Bill Gates Speaks Out Against Next-Gen DVDs

jZnat writes "Although we all know that Microsoft hates Blu-Ray, Bill Gates doesn't seem to like HD-DVD either. Primarily, it seems, because Mr. Gates believes media storage on hard drives is likely to be the default standard sooner rather than later. From the interview: 'Well, the key issue here is that the protection scheme under Blu-Ray is very anti-consumer and there's not much visibility of that. The inconvenience is that the [MPAA] got too much protection at the expense of consumers and it won't work well on PCs. You won't be able to play movies and do software in a flexible way.'"

Comments

How far wrong is he?

[Derg]

Come on. 60 gigs in less space than a twinkie. I cant see this prognostication being that far off, except that its ironic he makes claims about being anti-consumer while pushing his own flavor of DRM down our throats. *sigh*

Re:Storage on hard drives

[mysticwhiskey]

DISTORBUTION - (n) A corruptive distortion-like field generated with the intent to imbue the subject with a sense of acceptance.

Re:Wow

[ebuck]

I believe that his "angle" is that a very large corporation which is directly responsible is releasing a new operating system who's only major advertisable feature is a new media player.

So, it might do Bill some personal economic good to talk about how the future of film / media distribution will not use the DVDs/HDVDs/Blu-Rays but will use hard disks, which will only be enjoyable with a media player. And since this corporation has such market penetration and will be giving away said media player pre-installed, such perceived needs only move to drive the perceived need to adopt this (so-called) new operating system.

And I didn't even have to add in the DRM angle.

Re:No it isn't

[n0-0p]

I think MS can just see the real implications of Blu-Ray and they know it's a danger to them (and consumers in general). I don't think MS is being altruistic here, it's just that this time the general good happens to coincide with their goals. I've talked to a few people involved in DRM work at MS. They say that MS is only supporting DRM to appease content providers. From their point of view it limits their capabilities and doesn't really buy them anything. However DRM is the only way to get content providers to play ball.

Now the real danger in the whole Blu-Ray issue is this. The DRM model for Blu-Ray is extremely restrictive and especially wouldn't play nice in a PC type environment. Also, Blu-Ray is a closed spec that must be licensed, so any deviation from this DRM model risks legal action by Sony. The content providers like this because it's a model with legal and/or technical barriers at every link in the chain. However if Blu-Ray really becomes the preferred format for HD media we risk a situation where Sony gets final say in all HD content distribution because they own this heavily restricted standard. So in the end Blu-Ray would become a monopoly coup for Sony and fair use would be seriously crippled in the HD world.

So I'd prefer HD-DVD mostly because it's an open spec that is by nature more consumer friendly. Of course, it also helps that HD-DVD will be significantly less expensive and available for large-scale production in the near term.

Re:Storage on hard drives

[shmlco]

"If I slave away coding for 12 hours a day and seven days a week to meet the deadline for a project, do I get paid millions by my employer? Of course not."

Of course not. Because you, quite simply, are easily replaceable. There are, quite literally, millions of people ready, willing, and ABLE to do what you do.

I notice you conveniently failed to mention that there are highly paid developers and software types who've made millions of dollars creating things that people want and need.

In ANY profession there are people in the top tier, and then there are those who simply do the grunt work. For every multi-million dollar actor or actress there are 10,000 more who do minor roles, bit parts, commercials, or stand in as extras.

And forgive me, but your comments strike me as equal parts envy and jealousy: "How dare society consider those people as being better than I am. How dare the world reward them for their efforts and ideas and abilities, and ignore mine."

If you're slaving away for 12 hours a day, perhaps YOU'RE the one who didn't make the right career choice...