Compact Disc Turns 26, Has a Bright Future

javipas writes "The Compact Disc was created 26 years ago, but apparently it is as healthy as 15 years ago, when computing versions of this format (CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW) made the market explode. Nowadays CD has been replaced in some segments, but not on the music industry, that continues to support it massively. The shy return of vinyl and the absence of real competitors make CD's future very bright, so it seems this birthday will not be by any means the last one we celebrate. Happy birthday!"

Re:Absence of real competitors

[obergfellja]

since I am only 26, I have to ask, is there anything before CD's?

Re:Absence of real competitors

[tristian_was_here]

You mean like was there anything before DVD's?

I head about VCR's but I believe that's only a legend.

Re:AOL Coaster CDs

[east coast]

Damn right it's not the same way but they sure are a lot of fun if you own a shotgun, someone to pitch them like a Frisbee and some #7 bird-shot shells.

NOT as healthy as 15 years ago

[Anonymous Coward]

I bet there is some occasional unexplained knee pain. And for some reason, compact disks can no longer eat bananas without violent diarrhea.

It's like dog years.

[Wandering Wombat]

Well, it's 2600 in computer years...

Re:26th?

[gstoddart]

Who the hell celebrates a "26th" anniversary?

Someone who has already celebrated a 25th, but hasn't reached a 27th.

Seriously, I don't know about you, but my birthdays and anniversaries happen every year. The coolest parties happen on the ones divisible by 5, but people do acknowledge them as they happen.

Cheers

Re:26th?

[Jason Levine]

Who the hell celebrates a "26th" anniversary?

You do if you've been married to your wife for 26 years. Or you won't be celebrating a 27th anniversary.

Re:26th?

[backbyter]

It's a digital Silver Birthday.
1st=0, 2nd=1, ..., 26th = 25

Re:26th?

[rkanodia]

Who wouldn't celebrate the Polycarbonate Anniversary? There's lots of good ones around there. You know. 24 is Neodymium, and 27 is Jungle Camouflage!

Re:Explain this to me.

[MPAB]

Too bad AOL stopped giving away media before flash cards replaced CDs.

Re:Absence of real competitors

[MightyYar]

So YOU'RE that guy in the next apartment! Honestly, I thought you were slaughtering sheep!

Re:Absence of real competitors

[value_added]

Forget not the humble 8-track tape!

I've tried. That, along with mullets and a few other things. ;-)

I have a few hundred of them (before you call me old, examine my UID...I'm 17).

Congrats! Since you're old enough to drive, it's time to start saving up for that used Firebird to go with the 8-track tapes. Alternatively, a fully decked-out van would work, though if you live down south, an old pickup truck might be more appropriate.

Re:Absence of real competitors

[Nullav]

A small Laser Disc or something. It'll never catch on.

Re:The shy return of vinyl?

[TheOldSchooler]

But can I get the latest Hannah Montana in vinyl? That's what I really want.

Re:Absence of real competitors

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Uhhmm I think this is in the wrong place. By your comment history, it doesn't look like you are a troll and you actually did post on topic a few minutes after this. So, I was wondering if you'd mind sharing how it came to be that this was posted on this page. And most importantly: are you sure the gas was turned off before you posted?

Re:Absence of real competitors

[Just Some Guy]

Sadly greed killed off DVD-Audio and SA-CD.

Yep, but you're wrong about which kind of greed [wikipedia.org]:

SACD has several copy prevention features at the physical level which, for the moment, appear to make SACD discs impossible to copy without resorting to the analog hole. These include physical pit modulation and 80 bit encryption of the audio data, with a key encoded on a special area of the disk that is only readable by a licensed SACD device. The HD layer of an SACD disc cannot be played back on computer CD/DVD drives, nor can SACDs be created except by the licensed disc replication facilities in Shizuoka and Salzburg.

Overpriced media that I can't copy or digitally rip, and that is locked in a deadly stranglehold by a tiny cabal of manufacturers? Sign me up!

Fanboy logic

[2short]

Apple does everything first.

As long as you don't consider computers not made by Apple.

Re:Absence of real competitors

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

Audiophile kool-aid? How much? I just bought some tubolator [altmann.haan.de] for my opamps and some cool volumne controls for my stereo and I'm looking for a beverage that can enhance the experience further. [referenceaudiomods.com]