The Bill Zone Editorial - The Truth about Divx's Facts, Not Chat

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Site created 12/15/97.

page updated: 12/6/97

The Truth about Divx's
Facts, Not Chat

Have you read the new improved Facts, Not Chat on the Divx web site? It ought to be called The Facts We Want You to Know, But Not The Whole Story.

They speak in excited tones about the support of Disney, Dreamworks, Universal, and Paramount... but neglect to mention that each of these studios was paid millions of dollars in advance as a 'signing bonus' to get their support. And according to information leaked from inside the studios (and reported recently in Video Business and other articles), the supporting studios have little confidence in the format's success... they simply couldn't pass up the cash.

They also speak of the fact that Divx players will only be $100 more than regular DVD players. But according to industry insiders (including Larry Pesce, DVD product manager at Thompson Consumer Electronics), the real cost will be $200-300 more initially. Unless of course, Circuit City decides to pay the manufacturers millions in advance to 'absorb' this price difference. Which wouldn't surprise me at all.

They mention that there will be a recycling plan in place, if Divx discs sell in sufficient quantities to warrant it, to alleviate environmental concerns about their disposable discs. Gee, Divx collection/recycling centers anyone? I guess all of those people who hate going back to the rental store at 11:55 PM to avoid late fees, will just love making the trip to the Divx recycling center! Unless Divx plans to send out it's people to collect the discs, or pre-pay the return postage to allow people to mail them back.

Divx claims that theirs is not a separate format, only an enhancement to DVD. They may say that, as their players will still play standard DVDs, and Divx is based on DVD, it's all part of the same format. This is double-talk. Divx is a closed format. Divx discs do not work on standard, open DVD players. Period. That makes it a separate format. Current DVD players will also play Audio CDs (and some play Video CDs as well), but that doesn't make them the same format does it? Early adopters accept that new features will appear and that they will eventually have to upgrade their technology. But Divx is not part of the DVD standard. It restricts access to DVD software, first by actually denying compatibility, and second, by creating a system where the participating studios could release their newest, hottest titles only to Divx. They may appear on open DVD months later, if at all. To the extent that DVD owners are prevented from playing new software, Divx represents a betrayal to consumers.

Many of you may have noticed that suspicious pro-Divx posts have been appearing on a number of Internet DVD forums. Some of us are beginning to believe that this effort is, in fact, sponsored by Divx, to try to sway public opinion.

But, there is simply no way to avoid the tide of negative opinion about Divx. One needs only to read the latest issues of Video, Home Theater, Stereo Review, Popular Mechanics, PC World and a variety of other magazines, to see that Divx is not welcome in the home theater marketplace. Many more articles can be found on the Internet, all overwhelmingly negative. And in recent polls by E-Town, MSNBC and others, Divx lost hands down to regular DVD.

Divx says their discs will not 'self-destruct', and we are all misrepresenting the truth by saying that they will. OK, I confess... that's true. Divx discs wont vaporize into a whiff of smoke, like all those briefings to Mr. Phelps on Mission Impossible. They will just 'self-disable', making them worthless unless you pay again. And again. And again. Divx coasters anyone?

Does Divx offer any picture improvements over DVD? No. What about audio? Nope. How about the extra goodies that are starting to appear on DVD, like behind-the-scenes documentaries? Sorry, you won't find them on Divx. In fact, you wont even find letterboxing or 16x9 enhancement on Divx. All their releases will be Pan and Scan! Surely Divx offers some added benefit over DVD, other than just not having to return the disc to the rental store? Nope. Most of us, who have examined the facts, just can't see any benefit to consumers. Other than having to pay again and again, to watch movies we've already purchased.

What? Divx says that's not true... you can just upgrade the disc to Divx Silver or Gold and watch it whenever you want. Hhhmmm... can't we do that now with a regular DVD? Still don't see much benefit.

The bottom line is this: you can call it Divx if you want to, but where I come from... folks use it as fertilizer.

Oh, one last thing...

NOTE TO DIVX: We understand the facts about Divx just fine, thank you. Any 'clarifications' you may offer are just candy-coating and spin control. Divx still stinks.

Bill Hunt, Editor
The Digital Bits

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