You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
To: Tom Howe <br />
Subject: Re: <strong>CED</strong> Digest Vol. 2 No. 41<br />
Daniel Cayea wrote:<br />
I felt your letter required a reality check...especially for those who<br />
think this idea a valid one.<br />
> The <strong>CED</strong> Future<br />
><br />
> The capacitance electronic disc or ced as it is known has been a long<br />
> forgotten technology to many who were once aware of it. It has long been<br />
> obsolete since it was stopped being manufactured in 1984 by RCA Corporation.<br />
> Although RCA Corporation is long gone, as well with the <strong>CED</strong> dream that the<br />
> company carried, there are however many persons who still have <strong>CED</strong> machines<br />
> and the discs that go with them. They are abandoned, with no one to turn to<br />
> ever.<br />
> Since RCA stopped manufacture and they were bought out by General Electric,<br />
> users of <strong>CED</strong> discs and machines had no place to turn since GE or Thompson<br />
> Consumer Electronics (The GE subsiduary that controls RCA today.) do not<br />
> support <strong>CED</strong>. However this can change and will change if <strong>CED</strong> users join<br />
> together.<br />
How? I have read in the FAQ that RCA expected to sell 500,000 units in<br />
their first year, and sold that many by the time they cancelled the<br />
format. The problems you have to contend with, namely, are the multiple<br />
style styluses used in the various manufacturer's players (I own both a<br />
Toshiba VP100, and a Hitachi player, both use different style<br />
cartridges). Why would RCA want to even consider resupporting a format<br />
that is over 15 years old, and hasn't been sold for more than 10? What's<br />
the point? How many people have junked their players since then? How<br />
many people that respond to the petition will actually buy supplies? The<br />
sole purpose of a company is NOT to supply parts for a hobbiest. Read<br />
that last sentence again. The sole purpose of a company *IS* to make<br />
money. There is little possibility for RCA to make money on the <strong>CED</strong>, in<br />
fact, they never did. Why should they extend their disaster?<br />
> VHS, Laserdisc, and Satellite Television have taken today's market by<br />
> storm leaving little or no room for obsolete medias such as Beta, <strong>CED</strong>, and<br />
> even<br />
> reel-to-reel players an recorders. With these new thecnologies out there<br />
> today<br />
> who wants and old and potentially outdated system like <strong>CED</strong>. Even with this<br />
I think you just answered your question about whether RCA will decide to<br />
support <strong>CED</strong> again. It's about as futile as an owner of a TI99/4A<br />
expecting Texas Instruments to manufacture software for their computer<br />
again.
Change language