#Philips and CD32
6 messages in this thread
John-
I suppose anything is possible, but I just can't get my mind around it.
First, it would be a double concession of defeat for Philips to kill CD-i
AND buy someone else's product to replace it. Second, it would be
impossible without greatly increasing the price of the product to make it
compatible with old CD-i software. And third, by the time Philips got
everything together CD-32 would no longer be anything special hardware
wise. This would not be a problem if CD-32 had a big market presence, but
of course if that were the case everything else would be different too.
Paul
And don't forget that, if you are not going to kill CD32 you need the
development platforms which is also now defunct from Philips perspective.
I can only see Philips interest in aquiring CD32 as tech info (how did
someone else do it cheaper – can we learn anything from it) and to prevent
someone else from continuing a product that buried their own in a European
market.
wmc – via Autopilot!
Paul, you're being romantic about it: Businesses don't think in terms
of "defeat" and "victory"; they think in terms of "profit" and "loss".
Whether or not they are actually thinking of doing so, there is no
logical business reason why they might not abandon the CD-i for the CD32
(or just abandon CD-i entirely): When was the last time you saw a Sony
Video Walkman? (The VCR, not the "Video Watchman".) Or that portable
CD-ROM Multimedia player they dropped (so fast I can't even remember the
name of the durned thing)?
If Philips truly thought they could "cut their losses" by buying CD32,
they would be first in line at the door (remember that CD32 can play
Philips VideoCDs); and somehow I doubt they'd be very public about it
(last time I checked, Jack Tramiel was NOT working for them, hehe)….
Mr. C (Amiga: Muerte O Suerte?)
Who cares if CD32 is not compatible with existing CDi software? I mean
NOBODY is buying CDi so there is no product out there to worry about. The
number of CDi's stored in my basement, that is why Philips is losing
hundred's of millions on dollars on it. THAT is their strongest incentive
to replaced their product now, why that division is still solvent.
Compatibility is not an issue if nobody owns any CDi software in the first
place.
Grant Boucher – Amblin Imaging
"It's hard to believe grown-ups do this for a living."