Reader Comments on Aardvark Daily 19 December 2002

Note: the comments below are the unabridged submissions of readers and do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.
 

From: robert rozee
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: cheap DVD players - guess what is inside...

a number of people i know have bought cheap ($200-$300) DVD
players in the past few months. almost every one has either
been a disappointment or outright broken down.

problems have ranged from intermittent front panel
displays/buttons, graunching noises from within, refusing
to play some types of disc (usually CD-R or VCD), distorted
or delayed sound, loss of colour, etc. the faults have been
so varied that the problems can only be put down to bad
assembly, not design faults.

last week i was asked to look at the internals of one of
these players - it had decided it would only play some
DVDs. despite the fact that it didn't work, it was a very
tidy piece of engineering. nicely laid out, on the left was
a switchmode power supply, on the right a small logic board
about 3"x4" which also contained the rear-panel
connections, and in the middle was...

a stock standard IDE interface DVDROM drive!

standard right down to the 40-way ide interface cable
(leading off to the above mentioned logic board), digital
and analog audio connectors (unused), and the usual three
configuration (master/slave, etc) jumpers.

given these cheap players are becoming so popular, and in
many cases are replacing the CD player in many home stereo
systems, what does the future hold for music CDs? given
that within a year almost EVERY home will have one of these
cheap DVD players, i feel the situation is far WORSE than
you think!

perhaps the government could act on this situation - after
all, we now have legislation to protect the theatre
industry from DVD parallel imports, why not legislation to
protect consumers from this new incompatibility between
_most_ new CD playing devices and the latest CD 'format'?




From: Dominic
For : Right Of Reply (for publication)
Subj: The truth is coming out....

This latest action from the cd manufacturer's is a sign, I
think so anyway, that the recording industry has come to
terms with the the fact they can't stop file-sharing.

The industry is also revealing what it feels is its only
recourse for making money: force you and me to buy a new
player.

Aardvark, I remember an article you wrote  - way back now -
where you suggested the recording industry shifts it
revenue focus to organising concerts, where money is made
from ticket sales.

Obviously, this isn't attractive. It's interesting to see
how the recording industry continues to have the comfort to
be picky about it's survival.

Also, the recording industry is the most vocal about music
sharing. With the exception of some very well known
musicians, hardly any have commented on this matter.

I am keen to find out why??




From: Bryan
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Copyright Act proposed changes

Currently, dowloading a song which you already have the CD
for and/or transfering the song from CD to minidisc is
illegal. (Sony will happily sell you minidisc players, but
not mention this, despite the fact that they are a record
label as well. I guess the expect you to make your own
music to put on your minidisc.)

But the Ministry of Economic Development has just released
a position paper
(http://www.med.govt.nz/buslt/int_prop/digital/position/index.html),
on the proposed amendments to the Copyright Act,
based on the submissions received. Format shifting (making
a copy in a different format, say from CD to mp3/ogg for
personal use only) is likely to be made legal as it is
already widespread.
(http://www.med.govt.nz/buslt/int_prop/digital/position/position-08.html#P359_99803)




From:  T H
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Sony

I won't be buying a Sony dv camcorder this year because of
your artical.

I will get either Cannon or Panasonnic.




From: Paul
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: 

Dominic said
"Aardvark, I remember an article you wrote  - way back now -
where you suggested the recording industry shifts it
revenue focus to organising concerts, where money is made
from ticket sales."
Isn't this the only way that the ARTIST has of making money?




From: Mike
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Copyright Act needs to go further

Brian is quite correct, the discussion paper  to
look favourably at Format Shifting. The MED should also
consider allowing us to make a same format backup as well.
With the price of Windows, Autocad, Photoshop and most
current high-end games equivalent to half an arm, I will
not purchase any software without making a copy 5 minutes
after getting home, particularly in a house full of young
children. The BSA et al (who also say I am a pirate for
doing this) say you can't do this with a car so why should
you make a copy of your software?

Arguments like this are spurious, if I break my car I can
take it to the garage and get it fixed (even if it is half
the cost of a NEW car)... but all the software & music
companies will do is laugh and tell you to buy a new CD at
full price.

Its called Protecting my Investment, why should I pay for
the same product twice? This applies to everything
including my car, software, music, toaster. In the USA
these rights are guaranteed (even though under attack by
the DMCA and the entertainment industries) under
their "Fair Use" laws. We have no such protections in NZ -
its about time we did.




From: Peter
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: "copy protection"

In the editorial today, you cover how the music industry
appears set on applying "copy protection" to all music CDs
and to DVDs.  Of course, this won't stop illegal mass
copying, and will only make it difficult or impossible for
paying customers to actually enjoy the entertainment.

In the long run, I think this is actually a good thing.  The
recording industry has consistently shown it wants to stay
in the past, and not move with advances in technology.  It
is better for society if these old corporations are finished
off quickly, rather than carry the burden of pulling them
into the future, dragging their heels all the way.

People will always enjoy music and visual arts, and will be
willing to make reasonable payment for this.  Those old
recording corporations just got in the way and milked off
revenue that should have gone to the artists anyway.

Looks like a bright future!

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