Laser Disc, introduced in the 1980s, went over like a proverbial lead balloon, leaving VHS in control of the market until DVD drove VHS out of the picture in the 1990s. Why did DVD succeed while Laser Disc failed?
Another great question would be why did VHS win over Beta? Laser Disc WAS superior over VHS and it also WAS comparative in price with higher end HiFi VHS recorders. The thing that tipped the scale I think was the fact that VHS is recordable while Laser Disc is strictly a playback technology.
I have two laser disc players, by the way. They make great boat anchors but are a little bulky for door stops.
8 comments
Comment by wires on March 13, 2010 at 5:20 am
My opinion, the laser disc was to big and expensive.
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Comment by Darell R on March 13, 2010 at 5:48 am
DVDs are much easier to store and contain the same if not more information.
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Comment by gp4rts on March 13, 2010 at 6:33 am
There are three reasons:
Image quality and features. The digital image on DVD is better than the analog recording on laserdisc. The large storage capacity of the DVD allowed the addition of the special features that make DVDs so attractive to own.
Size and convenience; the DVD is the same size as the compact audio disc, which was widely accepted by the time DVD was introduced.
and, most important: Industry support. There were never more than a few manufacturers of laser disc players (really only Pioneer) and their prices never came down to mass market levels. But the widespread industry support of DVD both from hardware and software (movies) suppliers ensured the success of the DVD. Besides, it seems that the public was ready for a new format; the timing was right. The laserdisc was introduced just as VHS was reaching the height of it’s popularity and had to compete with that.
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Comment by cost cutter on March 13, 2010 at 7:03 am
timing + cost + tech. = why LD failed.
The timing 1980’s the cost of LD was higher than the standard VHS. DVD’s are much easier to produce which in turn keeps production cost down.
We also live in an age where to get the new STUFF on the market is cool, DVD’s are able to provide more than the VHS so people had to have it. Recent advances in DVD tech means that they have become smaller, cheaper and more realible with better picture than LD’s.
Therefore the failure of the LD system i believe is only due to the timing of its release, if it had of been released at the same time of DVD’s than there is the chance that we would be looking at a consume battle similar to that of nintendo and sony playstation.
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Comment by mrknositall on March 13, 2010 at 7:34 am
Another great question would be why did VHS win over Beta? Laser Disc WAS superior over VHS and it also WAS comparative in price with higher end HiFi VHS recorders. The thing that tipped the scale I think was the fact that VHS is recordable while Laser Disc is strictly a playback technology.
I have two laser disc players, by the way. They make great boat anchors but are a little bulky for door stops.
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Comment by pbmaze on March 13, 2010 at 8:10 am
well, marketting is a big thing. but who knows.
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Comment by richard r on March 13, 2010 at 8:31 am
i owned laser disc infact i have about 100 titles right now the reason is cost a ld cost about 50. amovie dvd cost 24.00 at the time so money was the big factor people are cheap not really wanting to pay alot for a great pic
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Comment by booboo on March 13, 2010 at 8:49 am
Well first the laserdisks were big, they were expensive, and you had
to flip them over half way through the movie, like an audio LP.The
VHS tapes came out around the same time, they were smaller and
all you had to do is pop it in and sit back and relax.Also they didn’t
offer the selection of titles that the tapes had.
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