CompuServe Messages

Bob, >> It's likely that Kodak will boot Philips, who helped them gain entry to this market, as soon as they can. No, it is not. Philips and Kodak share much of the technology and the patents are intermingled. However, each member of the team has responsibilities. Phililps decided to use software to display Photo CD images, and they design that software. Kodak decided to use an ASIC. When people ask what to buy, a Philips CD-I player or a Photo CD player, my answer always has been to decide what is more important. If the increased multimedia functionality of a CD-I player is more important, then the CD-I player if the choice, but Photo CD capability will suffer. If Photo CD is more important, and the absence of motion and FMV (which the CD-I player have) is acceptable, then the Photo CD player is the best choice. I am sorry that you are not happy with the CD-I player's playback of Photo CD images. Still, Philips can adjust the software to make it work better. They have upgraded it once that I know of, since the first introduction of Photo CD, and they can upgrade it again. It still would be wisest to deliver your message to Philips, to encourage them to upgrade their software. Philips is active in the Multimedia forum, where there is a CD-I section. Andy Davidson is one of the Philips employees. Perhaps you should contact him. Andy has always been very helpful and friendly to me. I am sure he will accept your suggestions gracefully. Regards … Paul