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DVD Player With DVI Output
ffierling writes "Why are there no big name DVD Players with digital video outputs? With all the available digital displays (LCD, plasma, DLP, etc) and the obvious benefits of an all-digital connection, it's easy to conclude the threat of litigation from copyright holders is holding up the big name manufacturers. So how is it V Inc. can sell their Bravo D1 DVD Player with DVI output? Are they below the MPAA's radar, or just quicker to market?"
Not anymore...
Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
To add an extra output a manufacturer has to incorporate additional technology, redesign circuitry and the backpanel, test the whole setup, etc.
This isn't a fantastic amount to do - after all, this is probably a minor upgrade to most manufacturers - but it is rather pointless if 99.99 percent of your target audience won't even know what the port can be used for, let alone actually use it.
And why spend the time and effort incorporating an $5 (for argument's sake) upgrade if it makes next to no difference on how many units you'll sell? Right now, that $5 pe4r unit is lost profit in what's already a very cut-throat industry.
As DVI is a fairly new development (at least to the average home electronics consumer) it'll be a while before there's a major demand for DVI outputs on DVD players, etc. Gradually though, the major manufacturers will add DVI support, initially at the top of their ranges, then later throughout their catalogues.
In the end, it comes down to supply and demand. Right now, there's very little demand for DVI support. But you can bet the farm that by the time there actually is critical mass demand for DVI support it'll be there across the board.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
No, that's the problem with cartels like the MPAA. People with often accept "good enough" if their preferred features are too hard.
MPAA makes it too hard for consumers to get region free DVD players (yes Geek Boy, your PC will do it just fine with DeCSS), and even out-of-region DVDs are very hard to find off the shelf, due to their strongarm tactics against stores renting them. Most folks will just go and rent something in-zone from their local, and play it on the DVD player they bought locally too.
I think your free-market faith is a little misplaced. Traditional market forces don't really apply when the market is essentially controlled by one supplier.
Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
Until a large percentage of TV's start having DVI input, DVI output for consumer grade DVD players (or any other video player) is pointless from the economic standpoint.
In addition, component optical output is already far and away high enough quality to render the need for DVI moot.
The only TV-class displays that I know of which feature DVI inputs are flatpanel LCD and some flatpanel plasma displays... which are far more expensive than I can justify when compared to a comparably priced rear projection or CRT set.
I browse Slashdot at +3, Funny
SGtHT did a review with a couple of DVD players using DVI. Their conclusion: for 480p it just doesn't matter.
When DVD's are 720p or 1080i, then it may.
Whenever the offence inspires less horror than the punishment, the rigour of penal law is obliged to give way...
Kind of like how DVDs support "optional" encryption?
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