Hi-Jack
09-12-05, 00:00
<div>It’s hard to find a player matching your needs and even if you do, it’s more then often not stable or “finished” in the way it is mend to be by now and oh… what kind of prices are they charging for simple hardware just because it is hot/new technology? The different models and features available and the constant moving technology make choosing the right player for you almost impossible. We have thought about this for a couple of days and came to the conclusion today, the best you can buy is a good available model today and live with the limitations until a “real” fully functional solution is provided that exactly matches your needs without constantly hopping the train of the latest… </div><br /><br><strong>The Story!</strong> <br />About 3 years ago the first DivX capable players came on the market and <br />with success. It had the ability to attract thousands of customers that would <br />like to have the ability to watch a downloaded movie in DivX format on PC <br />like a normal DVD instead of using the computer. Formats supported on <br />these players where slim but most files would play ok. After the first few <br />players came the DivX players with Network capability, leaning back to PC <br />usage, exactly “the thing” the first customers wanted to avoid by buying a <br />DivX player. <br /><br />With the second generation of players based on the EM8620 chip, many <br />people thought it would be a revolution again on the market though the <br />EM8620 based players where doomed to fail the big crowd due to everyone <br />already having a DivX player and due to the slim “useable” additions like <br />HDTV (not enough content available) and WMV9 (same thing). Now the 2nd <br />generation players are in the middle of people’s attention, there’s already <br />huge progress made in other chips supporting H.264 and many consider <br />waiting for this player, although content again, is not available. <br /><br />DivX DRM, Video on Demand, features you all pay for today in these <br />players are also not available in Europe or widely spread and one would be <br />able to conclude, people are buying features regardless of them being able <br />to use them or not. One of the reasons is that customers believe they are <br />Future proof now but that’s a case of “ghost thinking” as no one knows <br />what tomorrow brings. Proof is spread widely that ever new player hitting the <br />market is outdated on release and the only thing you get with newer <br />players is some more Quality. <br /><br />Sophisticated players like DP-558 from KISS-Technology have a good <br />concept but poor execution, 2nd generation players like Snazio* NetDVD <br />Cinema HD have a good concept but have limitations all over (H.264, <br />DHCP, HDMI) and don’t use the chip capabilities to it’s full extend. Even <br />players not released today like KiSS DP-600, Trans-Gear DVX700 and <br />Zensonicwill not be able to close the gap we have today between “ral latest <br />technology” and that what the customers believe to be “new technology” by <br />buying a recently released product. <br /><br />If we closely look at what we get with the older models like Trans-gear <br />DVX500 and KISS DP-500 against the latest models, then we can only <br />conclude we get a few more formats which a rare to find/use and better <br />Quality, again with things that are rare (HDTV) in Europe. <br /><br />Mainly Marketing is causing people to have the wrong vision on a product <br />with statements like “HDTV”, “10/100 network” and “Internet Capable”, all <br />of them are only featured if you have access to these types of Media and <br />network, though featured, is nothing compared to the network you know <br />from PC. Beside this, the internet Capability is so limited that it is hardly <br />useable unless for EPG, which then again requires good maintenance to <br />provide correct and up to date info on TV programs etc… <br /><br />Manufacturers are happy with the lack of understanding customers have as <br />they are able to play their marketing tricks on them with full power, causing <br />people to think they get a mountain while they only get a rock without lying! <br /><br />I guess it will never end that anyone has to keep reading between the lines! <br />By the way, to make you even more confused, sooner or later new DVD <br />Types will rule making all expensive players you buy today obsolete… We <br />did not forget about the Blue-Ray stuff and so on, did we now? <br /><br />In the end, it’s fun to have “any” player that can help you play most <br />available files like Xvid and Divx. HDTV, WMV9 and such only means paying <br />more money to have better Quality wile it’s not something different… It’s <br />the same movie… and it’s oh so NOT worth it!! <br /><br />That’s my “official” 2 cents, many will disagree but I guess I’m tired of <br />manufacturers knocking the money out of our pockets with Marketing tricks <br />and telling us what we need while frankly… we don’t need it at all! <br /><br />Enjoy <br />Hi-Jack<BR><strong>Discuss this News Item:<br /><a href="modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6771">http://www.mpcclub.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6771</a></strong>