardware. But lets not even get started on the
>complexity to actually make that work!
>
>I realize we need to move on to new technologies. But the point I want to
>make is that in our digital world, we are making things more complex while
>calling them "simpler". In some aspects, they are simpler, but still
>require more equipment and expertise.
>
>Dan Grimes
>
>
>
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