Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcCunney
Most, but not all. Netflix assumes broadband. There are still places where that's not pervasive.
Paper books aren't going away any time soon, but how much do you believe is saved by dropping the print/bind/warehouse/distribute stages?
|
You need to look at what has happened recently:
- VHS is over and DVD is on the decline.
- Printed newspapers and printed magazines are dying at a rapid rate (there is even a web site that lists dead magazines).
- Harry Potter just delayed the death of the book, at least in terms of the masses. Perhaps the "novel to read while waiting for the plane at the airport" will survive for some time.
- The music industry has reversed the trend from the 50s and to the 70s, and is now individual songs rather than albums.
- Widescreen HD TVs are now the norm and are available for even $99.
and the biggest factor of the last 20 years is
cellphones.
Even working class people in Africa who make a tiny fraction of our income have cell phones.
Eventually all smartphone features will trickle down to average cell phones. Already many people use their phone as their music player.
I can see the Galaxy Tab form factor becoming the dominant device for media 5-10 years from now.