I recently wrote an introduction to native XML databases article for xml.com. My main point there and it applies to this discussion too, is that native XML databases are a tool like any other. For some jobs they're right and for some they're not. I've been working on the technology in the form of dbXML for about a year and a half and in some cases it's great and in others it really stinks. It's all about the right tool for the job.
It's easy to dismiss a new database technology as irrelevant because of the dominance of the RDBMS, but you should really learn more about it and when it is appropriate and when it's not. It's not going to replace relational, and isn't intended to. Here's a few links where you can learn more beyond what's available on Ronald Bourret's site mentioned in the original post.
Dual layer hybrid SACD discs can be played in regular CD and DVD players with no problem. You do not get improved sound but you can still play the disc. But if you think MP3 is good enough then don't bother with SACD you won't see the benefit.
Also have you heard SACD? If not then how can you even begin to judge whether it is or is not that much better?
Of course they can, you can get very good quality speakers starting at roughly $300 that will sound noticably better when listening to SACD if you have an interest in quality reproduction. Obviouslly the more revealing the system the more noticable the improvement from SACD becomes but even on modest systems the difference will be noticable.
DVD Audio is a new and incompatible format and will not play in existing DVD players. However, the first discs coming from Warner will have a dolby digital layer on the disc along with the DVD-Audio layer that will allow them to play in DVD-Video players. If you do this though you are not listening to DVD-Audio and do not get the increased fidelity. The same applies to SACD, hybrid SACDs have a CD layer and an SACD layer and play just fine in regular CD players. But again when you do this you do not get increased fidelity.
Slashdot Mirror
It's easy to dismiss a new database technology as irrelevant because of the dominance of the RDBMS, but you should really learn more about it and when it is appropriate and when it's not. It's not going to replace relational, and isn't intended to. Here's a few links where you can learn more beyond what's available on Ronald Bourret's site mentioned in the original post.
The XML:DB Initiative
The dbXML Project (open source native XML database) Soon to become an Apache XML project named Xindice
eXist (another open source native XML database)
My blog on the subject.
Kimbro Staken
Dual layer hybrid SACD discs can be played in regular CD and DVD players with no problem. You do not get improved sound but you can still play the disc. But if you think MP3 is good enough then don't bother with SACD you won't see the benefit. Also have you heard SACD? If not then how can you even begin to judge whether it is or is not that much better?
Of course they can, you can get very good quality speakers starting at roughly $300 that will sound noticably better when listening to SACD if you have an interest in quality reproduction. Obviouslly the more revealing the system the more noticable the improvement from SACD becomes but even on modest systems the difference will be noticable.
DVD Audio is a new and incompatible format and will not play in existing DVD players. However, the first discs coming from Warner will have a dolby digital layer on the disc along with the DVD-Audio layer that will allow them to play in DVD-Video players. If you do this though you are not listening to DVD-Audio and do not get the increased fidelity. The same applies to SACD, hybrid SACDs have a CD layer and an SACD layer and play just fine in regular CD players. But again when you do this you do not get increased fidelity.
Too bad Wadia just went out of business. You might be able to find some Wadia gear quite cheap though.