LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Dear LM_Netters:
I had such a huge response to this panic attack that I decided to compile
the answers into a HIT. To summarize, seven people are waiting and eight
people have started investing in DVD's. Detailed responses below:
Waiting to Buy:
-> I am talking from an elementary school perspective, but while budgeting
for next year, I figured I should add a DVD player. Then when I looked
into what was available educationally--there was nothing much out there
but recent commercial movies based on books and none were more than just
"entertainment." Though I know it's only a matter of time before everything
on video will be transferred to DVD and I expect videos will go the way
of the dinosaur. And even DVD's too. Don't you think eventually everything
will be available through some kind of internet access?
-> VCR's aren't going to disappear as fast as turntables did. we just
bought a new DVD and VCR for home. we tape a lot of TV and the technology
for taping DVD is still in the Beta/DHS stage and too expensive. VCR's
are so cheap now (as well as DVD players) that you can afford to have
both. There are combo VCR/DVD players available also.
-> This is probably a good thought to have! While you probably don't
actually need to panic : ), because videotapes will be around for several
more years, they definitely will disappear in the not-too-distant future.
The DVD is only one reason for this. (According to electronics industry
statistics, the DVD player has been the fastest-adopted new device in
the history of the industry.) But the longer term reason is Digital Television.
Soon your TV shows will come in as a digital signal, and you may be capturing
shows on a hard drive or server or TIVO-like device rather than with
a VCR. We have actually been advising our school districts to consider
digital TV in their 5 year plans for technology. It's a little hard to
tell what the timeline will be, because the digital transition is happening
right now (stations are required by the FCC to broadcast digital this
year) but there are still some technical and political problems to be
ironed out. We have a Web site for Wisconsin teachers with some information,
but nothing really specific about what to buy or not to buy!
http://www.ecb.org/digital
-> I'm in a very small private school, so I won't be switching yet.
If parents donate enough DVD players, I might start converting, but not
until that happens.
-> Currently the only DVD's available seem to be entertainment types
of movies, which are not allowable for use in schools as per the copyright
laws regarding using school time to show videos for rewards, etc. I'd
wait.
-> I'm waiting on the DVDs until there are some educational DVDs produced.
I imagine that for a few years we will continue to use both DVDs and
videos.
While DVDs are wonderful, is there enough product on DVD that you need
that would justify purchasing a player? I'd try to not put the cart before
the horse on this one, but DVD players can now be had for little more
than VCRs. The only real difference between any two is added features.
VCRs aren't going anywhere too soon. They are too prevalent a technology.
-> Yes, we need to get DVD's but the problem is how many DVD's are there
that are educational- curriculum based? So I'm waiting till there are
more DVD's available. I bought laser discs and no one uses them......
Buying DVDs:
-> I've purchased one DVD player. We only have one DVD so far, but I
plan to buy more of them.
-> I have asked my admin. to buy DVD players and I just ordered some
DVD programs for them. In my opinion DVD's are here to stay. The quality
of the picture is so much better. Some educational programs are available
on DVD.
-> Like the advent and popularity of the VCR, I don't think we have
much choice. I just ordered some DVD players because the teachers are
asking why we don't have them; this after outfitting the entire building
with wall-mounted VCR's! I am currently moving what AV kits I have left
(yes-we still use them) and taking the videotapes out of their cabinets
and moving them to shelves in the Media Center Office. I'm making room
for the DVDs, too. We see that we will be ordering the DVD format more
and more.
-> My last purchases were a combo VCR/DVD players. Very popular with
the teachers. I think for time being you will need both. The teachers,
here, like DVD format - esp. when they are showing segments.
-> I am in the process of ordering DVD's instead of VCR's where possible
because all of the DVD's are close captioned which is a plus for our
hearing impaired students. The DVD's also do not degrade as they are
used - and they don't get ruined by old VCR players. I do have 3 DVD
players in our school so we are at the beginning stages of moving in
that direction.
-> While you need VCRs to play the tapes you already have and to record,
I think it would be great to get at least one DVD player. There isn't
as much available to play on it yet, but the great feature of the DVD
is that it is divided into chapters or tracks like a CD. You don't have
to sit and rewind/ff to find a certain place. If you want to show a certain
scene from a certain movie, it can be accessed instantly, a real plus
if you've ever mis-cued a tape and felt foolish rewinding in front of
a restless class.
-> We have both, and use both all the time. Our new language arts adoption
includes DVDs, CDs, audio tapes, video tapes, software on floppies. The
whole range.
-> Interesting question. I'm responding because this has been on my
mind too--for personal reasons (I don't teach in a classroom anymore).
I just bought myself a DVD player for home. I had to replace my CD player,
and I figured that it would be more cost effective to buy a DVD player,
run that through my stereo, and use the DVD player as both a CD player
and DVD player. It's working great so far. If you also utilize audio
technology at school, then you might be able to benefit from this same
thing--DVDs can play both DVD for video AND CD for audio. So you might
be able to kill two birds with one stone.
On the flip side, you can't get "everything" on DVD yet--since it's still
a new technology that hasn't hit critical mass yet, you won't necessarily
be able to find all that you're looking for on DVD. So, you probably
still have greater flexibility with VHS. Still, we all know that the
future is DVD and VHS will become a has-been, just like Betamax, 8-track,
and vinyl. Another thing to consider though, is when will this happen?
Think about Tivo--I'm sure the technology to do Tivo has existed for
a long time. But, go back 10 years...and VHS had hit critical mass and
was in its heydey--so marketers and manufacturers weren't going to buy
into a tv that could basically do the same thing.
I don't think it's coincidence that at roughly the same time that DVD
started to push its way into the consumer market, Tivo started to become
popular. VHS machines are going to fade out not only because of DVD technology,
but also because of Tivo. Once the developers of Tivo saw the DVD revolution
on the horizon, they knew it was a good time to market their invention.
Well, this has become quite wordy, but I guess in the end, I'd say go
DVD if you can because it will take over the market. If you've got a
couple years and then you'll be upgrading again, maybe staying VHS will
be ok.
Thank you for all of the responses!
Sincerely,
Susan Myers
Not panicking anymore ;)
--
Susan Myers
Chesnee High School Librarian
Virtual Reference Desk Volunteer
KidsConnect Volunteer
http://www.spartanburg2.k12.sc.us
rudimyers@onebox.com - email
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