DVDs are really popular now. I think the rush started last year around the holidays. The reason for the increase in popularity was simple and predictable. First, DVD player prices approached real world levels. You could get a basic DVD player for around $100 and a pretty good one for $200 or so. But even the basic level player would put out a signal far better than most people's TV sets could receive. Second, the prices of the DVDs themselves leveled off, and settled into the practical range. People will spend $15-$20 (or often less) for a full two hours of good entertainment that they can then watch whenever they choose.
I would much rather buy a $15 DVD that I know I am going to enjoy for years to come, than paying that amount for a music CD with probably only one or two good cuts. Classic films are here to stay - whereas last year's hot CD is in the dustbin. As evidence I would site this year's Grammy Awards. They always emphasize the latest fashionable singer, when there are artists far better who have been around for years and get no recognition. It's all who makes the sales.
I am also quite pleased with the DVD rental service Netflix (www.netflix.com). You order your DVDs on the Internet and they are sent to you in the mail. Works very well, and the turn around time has been improving.
Now, as to why I got on this subject: I think it was very odd and interesting that the DVD standard settled on a disk that is the same size and roughly the same appearance as a CD. There was no technical reason for this - it was probably so that a player could be built that would accommodate both types of medium easily. It's also nice to be able to use storage boxes, etc. for both types of disk. But, this can lead to confusing situations.
One of my daughters came to me the other day with a problem. She had purchased a DVD that claimed to also have some computer content - i.e. you could put the disk in your PC and view additional material, games, or whatever. When she tried it, nothing happened. The PC couldn't even read the disk.
Well, the answer was simple! The player in her PC was only a CD player, but the disk was a DVD disk! Although they look similar, you can't play a DVD disk in a CD player. Now, my daughter had known that she would not be able to play the DVD movie on here PC, but assumed that the computer content would be compatible. Not so!
You can upgrade (buy a DVD player for your older PC), but I don't recommend it, as the PC may not have enough processing power or a video card with the proper facilities.
On another note, I have had some very good online (Internet) experiences lately. I needed some new blank checks, and found that the check company had a website. When I logged on, they knew my check style, bank numbers, and what the next sequential check number was. I ordered the checks on Monday night and had them in my hand on Friday. Very nice!
I also had to make a product return recently. Rather than having to call the company and wait on the phone a long time for a RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number, it was all done online. I typed in the reason for the return, and other data, and had e-mail back within a few minutes with the RMA number. And this was fairly late at night - apparently a fully automated procedure. I packed up the box and off it went. Slick.
Please keep those e-mails coming in. I have had a fair number of requests for columns lately - I would be glad to write about any topic you are interested in. Just drop me a line at bsc@bobseidel.com.
(Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport / Oak Island area. You can visit his website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail him at bsc@bobseidel.com).