Nick Neg flashback: Why HDTV will never catch on
As a celebration of the magazine turning 15 years old this month, Fimoculous uncovered this little gem from back in Wired's heyday, the very first issue: "High-definition television is clearly irrelevant." That's Nicholas Negroponte, of OLPC fame, making some bold predictions from his inaugural column in the back page of Wired. Sure, his thoughts on user control of when and what we watch really hit home with the YouTube generation, but his lack of interest in resolution seems a bit silly if you've stepped inside a Best Buy at any point this decade. That said, it's certainly worth a quick read before you run to the attic and dive into your archives.
[Via Fimoculous]
[Via Fimoculous]
















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
derek.teslik @ Feb 8th 2008 5:20PM
Snark aside, he was about 80% right on about what's important and challenging about the home media world 15 years later.
TIVO more important than HD? Check. Video over twisted pair copper? Check. etc.etc.etc. I'm more amazed about what he got right rather than what he got wrong...
Dan S @ Feb 8th 2008 5:31PM
Yeah, that sounds about right. 15 years and the analog cutoff seems to be the big push, not the features of the HDness.
Ken @ Feb 8th 2008 7:57PM
Consumers are voting with their wallets, and thats what matters at the end of the day.
As a retailer, people have been frustrated with having '8 HD channels' or even '20 HD channels', but now that there is a mass switch (DirecTV having ~100, including channels you actually watch!) to HD stuff, that is a bit more incentive.
qo_op @ Feb 8th 2008 9:44PM
This guy is just an internet troll, similar to the likes of nfinity or Truthteller
NoK610 @ Feb 9th 2008 12:32PM
He's tripping on acid. Who doesn't want better looking content? Why did everyone jump on DVD over VHS? Oh that's right, the disc was shiny.