DVD players finally more common than VCRs

99$ dvr would destroy all the of the hd disc formats.
but, it will never happen. (DRM).

...didn't have to compete with another format?

Someone forgot about those two years of "DivX vx. DVD". Oh, and goes to show how the inferior format always wins.

So I just came from a large family gathering. One our discussions centered around technology-- what's new and what's available.

It's interesting that most were familiar with or at least heard about HDTV, Wii, Xbox 360, iPod, or TIVO.

Nobody really seemed to know anything about HD DVD, and when I brought up Blu-Ray I might as well have been giving a lecture on cold fusion. Nothing but blank, confused glances.

If high definition discs was to take over DVD, they really need to do a better job advertising or getting the word out.

My opinion on the matter is that physical media will always be preffered over digital media in the visceral realm. The problem with digital media, while being easier to distribute, is always the loser when it comes ot the elements. I lost at least 3 hard drives full of movies/ songs from various sources in Hurricane Katrina, But all my DVDs still worked fine. Also digital distribution is subject to unforseeable errors like that west coast power outage leaving millions without power for days, killing all servers and connections in the region. Physical media will be the preffered format for at least the next media generation due to their durability and portablity factor. Common anti-piracy DRMs block many video formats from being watched on more than one medium. Keep your VGA movies, amazon; I'm gonna go watch an HD-DVD while you're busy downloading.

I'm surprised it took that long. Its been what 2-3 years since the last major motion picture movie was released on VHS in America?

@ El Chino

Most movies are still released on VHS. Check your local rental shop. (not Blockbuster)

@ El Chino:

Indeed, it's been years since the last major motion picture was released on VHS, and I can't remember the last time I even saw one in stores, but there are two factors that kept it prevalent for so long after DVD released:

1) Time in market. VHS tapes have been on the market since the 80's, so they were almost synonymous with TVs, and you could go pick one up for $20 brand new.

2) VHS Tapes. I couldn't see any Joystiq users using VHS tapes but to those that have been using them for 10 years, it's comfortable. On top of that, you can still record regular cable with VHS tapes, so those who haven't caught up with the times could still easily record their shows without fail.

There's a bunch more reasons that those who haven't caught up with the times could keep VHS rolling, but i'm getting a headache thinking about it.

this is pretty surprising, nowhere really sells VHS here anymore, you only ever see them in charity shops while DVDs are everywhere.

heck, my parents still havent figured out how to work the vhs we have at the minute,they dont even use it to record stuff anymore since telewest started to offer their replay service.

Thank you for the dose of reality Hunter. I totally agree. Physical disks might seem archaic to some who long for digital distribution, but ironically, will likely be used by the same crowd to make back-ups of their downloaded games, films, photos and files.

I like getting games, movies, and music via downloads, but I'm torn, because I also like orderly packaging that shelves well and has cool things like booklets to read or check out. Plus in my personal life, I think of a particular shareware program that I bought and downloaded, and I really have no idea of where that file/installer is, since that was 7 years and 5 computers ago. But I also can look over at my '2001: A Space Odyssey' DVD on my shelf, something I bought at the same time, and it's right there on the shelf. In a format that is physically mine, and supported by all new drives and machines (sans the Wii, but I'll not go into THAT oversight right now).

Anyway, hey, I know many of you are down for digital distro, yeah, cool, I guess. I'm still down for packaging. It's going to be a very, very long time before downloads supplant DVDs, HD-DVDs, or Blue-Ray. For starters, the ability for the average tech-spaz (like the people on this site) to get in his/her car, go buy a physical object and return home with it in LESS time than it takes to download it (as it is right now with HD movies) makes downloading the same movie a novelty to many. I will agree, the download is a great option for 'rental' movies like 'Stick It,' or Saw 2, or something - Netflix should get on it immediately. But for movies you really like, I think many will opt for the physical package. You can take the DVD with you on your snowboarding trip without your DRM-approved laptop, you can loan it to someone to watch it, and you can probably find it 6 years later.

For all their effects on 'traditional media,' websites didn't kill newspapers or magazines, ipods haven't killed radio, and downloadable movies will not kill physical media.

i still watch some older movies i bought on tape when they were still popular
i mean im not gonna just throw them out and defiantly not rebuy them on dvd.......

"...there will be at least some very good games that don't require a $200 gamble on stopgap formats."

Yes, of course, because playing fl0w on your PS3 doesn't require spending $200 extra for an untested disc format that has a high chance of failure.

Oh wait.

@lil trooper

Are you aware of how quickly the profitability of newspapers and magazines is drying up, mostly because of the internet? I agree with you on most points, but as a communication/journalism major, I must inform you that these formats are going the way of the dinosaur, or evoliving into something totally different.

DVD took this long to catch up to VCR's? God this country is poorer than I thought. I cant believe people still dont have hdtvs. Remember life is a game, the one who has the most at the end wins!

I still use blank VHS tapes, it's cheaper than a Tivo. I then tape what I want and then I can transfer it to my grandparents DVD burner and I'm set.

And I love how we have a HD format war going on when really no one gives a damn.

Oddly enough, last night I was wanting to watch a movie. I wanted to watch Armageddon with Bruce Willis but I only had it on VHS... So thus, the search for a VCR began!

I searched for ten minutes and I did not find one in any room or closet...

I didn't go into the basement, which I assume there rests a few VCR's... That's when it hit me that DVD's have really taken over :P

Oh, on another note, I actually got out my LaserDisc player to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey with it... That's how much old-school stuff I have! ;)

I keep my VCR around to watch Twin Peaks, seeing as how most episodes still haven't been released on DVD.

Also, I wonder if these DVD figures include things like the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360 or computer DVD drives. The article isn't really clear.

I really hope digital distribution never really takes off, or if it does, physical distribution is still popular. I prefer to own actual copies of everything I buy (which is one of the reasons I'm hesitant to invest in the Virtual Console, besides the high prices).

Star Wars Episode III(2005) was the first major motion picture not to be released on VHS(which also annoyed collectors like me!)

DVD was "inferior" to DivX? The only way DivX was "superior" was in lower price and more options for a viewer who didn't necessarily want to buy a movie or worry about returning a rental. Setting aside the overhyped privacy/dial-in issues, DivX 's fatal flaw in my book is that it did not support widescreen. All DivX movies were in 4:3 aspect ratio, cutting out a big portion of theatrically shown and director-intended film content.