Re: Stereo's Future

[P3D Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>P3D Michael Kersenbrock wrote:
> 
> > Add that it has to store data internally as well.  *Requiring* a cord
> > to a computer won't make aunt Mildred happy taking photos at the Zoo.
> >
> 
> eg. Agfa e307 - stores 36 frames at 640x480x16M


The digital camera to take over the world that I was commented on
was to be better than film is now.  640x480 is nowhere close.  The
memory to store a 40 mega-pixel image is likely be a bit more than
a hundred times larger which means with the same amount of
(flash?) memory as the Agfa, it'd store only about a third of ONE image.  :-)

Intel's new "di-bit" flash will reduce costs, but not by a hundred fold.

> 
> > Do you *really* think someone is coming out with that camera for a couple
> > hundred dollars (maximum retail price) anytime soon for the  mass
> > consumer market?  That's the current competition.
> 
> eg Agfa e307 - $300 US and dropping

Even the ~1 Megapixel DC120 camera is about $800 street price, and
it's nowhere near being better than film for general purpose use.

> 
> The viewing system is essentially solved, a 3d video card and $100 or so
> glasses. They are virtually all 640x480 capable of 3D imaging.

Aunt Mildred, and everybody is going to have to have a computer and glasses
to look at their snapshots down at the zoo?  Ick!

Right now one holds up the paper print and looks at it.  IMO a new system
has to be roughly equally easy to use or as commonly used. 

Recall that the proposal that was made was to *replace* current uses of
all non-digital cameras in the consumer market.

I agree with your comments that cameras like the Agfa and other digital
cameras are something that'll have a place and something that in some circles 
will be very popular even in the short term.  However my posting consisted of 
comments about someone else's proposal that a better-than-film camera would be
coming soon at consumer-prices (which is at the $250 and down level nowdays).
My general response was "I don't think so".  I wish it were true, but 
I doubt it.  Not at that price level or quality level -- and not 3D until the
viewing issue is solved.  Not soon.  Ten years maybe, but not soon.

But then, maybe to some people twenty years from now is "soon".  :-)

Mike K.


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