SCENARIO: What if Beta, Laserdisc, and Divx all succeeded? Where do you think our so called "HD media software" war would be at today? Would we have seen HD-Divx versus Blu-ray? Would we have seen HD-Divx versus HD-DVD? What HD media software products could you see invented if VHS and DVD never succeed? This should make for an interesting thread. This all just for fun and speculation. It kind of makes you wonder though.


I say bring on the Laserdisc camcorder!!!! :D

I don't think the success of Beta and Laserdisc would have adversely effected the market too much. Beta would have been a suitable substitute for VHS, and I don't think consumers would have cared. Even had Laserdisc been a success, I have a feeling DVD would have still come out. With the popularity of the CD (and VideoCD internationally) I think a DVD-type format would have been inevitable. So that brings us to DiVX. Just for the sake of argument, lets assume DVD still survived as a niche format akin to Laserdisc (in the real world). So there would still be some limited DVD support for special collector's editions. Most of the public would be happy with DiVX. Once they hit critical mass, all DIVX discs release for $1.99 MSRP, but commonly go for $.99 at Walmart. There is a $.99 charge on a pay-per-view basis. Blockbuster begins losing rental revenue, so they begin focusing on DiVX disc sales and phase out the traditional model. In 2004 Blockbuster expands and includes retail CEs such as flat screen TVs and 1080P upscaling-divx players. In 2006 Apple releases the iTV and it is a smash hit. Customers, already acclimated to the pay-per-view model, view digital ownership as a big selling point (ie watch it as many times as you like). In 2007 Phillips and Panasonic release a HD-DIVX format which holds 42GB of data. HD-DIVX is a huge flop, while digital downloads become the norm for some years. In 2011 the first holographic television is released by Sony. There isn't yet any content available until 2012, when the PS4 releases in stunning 5D graphics. The Xbox720 also comes out in 2012, but supports an alternate holographic format incompatible with PS4. In 2014, SkyNet goes online.

Lololol

How about a Laserdisc camera for your photographs too? :D

Personally, I think DIVX was the worst idea ever! It would never work for me. I'm too casual about my discs... If I had to pay anything in order to watch them, I'd be bankrupt in a month.

And I believe the DIVX disc changers would be the equivalent to ATM machines in reverse!! :D

the home entertainment market would be about as big as the HAM radio market.

How did laserdisc fail?

Actually, I don't get the question. The only one were lucky didn't hang in there was DIVX, and that had nothing to do with the format per se, but rather studios absurd greed in wanting to make us shell out over-and-over again.

Laserdisc was a success - it managed to survive for a couple decades and was THE format for discerning movie lovers.

I don't think the success of Beta and Laserdisc would have adversely effected the market too much. Beta would have been a suitable substitute for VHS, and I don't think consumers would have cared. Even had Laserdisc been a success, I have a feeling DVD would have still come out. With the popularity of the CD (and VideoCD internationally) I think a DVD-type format would have been inevitable. So that brings us to DiVX. Just for the sake of argument, lets assume DVD still survived as a niche format akin to Laserdisc (in the real world). So there would still be some limited DVD support for special collector's editions. Most of the public would be happy with DiVX. Once they hit critical mass, all DIVX discs release for $1.99 MSRP, but commonly go for $.99 at Walmart. There is a $.99 charge on a pay-per-view basis. Blockbuster begins losing rental revenue, so they begin focusing on DiVX disc sales and phase out the traditional model. In 2004 Blockbuster expands and includes retail CEs such as flat screen TVs and 1080P upscaling-divx players. In 2006 Apple releases the iTV and it is a smash hit. Customers, already acclimated to the pay-per-view model, view digital ownership as a big selling point (ie watch it as many times as you like). In 2007 Phillips and Panasonic release a HD-DIVX format which holds 42GB of data. HD-DIVX is a huge flop, while digital downloads become the norm for some years. In 2011 the first holographic television is released by Sony. There isn't yet any content available until 2012, when the PS4 releases in stunning 5D graphics. The Xbox720 also comes out in 2012, but supports an alternate holographic format incompatible with PS4. In 2014, SkyNet goes online.

I actually had a genuine LOL on the bold comment, good stuff.....

Laserdisc was a success - it managed to survive for a couple decades and was THE format for discerning movie lovers.

Laserdisc was born in 1978. Died in 1998. And was successful as a niche format to the movie enthusiast. About 1 million players were sold and well over 8000 titles were released. It was used as the first consumer purchased HD media as Hi-Vision in Japan.

And guess what? Yep - started as a format war. RCA was pushing CED against Pioneer with LD

I don't think DIVX would ever make it. The idea was just insane.

If betamax beat VHS. It would be like now. We might have had D-BETA rather then D-VHS

As far as laserdisc. It would be great to see MUSE laserdiscs today. Their would have been a huge library by now and who know the discs and players may have been affordble and have made it to the US.

As far a SD LDs vs DVDs I don't think they would have ever beat DVD but prehapps if a few of the advancments came a bit early it may have lasted a few more years in the US.

The winner of a format war really doesn't have any bearing as to where we are today. Time marches on and new formats appear to replace old formats. New technology advances also. What we have today will not be the same thing we have 20+ years from now. That seems to be life of a format. Just goes to show that technology really doesn't move as fast as people think it does.

SCENARIO: What if Beta, Laserdisc, and Divx all succeeded? Where do you think our so called "HD media software" war would be at today? Would we have seen HD-Divx versus Blu-ray? Would we have seen HD-Divx versus HD-DVD? What HD media software products could you see invented if VHS and DVD never succeed? This should make for an interesting thread. This all just for fun and speculation. It kind of makes you wonder though.


I say bring on the Laserdisc camcorder!!!! :D

If DivX had won I doubt there would have been any studio support for Blu-ray, except Sony, as the studios would have a pay per view disc that they would not want to give up.

Laserdisc was a success - it managed to survive for a couple decades and was THE format for discerning movie lovers.

I agree it was a success but ONLY to a niche crowd, but it was a pretty damn huge niche crowd. The point I was making was success as in VHS or even DVD type of success. I can't even count on 2 hands of how many people I know even owned Laserdisc.

I agree it was a success but ONLY to a niche crowd, but it was a pretty damn huge niche crowd. The point I was making was success as in VHS or even DVD type of success. I can't even count on 2 hands of how many people I know even owned Laserdisc.
Yet, they never "hurt" VHS by co-existing (I had them). In fact they "developed" into DVD in terms of pushing better quality, commentaries, & correct aspect ratios.

Yet, they never "hurt" VHS by co-existing (I had them). In fact they "developed" into DVD in terms of pushing better quality, commentaries, & correct aspect ratios.

Also:

Anamorphic transfer
Dolby AC-3 (latter renamed DD5.1)
DTS
HD (in Japan)

Just think if MUSE laserdisc made it to the USA. We might have had a 10 year run of HD movies already. Their might have been a few thousand discs by now.

DIVX I just can see how that could have ever worked. I made folk get a phone line just to use the thing. Prehapps it would have devloped into wi-fi or have built in cell phone modems which would allow the use any were. But if it gained the popularity of DVD I'd guess servers would crash with new movies all the time. When a few million "phone home" at 7pm to watch a movie. So I just don't see how it could be allowed to exist.


What if D-VHS took off. Again we may have had a good set of movies out buy now. Their is a good list. But just think it may be a few thousand as well buy now. Recorders would have commponet or HDMI in that would allow you to record from modern cable and sat boxes.


If Beta had done things right wed just be in the same boat as it was much like VHS. Being it was a taped based format. It did look better and could sound better. But I think the same results would have happened beta would have died like VHS did. as DVD has proven.

I think its going to be tough to replace DVD. Its byfar the most popular format. Many many more folks have good size collections

If DIVX had done better, it would have been the rental format of choice. I cannot see it beating DVD out completely. However, there was no DVD rental model in place when DIVX was announced and one was rushed into place. Let's say they don't rush it and DIVX has no rental style competition when it comes out. For one thing, half of DIVX's "exclusive" studios would not have canceled their exclusivity before the first DIVX player hit the market.

Eventually the DIVX security would be cracked, mod chips would appear and the DIVX platform would die, souring studios on a split format model.

What if Beta, Laserdisc, and Divx all succeeded? How would things be today?

It would be just like if multiple game platfoms had succeeded. Could you imagine having to choose which game platform version of Madden '08 to buy? There would be some developers creating exclusive titles for one platform and other for another platform. Some platforms would have better technology, but others would sell better because of price. We would have to debate what it means if one game platform held a higher market share.

It would be utter chaos.