DVDs still not the common household item?

I remember when there was the big revolutionary boom when Betamax was kicked to the curb in favor of the VHS. In the years to come, it would be superceded by the DVD player. Or is it?

According to a recent reported conducted by Centris, DVD players aren't just replacing the VCR on top of the living room TV set. The DVD technology is permeating numerous consumer electronics products as well as the PC universe. Here's the breakdown as expressed in a press release issued earlier this afternoon...


For the first five years since console players hit the street in April 1997, the focus has very much been on the installed base of these set-top devices, which according to CENTRIS's most recent monthly report in early June 2003 (over 6 years after launch) is 41.7 million households.

This should not be confused with other widely published supply-side industry numbers that reflect unit shipments. This consumer data shows that 25% of the 41.7 million homes own multiple DVD console players. "As the rate of growth in console sales slows --sales do continue as the price drops and multi player households increase -- expansion to the installed base is coming from other platforms, which the studios simply cannot ignore," says Jerilyn Kessel, Co-founder of CENTRIS.

The specific devices are DVD ROM drives in PCs, DVD-enabled video game players such as Sony Playstation 2 and the Microsoft X-Box and the more recent surge of portable (including auto) DVD players. "Growing ownership of these devices expands the DVD console installed base by 45%, to what we refer to as the 'DVD enabled' installed base of 60.3 million households," Kessel reports.

<b>Expanded DVD Installed Base - An Abstract</b>
<ul type="square">
<li> 16% of all households have a DVD console only and no other DVD

devices; 7% have a DVD ROM only, 5.4% have a DVD-enabled Video

Game system only and 2.5% have only a Portable DVD player.

<li> DVD ROM only households really do watch DVDs on their PCs. In

fact, about 800,000 rent at least one DVD each month and about

900,000 purchase at least one DVD each month.

<li> The largest pairing of devices is console and ROM at 8.1% of all households followed by console and video game at 5.1%. From another CENTRIS analysis we know that DVD console & ROM combo owners are the most active in the software market.

<li> Sony Playstation 2 owners are 3-4 times more likely to put a
DVD in their game console than are X-Box owners.
</square>

Many people still have VCRs for recording purposes, and simply do not care about other means of recording, such as DVD recording (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM in either computer or component based use) or PVR recording. Others simply can't see the difference between DVD and VHS, so they do not see a reason to upgrade. I don't think that price is really a big consideration, because there are DVD players that can be had dirt cheap.

Good point, but that may very well change when the PSX launches. CDs are a LOT cheaper I am sure than blank VHS tapes.

Also factor in how many people would rather watch their movies in fullscreen vs widescreen and you'll see a big enough reason to keep the vcr handy.

Plus there's a good deal of households that prefer to rent a video, only to record it for their library rather then to be wasting money on buying new at the store.

I've known enough people who do this to know for a fact. Otherwise giving up the record option would have been easy.

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Originally posted by bahn
Good point, but that may very well change when the PSX launches. CDs are a LOT cheaper I am sure than blank VHS tapes.

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They're cheaper to make, but as far as the RIAA is concerned, we should be spending our life-savings for them.

Man. I HATE full-screen. My friend couldn't understand the difference between fullcreen and widescreen (or at least why I preferred the latter).

Bahn, I agree with you whole-heartedly about fullscreen. Most people don't understand the difference between fullscreen and widescreen other than widescreen having "the black bars". I watched 28 Days Later just a few days ago, and remember thinking how it would be impossible to recreate a certain scene where two characters were talking, and they were both at the edges of the screen. In Pan-and-scan, they would probably have to show one person talking, then switch to the other, etc. In many films, the composition is optimized into one aspect ratio, and it will be ruined when the edges are chopped off.

However, there are some films that were originally filmed in the "fullscreen" aspect ratio, 1.33:1. These usually include concerts and older movies. There probably hasn't been a major feature released for 40 or so years that wasn't in 1.85:1 or wider, though.

The PSX has a DVD burner, right? I just don't see this selling well, because with a 100 GB HD, PS2 drive, DVD drive, etc., it's going to be at least 5- or 6 hundred dollars.

YUP. you hit it right on the head (re: fullscreen vs. widescreen).

I made the mistake by impulsively buying Star Wars: ATOC and getting home only to realize that I got the fullscreen version. I had seen it enough in theatres to know what was cut from the WS edition. Pissed me off and I went back the next day and switched.

It's really annoying when "fullscreen" or "widescreen" is hidden somewhere on the back in small text. Luckily, I haven't picked up the wrong version yet. Heh, whenever I'm looking for a movie and I notice that there are both fullscreen and widescreen in the same rack, I always make sure to stick the fullscreen editions all the way in the back.

I don't think that fullscreen VS. widescreen, is the reason that people have stayed with VHS. You can get VHS movies in wide screen as well. I think it has more to do with the average person, not having a decent theater system to take advantage of DVD.


How often do you see people at Walmart, flocking for the $150, 25" television that only has an RF input. Is that television really going to show any advantages to DVD?

gamevet: That's one factor, but I don't believe it's the primary reason. Besides, if people still have an old TV with an RF unit, there's something wrong :p

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Originally posted by bahn
gamevet: That's one factor, but I don't believe it's the primary reason. Besides, if people still have an old TV with an RF unit, there's something wrong :p

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Yeah, but people buy tons of those 25" televisions, that have no added features and nothing but an RF input. These are the same people, that continue to use VHS and have'nt bought a stereo in 10 years.

I hate those people.

Well, maybe some people got their TV from Craftmatic.

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Originally posted by Tones
Well, maybe some people got their TV from Craftmatic.

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Grandma and Grampa love it!:jest:

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Originally posted by Tones
Others simply can't see the difference between DVD and VHS, so they do not see a reason to upgrade.

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People like that exist?

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Originally posted by voltz
Also factor in how many people would rather watch their movies in fullscreen vs widescreen and you'll see a big enough reason to keep the vcr handy.

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People like that exist?! The only thing as evil as chopping the edges of of source material that was orriginally widescreen is stretching out source material that was orriginally 3:4 to fit a widescreen TV.

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Originally posted by Chibi Nappa
People like that exist?[/i]

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Yes: People with poor vision and also people who just don't know what to look for (they usually seek brightness or contrast).

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People like that exist?! The only thing as evil as chopping the edges of of source material that was orriginally widescreen is stretching out source material that was orriginally 3:4 to fit a widescreen TV.

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Ugh, my old girlfriend (and the rest of her family) always zoomed in on movies that were only available in widescreen. That's why movies were watched at my house.

She better have been fantastic in the sack to make up for that shit...

I'm with 88 on that. Widescreen is for trailer trash, plain and simple.

I also agree with the comment about the RF units being why so many people don't seem to think DVD is that big a deal. Never mind the crystal clean pause screen or the super high speed fast forward and reverse, or the slow-mo. If the picture isn't instantly better on a tv that's basically made of cardboard, clear plastic, and tinfoil then what's the big deal?

So by 200x everyone's tv has to be digital? I keep hearing that yet see no big push towards it...

James

I still hold onto my VCR, and use it frequently, for recording video games and several TV animation programs like Cyborg 009, Sealab 2021, MTV's Spider-Man, hell whatever I feel like taping.

I'm sure most of the stuff I record on VHS can be downloaded, but old habits die hard. When a high-storage format like DVD is made available for everyday TV recording, I'll probably make the switch, but even then it wouldn't be right away.

I love my DVD player (need a region-free!), but it is rather limited in it's practicality.

I need a beta player...

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Originally posted by bahn
Good point, but that may very well change when the PSX launches. CDs are a LOT cheaper I am sure than blank VHS tapes.

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What does the PSX have to do with DVD player penetration?

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Originally posted by Tones
It's really annoying when "fullscreen" or "widescreen" is hidden somewhere on the back in small text. Luckily, I haven't picked up the wrong version yet. Heh, whenever I'm looking for a movie and I notice that there are both fullscreen and widescreen in the same rack, I always make sure to stick the fullscreen editions all the way in the back.

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I never think to look, but I always wind up with widescreen. I definitely prefer widescreen but I won't pass up a cheap DVD I want just because it's fullscreen.

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Originally posted by gamevet
How often do you see people at Walmart, flocking for the $150, 25" television that only has an RF input. Is that television really going to show any advantages to DVD?

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I just bought a $125 24" flat tube TV that has component. Most new TVs have S-video - even low-end ones. However, even people that have access to better video inputs don't use them. I bet the biggest reason that manufacturers cut out the better inputs is to cut down on calls from Joe Idiot when he plugs the composite cables into the component jacks. I doubt cost is much of a factor.

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Originally posted by gamevet
Yeah, but people buy tons of those 25" televisions, that have no added features and nothing but an RF input. These are the same people, that continue to use VHS and have'nt bought a stereo in 10 years.

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I don't think you can find a single new 25" unit without composite input, and I like I said, I don't think you'll find that many without S-Video.

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Originally posted by bahn
Man. I HATE full-screen. My friend couldn't understand the difference between fullcreen and widescreen (or at least why I preferred the latter).

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Once you start watching the movie, you forget all about the black bars :) and they disappear.

I can't STAND fullscreen.

If you have any friends that don't understand the difference between fullscreen and widescreen, you should get your hands on a copy of "A Bugs Life" collectors edition. On disc 2 there is a really cool feature on the difference.

I can't speak for the population asa whole, but RF adaptors for the game consoles are one of the best selling accessories in the EB I wwork at. I sell like 10 of those a week, and I sell about half to two-thirds of the systems going out of my store with RF adaptors. I know this topic is on dvd players, but still, the indication is there.

I'm sure most of the RF adapaters are so kids can play the systems in their rooms without bugging mom & dad.

Bah! All the important people have DVD players.

My thoughts exactly... fuck the rest of you late adopting beatrice.

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Originally Posted by Schlep

I'm sure most of the RF adapaters are so kids can play the systems in their rooms without bugging mom & dad.

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That and over half of the population is over 50. How many of those people are running out and buying DVD players, or even a new television? My parents are in their late 50's. They bought a 25" television around 6 years ago. It was a peice of shit, with RF as the only input.

The TV in my room was purchased in '94 or '95, and I didn't learn that it had s-video until a few years ago.

At the moment, I have three things in my room capable of playing DVD's, and in the house, we have a total of six... we're in good shape.

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Originally Posted by Tones

we have a total of six...

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I only have four. You win.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

What does the PSX have to do with DVD player penetration?

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because Sony's plan is to connect the gaming and electronic entertainment market as one. the PSX is the proof of that aspired reality. in the beginning, their ideas seemed very unclear, until now.

you should have figured this out, genius.

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Originally Posted by Chibi Nappa

People like that exist?! The only thing as evil as chopping the edges of of source material that was orriginally widescreen is stretching out source material that was orriginally 3:4 to fit a widescreen TV.

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My grandparents blow the image up on a non-lbx set -- I taught them how...they have a big ass Sony HDTV and progressive DVD player, but refuse to watch LBX movies...they are now in their 80s and grew up with fullscreen their whole lives, so I can understand their feelings and if they are happy more power to them...

so yes, full screen VHS is still a major selling point...and if a lot of these films were fullscreen they would buy a lot more DVDs than tapes...

For the most part, even videogame people don't know or care about the difference between inputs, cables, etc...people don't realize that they can buy a 25 inch monitor for half that of a TV even at walmart and get RGB picture quality on it (I just got a 25 inch Sony kv-25xbr monitor with an RGB input for 75 bucks)...of course they would need to have someone build the cables for them...but honestly, people just don't think about these things...

As for VCR, I have the JVC s-vhs one (connects through s-video) and use it because I have a huge amount of films on tape, especially Hong Kong films...saves me the need to upgrade...and I can record in s-vhs mode...

As for me, I didn't even learn about LBX vs. fullscreen until I started watching HK films, Jackie Chan in particular. I started reading books and he always does his films in 2:35.1 and you realize that watching his films any other way just doesn't work, because he does a lot of zoomed out wide shots...so from then on I became obsessed with making sure all films I buy are LBX, at least for action anyway, sometimes I make due for other films if I have too...

I've seen the average consumer's TV habits first hand when I was a Satelite TV installer.

This was about 6 years ago, on the cutting edge of DSS (directv) and I would say roughly half of the TVs i came across had at least composite inputs.

I never once, ever came across anyone using them. I cant even remember how many stereo VCRs i saw connected to a TV with inputs via RF (I case ya didnt know, the RF out is mono only)

I had this awsome demo I could do where i hooked the Reciever to the TV via RF and S-Video at the same time, tune the reciever to a blank channel and show the customer the difference in the picture noise alone.

Even after showing these people, I would often go back to add/fix/reprogram stuff and they would still be using the RF inputs. I just gave up after a while.

It's worse when you grow up using RF with a BW tube, that was pretty sick trying to figure out what red and blue looked like.

Even then, my dad also had this kickass stereo with both a record player and 8-track running with several RCA jacks that I could plug in just about anything into. Worked great for gaming, but why the hell did it take so long just for RCA video to come around?