In article , Robert Casey
writes:

Makes you wonder why that videodisc system bombed, but DVD
succeeded. Other than being "digital" they are not that
different...

When the various videodisc systems appeared, they all shared some common
weaknesses. They couldn't record, they and the discs were big and expensive,
the selection of movie titles was very limited. Most of all, you had to buy the
discs.

The first VCRs were a success primarily as a way of time-shifting favorite
programs, avoiding commercials, and building up a library of favorite
programming. The popularity of VCRs created the video rental store industry,
which meant that you didn't have to buy every movie you wanted to see.

Then mass production and changes in the movie industry reduced the cost of
tapes, so that buying them became only a little more expensive than renting.

Meanwhile, the music industry went from vinyl records to CDs and cassette
tapes.

So when DVDs appeared, the market was more than ready for them.

When my early 1980s CD player finally gave up the ghose some time back, I got a
player that does both CDs and DVDs. A twofer.

No porn avaliable may have had something
to do with it ;-)

Actually that industry was greatly affected by the invention of camcorders,
VCRs and now DVD players. A friend of mine says that much of modern
electronics, from computers to digital cameras to the internet, is heavily
driven by that particular industry. He has a whole list of humorous
translations of various modern acronyms.

73 de Jim, N2EY