John Q. Computer Doesn't Want Broadband? → I gotta say something...

"Promotion of broadband does tend to bash cable modems vs. DSL to the point where a lot of people think that one technology is going to win out over the other - like VCRs over Betamax. "

Hmmm. I can't even think of a snappy comeback to that. How about "Wonder whatever happened to that old VHS format?"

But, the debate between different types of high speed is preventing people from choosing high speed over dialup? Now that I have it, I'll fight tooth and nail before going back. I tend to agree that pricing is a problem, but once the pricing model is figured out, and the infrastructure more soundly in place, I think people will flock to BB...

Just my 2 pennies!

Actually, beta never died- it was improved and is used in commercial television.

There are those that may want to argue that commercial use products are identical to those popular in the consumer world- or that pricing is adjusted simply BECAUSE they are popular in commercial vs. consumer, but I will go to venture that the commercial industry has the cash to PAY for the "better" items (ie: beta videotape or in the data world, SONET and Frame Relay technology) and sees a need for them (therefore creating a market for those items). The commercial industry is concerned with quality and reliability over cost whereas the consumer market is more concerned with cost and the household budget than quality or reliability.

Every product and market shows this pattern. For instance, while consumers are satisfied with a small side by side fridge/freezer, how many consumers have walk in "coolers" in the house?? None. How many consumers have convection ovens? Very few.

While Dolby Digital and DTS technology is very cheap recently on home theater recievers, how many consumers own one? Few- most don't have a home theater set up- and if they do, it probably isn't set up properly. Movie theaters, however, have DD and DTS in every theater. And I have yet to see someone with a soda fountain in the house- even at their "wet bar" in the basement.

It isn't an issue for consumers to want to pay the cash, so they don't buy it. Companies therefore market their products to the clients they serve- it makes no sense to put out walk in coolers and soda fountains at home appliance stores because .5% of the consumer world wants it (and can't conceive why no one else does because ALL their friends want it too).

Boogie74

I tend to disagree with your argument. There is a tremendous amount of FUD in Cable and DSL. What makes this different then Beta vs VHS is the end user does not have to invest in the infrastructure. I have Verizon DSL today. If Cable becomes a better deal in my town I have no conversion cost. My router does not care about Cable vs DSL.

Fact:
Beta won out over VHS as far as CONSUMERS are concerned.
Fact:
DVD, while spreading fast, has NOT won out over VHS.
Fact:
DSL and Cable are different technology, but the same concept.
Fact:
Not all consumers care about the "new". Most consumers care about what's:
1 - useful;
2 - logical;
3 - a value for the money;
And not necessarily in that order, either.
For example, take color TV. It's been accepted, why? It's useful, because it's more physically appealing than B&W; it's logical, because why watch black and white when you can get a color TV nowadays for about the same as black and white; and it's a value, for the same reason above.

DVD will never fully catch on because there are too many people concerned about the price of the players and the DVDs. Why pay $250 for a player and $30 per DVD, when you can pay $60 for a VCR and $9.99 per tape. That's a DRASTIC savings, and a lot of penny pinchers plan to take advantage.

Like I said in my other long post, broadband will never fully catch on, because there is no logical use for everyone. Elderly who send occasional email to family or instant message have no need for high speed. Families who work so much they don't have time for the internet don't need high speed.
The only people who actually WANT and need high speed are tech-heads, like myself; persons in business; high end users (web hogs), and gamers. That trend isn't going to change, and no matter what Microsoft tries to do with @home, broadband will never become the next color TV.
And that's just the way it is.

said by revelated:

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"Fact:
Beta won out over VHS as far as CONSUMERS are concerned.
Fact:
DVD, while spreading fast, has NOT won out over VHS."

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I agree with the point that most consumers won't get BB until it's perceived to be cheaper. My original point was that the article was a little skewed in it's sentiment. The comparision it made was akin to asking "Do I want a car or do I want a Ford?"

said by revelated:

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"DVD will never fully catch on because there are too many people concerned about the price of the players and the DVDs. "

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and that will hold true for BB...for now. Most don't care about the argument between dsl and cable - most care about the cost argument between dial-up and BB.