CompuServe Messages

Tom, CBM could become compatible with the coming CD-I mainstream, but it would be quite a major change. The video chips and coprocessors are different in many ways. CD-I video doesn't use bitplanes like the Amiga, for example. Conversion could be done of course, but slowly. Digitized audio files should be okay, tho. But overall, it would be like asking an ST to emulate an Amiga… a messy deal at best. I'd be a lot happier if CBM had instead licensed CD-I like so many others have, and put their effort into compatible, cheap machines. Otherwise the home CDROM player market will become like the game/vcr markets… several standards… and someone will lose out over time. CDTV is like if CBM had come up with a rival DAT format. Who would win? CBM or the rest of the world? Certainly early consumers might choose wrongly. So for the CDROM home market, I'd rather see competition in price and addons, instead of in formats. CBM may get a good start, but what about later having to compete against Sony/Philips for the "home appliance" market? Ouch. best – kev