| The general public has been slow to adopt the newest | | | | by the wayside. |
| technologies such as Blu-Ray , solid state drives, and | | | | Looking towards a newer medium such as portable |
| even high definition flat screen televisions in large part | | | | flash drives, called thumb drives, to replace DVD and |
| due to the cost of these emerging technologies. In | | | | CDs will not be a realistic achievement until every |
| recent years the other factor has been that computer | | | | electronic device that handles any type of computer or |
| and electronics standards have continually changed | | | | electronics signal is standardized and able to accept |
| with no signs of becoming stable. No one wants to | | | | this format. This won't happen until every major |
| invest in technology that will be obsolete or | | | | manufacturer of televisions, computers, smart cell |
| incompatible with the majority in a month. Because of | | | | phones, any hand-held PDA, and even telephones |
| this instability and incompatibility in the electronics and | | | | come together to unify and agree to utilize the same |
| computer field, there are few universally accepted | | | | standard interface and technology. While this goes |
| choices for backing up or distributing any and all media. | | | | against capitalism, anti-trust, and anti-monopolistic |
| Hard drive manufacturing technology has not changed | | | | attitudes, it is the case. While this would greatly |
| in well over 15 years. The only basic differences today | | | | facilitate consumers adopting the newest technology |
| from 20 years ago is that better precision and larger | | | | and usher in a new era of communication, it would |
| capacities have been achieved. Hard drives though are | | | | eliminate potential profit lines for every manufacturer. |
| still just for mass storage and not for distributing | | | | The profit makers are the accessories that every |
| information to the masses. | | | | piece of electronics can use. Without one standard, |
| DVDs and CDs have enjoyed worldwide success in | | | | consumers are forced to buy additional drives, plugs, |
| promoting and conveying information to businesses, | | | | adapters and so on in order for one device to |
| schools, libraries, government agencies, etc. With the | | | | communicate with others. This would be akin to |
| large majority of individuals having access to a | | | | shooting your own foot. |
| computer at home or library, many employers and | | | | A leap forward in technology is needed in storage and |
| individuals have relied on CDs and DVDs for training | | | | information transmission which is affordable, reliable, |
| materials or personal media for friends and family. This | | | | and adopted by the masses. Cloud computing is that |
| has been the case for 15 plus years and will continue | | | | next potential, but has not been proven to be as |
| at least for another 15 years. The DVD and CD is the | | | | secure or reliable as the DVD or CD. Until that point |
| only mainstream medium that has enjoyed such a long | | | | has been reached, it can be safely said that DVD and |
| duration other than the printed word. Cassettes, Vinyl, | | | | CDs will continue to enjoy widespread success for |
| 8-track, mini-discs, zip disks, floppies, etc. have all gone | | | | years to come.. |