Re: Kodak CD (was Re: Noise on my SS4000)

[Arthur Entlich <artistic-1@xxxxxxx>]

Kodak tends to get "excited" about new technologies, and just gets over 
enthusiastic.  They thought this technology would catch fire, but they 
made marketing errors. Had they simply offered to license the reading 
technology to all the audio CD companies for a few bucks per unit, they 
would have made the format a standard for educational CDs, people 
sending pictures to one another (this was all basically pre-web), 
storage of images, etc.  You could hook up the CD-player to a TV via 
composite, RF or S connector, which, of course, would have added another 
few bucks to manufacturing costs on the audio CD players.

I sometimes go into pawn shops and thrift stores just to smile at the 
mistakes some of these big companies have made over the years.  I'm sure 
if you visit a pawn shop now and then you'll find a Kodak PCD/CD player. 
  I think there is one right now still sitting in a local pawn shop in 
Victoria.

I just dug up the original brochures (probably worth a fortune on ebay 
;-)).  The models were PCD 250, 850 and 5850 (that was a multi disk 
unit) They even had a portable model call the PCD 970 which was only 
$499.95! (this is all early 1990's)

They also came up with a system called Flashpix in 1995-6 which was 
going to be THE file format for moving pictures around on the internet 
and for digital storage.

Kodak, at odd times, have made 8mm video equipment and tapes, sold VHS 
tapes under their name (actually the Eastman brand, which was made by 
TDK was a very nice tape), and who can forget the instant film 
technology they "borrowed" from Polaroid (ending it the largest court 
settlement in history as of that time and their having to pay everyone 
who had one of their Colorburst cameras with Kodak coupons)...

Oh well, industry works in mysterious ways...

Art

Carl Grohs wrote:

> From: Arthur Entlich <artistic-1@shaw.ca>
> Subject: Re: Noise on my SS4000
> 
> (snip)
> 
> Anyway, the current status is the CD/PhotoCD players mainly were given
> away in contests, and I occasionally see them in pawn shops, Kodak got
> CD-ROM manufacturers to make multi-session reading standard in their
> drive firmware, and they reduced the licensing and open coded parts of
> the PhotoCD file format, the format became well accepted in professional
> circles, and the rest is history...  If I had 1% of Kodak's losses in
> trying to establish this format and not taking my advice, I could
> probably be retired right now...
> 
> Art
> 
> ***************************
> 
> Very interesting insight into the development of the Kodak CD and associated
> technology. I don't think I have ever heard of the CD/PhotoCD player. Guess
> I just missed it?
> 
> I am amazed at the fact that manufacturers often ignore the suggestions of
> beta testers. Who knows better than informed, experienced users?
> 
> Kodak got greedy,  wanted it all and almost wound up with nothing.
> 
> Warmest Regards,
> Carl Grohs, Jr.    Design Directions    Eden, NC
> 
> Good scan info site:
> www.scantips.com
> List archives:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scan
> 
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