ric wrote:
But this argument doesn't hold water because SACD/DVD-A combo players
also play standard CDs and DVDs (which most people have now.) And hybrid
SACDs play in regular CD players. So, where is the risk?

The risk is that another format comes along that trumps SACD and DVD-A,
or worse yet the formats fade and the "combo" players disappear (look at
what DivX users have to deal with). Then there is the hassle of deciding
which format to buy recordings in (if I buy the CD today will an SACD
version come out in two months?), whether to replace existing recordings
(you know, the ones I bought first on LP, then later bought on CD,
them....), etc.

One other hassle of hybrid players is more and more of them require a
video screen to operate. I don't (and don't want to) own a home theater
setup. My DVD player isn't suitable to be used to replace a CD player
because all of the navigating menus are on-screen. These players are
also SLOW as they have to waste time figuring out what kind of disc they
are trying to read (even my CD recorder is a dog as a player because of
this). Then there is the issue of compatibility with all the OTHER
players I own...can I play them in a boombox, the car, a Walkman, my
computer, etc. If not, can I easily copy them to a compatible fomrat
(CD-R, MiniDisc)?

Multiple digital formats are keeping me out of the stores, I am waiting
until the smoke clears, thank you.

--

Brian Rost
Stargen, Inc.

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