APS is not CD

[P3D Paul S. Boyer <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It was recently written to this list the incredible statement:
"Just because APS meets no need doesn't mean that the Camera
companies can't
shove it down the public's throat. I think that most people were
quite 
happy with their LP's before the music industry united to introduce
the CD.
Everyone had to buy all new equipment, re-buy their old records, etc.
in what
many consider an inferior format. (much like we think of APS now)
CD's
energized
the industry for about 6 years, and now it's experiencing a terrible
slump...

-E in NYC "

Come now!  I am known as the most crusty person around, and don't
like to be outdone, but I am afraid that I cannot match the above
statement in its technological backwardness.  I have done comparisons
of the same recording on vinyl and CD, and the CD wins hands down.
No dust pop, so scratch sound, better dynamic range, better
high-frequencies, no needle-wear, pretty and colorful interference
patterns on surface.  CD is a big improvement.
APS is basically nonething much new.  As people have pointed out
here, it is like other failed attempts.  The thing which really
defeats it is the old loading problem has been largely solved in the
better cameras of today.

In its history, Kodak has introduced *many* film formats which have
come and gone.  Only a few survive today: basically, they are
120/220, 35 mm, and 4x5 sheet film.  There are a few others, but they
account for almost no market share.  Thinking long term, I would not
invest in an APS camera except as a throw-away with no more that a
five-year life-span, for APS will probably be gone by then.  But
there are more cheapo cameras available in 35-mm format, so why
bother?

What it boils down to is that these big-company executives are not
always as smart as they ought to be.  The only thing that can save
them with APS is if the buying public is similarly foolish.  (I guess
that that is always possible!)

--Paul S. Boyer  <boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[Does *not* have a vinyl-ROM player on his Macintosh.]


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