Slow Death vs Fast Death

[GregBlu5]

What other dying format ever gave the consumer much consideration before they folded? I've invested in them all: from 8-tracks to cassettes to vinyl records to mini disks to CED disks to laserdiscs.

Without much--or any--notice, inventories declined then disappeared. Retail outlets suddenly closed or changed offerings entirely. And these were from formats some of which had been around for years and been, to one degree or another, far more popular than HD DVD will ever be. Even CED SelectaVision was in existence for five years--HD DVD hasn't come close to that life-span and probably never will. And there were 1,000,000 laserdisc players in America at its most widespread point.

Any consideration HD DVD owners get at this stage is gravy. Manufacturers and retail outlets for other dead formats never treated this consumer with much consideration. Nor did I expect to be treated with much consideration. It's business. If it doesn't sell, it dies.