| If DVDs weren't so easy to navigate through, I'd go back to VHS because the discs are so easy to wreck. |
To be fair, DVDs aren't that easily ruined if people practice somewhat simple safe handling techniques:
- Always handle discs from the edges (hold the edge of the disc, not the surfaces of the disc)
- Always return the discs to their proper containers after you are finished watching/listening to them
- Don't handle discs after getting greasy or oily substances or sticky substances on your hands/fingers
That's all relatively simple stuff and yet the common folk among us seem to ignore the common sense in those simple rules. The number of people I see handling discs by the surfaces, with grimy fingers, is pretty high. Much higher than it should be.
For whatever reason people were convinced early on that DVDs and CDs were damned near indestructible when that is definitely not the case. Because of that, though, people have always seemed to be less than careful in their handling of discs.
With all of that said though, there is absolutely no way I'd ever want to go back to tape. Tape media sucks. It stretches, breaks, and doesn't hold up near as long as does good optical media does. There's also (as noted) the lack of ability to navigate through the materials as easily. With optical discs there's almost instantaneous access to materials, where with tape it's sequential and takes seemingly forever to get to the proper points.
| I think congress should pass a law to do just that! Then we will see how well the MPAA and RIAA like to be terrorized! |
I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell of ever having Congress do something like this, but I really wish they would. Fair is fair. Mandate an effective replacement availability program or open and legislate once and for all a fair use policy that allows archival backups and makes illegal any copy protection method that doesn't permit a customer to make their own backups.
As noted, I don't have a problem with being told that I have to pay to replace damaged materials, but I absolutely should not have to pay for a complete new copy of something just to get the replacement for one part of it. The discs cost so little to manufacturer, and even with a small labor charge to honor the request, and a reasonable charge for shipping and handling in a mailer that would protect the contents, the fees should still be in the $5.99 range at the worst. Even if the fees had to be as high as say $7.99 or $9.99, at least it would be better than paying $39 - $89 (or more) to get a new copy of a set that you have one damaged disc in.
