08 Jan 2006
Next-gen DVD format war frustrates retailers

I have vinyl records, 8 track tapes, VHS tapes, 8mm tapes, LaserDiscs, and DVD's. So far I've maintained the capability to play all except the 8 tracks - which was really such a bad format it wasn't worth keeping.

Some copy protection schemes on the VHS and LaserDisc movies slow me down in backing them up or transferring formats, which is also a problem.

I can tell you this: this is one consumer who's fed up with "format wars", and who will refrain from buying any new format player unless it has backwards compatibility with my existing media. After all, there's always HBO and pay per view ...

U.S. electronics retailers at the Consumer Electronics Show call the war "nightmarishly unfriendly" and "stupid."

(link) [CNET News.com]

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