From: ganoe@sde.mdso.vf.ge.com (Ganoe Craig)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: CDTV is dead.
Keywords: CDTV CD-I
Date: 21 Aug 92 04:01:06 GMT
Organization: GE M&DSO - VF

In article <kdarling.714139821@garfield.catt.ncsu.edu>, kdarling@garfield.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling) writes:
> philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough) writes:
> >>My question is: why would you even _want_ to mention CDTV?   CD-I has
> >>the better technology, much more backing and longterm planning, and
> >>is certainly a helluva lot more likely to evolve in a timely manner.
> >
> >This is not obvious. CD-I has the SNES connection while CDTV has the 
> >Amiga one. Do people want a unit that can be easily turned into a computer?
> >If yes, then CDTV has it all over CD-I. As far as the better technology,
> >this may be true now in certain areas. It won't be when MPEG arrives. 
> 
> Which part didn't seem obvious?
> 
> CD-I has the better base design for its purpose; no arguments possible.
> 
Please give your argument, I'll give mine:
  In favor of CDTV:    
    - has a parallel port for those who want to connect a printer

    - has a RS232 port for modems (including FAX) and other serial devices

    - has MIDI in and out connections for MIDI devices and CD+MIDI capability

    - supports the addition of a genlock for home editing capabilities

    - has a slot for a personal memory card

    - supports other storage devices such as an external floppy drive and with
      an expansion card can support SCSI devices

    - promised Photo-CD and FMV MPEG capabilities (this would imply better
      graphics capability in the future)

    - based on the time tested A500 and expandable into an Amiga computer
      a machine known for its multimedia abilities

  In favor of CD-I:
    - has better graphics capability

    - has Photo-CD capability

    - promised FMV MPEG capabilities

I think I slid that argument slightly in CDTV's favor hardware-wise, but to be
honest, if it really comes down to a battle between CDTV and CD-I, software is
what is going to make all the difference. Right now there is nothing truly
impressive on either side. I've heard about some soon to be released CDTV titles
that may have some potential, but they're not here now and I've heard the same
for CD-I. I'd think that having the Amiga available as a development platform
would have to make a huge difference from a software standpoint. Also if 
developers took advantage of CDTV's hardware advantages listed above. Like
a video edit title to go with the genlock, a FAX/telecommunications title
bundled with a FAX modem, and a MIDI title. I think some new CDTV titles are
on hold to make sure that they are compatable with the hopefully soon to be
released A570 drive.

> CD-I has more backing; it's already benefiting from competition within
> manufacturers:  the Japanese players which have been shown are fancier than
> the Philips' player.  And as you know, Philips, Sony and others are (or soon
> will be) in competition with color LCD portable players.  
>
Still haven't seen any of these yet.
 
> CD-I has more longterm planning.  First off, Philips helped Kodak create
> Photo CD, and PCD discs include CD-I player code.  That's thinking ahead.
> Second off, even further longterm planning is already in effect, with phone
> companies working on discs with Yellow Pages (business ads/ service lookup),
> publishers doing magazine supplements, GTE working on background TV disc cues,
> you name it.  Their plan is to eventually make players a must-have common
> item by ultimately making their usefulness widespread and easily apparent.
>
Commodore should and may be doing some of these things too. Some things, such
as Yellow Pages would be more likly to show up in a format usable by all CD-ROM
drives. Businesses already have computers with CD-ROM drives, software
companies will take advantage of this first. Commodore has done work on
Photo-CD for CDTV even though CD-Photo format is just now being released.

> CD-I will evolve: already most people believe that CD movies will become
> available shortly.  That takes money and connections (Philips' Polygram
> just bought another Hollywood studio, btw).  Moreover, Philips has been
> heavily involved in HDTV research, and already makes digital TV chips.
> Heck, Sony went to the trouble a while back of making their own MPEG
> decoder just to try it out in a handheld CD-I movie player.
> 
> Do you really believe that Commodore will (or can!) invest even a fraction
> as much effort and longterm planning??  If so, I've got a bridge for sale :)
>
CDTV will evolve too, and it has an additional advantage here. Any work put into
CDTV benefits the entire Amiga community. How much longer can Philips support
(fund) an effort that is showing no return. I agree though, Commodore could use
some more long-term planning, effort into third party support, and advertising
in the places that CD-I does.

As for movies, I've said this before, no one will spend $900-$1000 for a machine
that plays movies in VHS quality. Most people already have gotten that quality of
equipment for 1/3 the price and they can record on it too. By the way, how are 
they planning on putting sound on these movies? I'm sure we're going to lose
quality there too.

> As for turning into a computer, if that's important (and I don't think so,
> but) how will CDTV stand up to that rumored (;-)) Tandy PC based CD-ROM box?
> 
Haven't heard about it but would like to.

> CDTV isn't competition to CD-I.  CDTV is mostly competition to other Amigas.
> Speaking of which... if I were Commodore, I think I'd add a disk drive bay
> to my next CDTV model.
> 
I'm not sure about this one. With MPC and the soon to be released Macintosh CD
machine, the entire market for this type of machine may change. But if that's
what it comes down to, CD-I won't sell at all. Software companies will run to
support these formats and people will upgrade their computers to use this
software. 

> kevin <kdarling@catt.ncsu.edu> <76703.4227@compuserve.com>

Craig