Video Asylum

Posted by petew (i) on March 26, 2001 at 14:41:13

In Reply to: DVD player with SDI output. posted by rpernell on March 26, 2001 at 11:32:07:

The Strategic Defense Initiative was a hot ticket during the Reagan administration, but Bush failed to capitalize on his post-Gulf War 90% approval (according to some polls) and did nothing, hoping nobody would notice that he had been caught red-handed in the Iran-Contra-Dope-Arms-Hostages deal (he was definitely not out of the loop).

Dubya has raised this specter again however--which I guess is why you ask about it. There has been some resistance, not the least because it won't work and nobody can afford it, but a negative cost/benefit analysis never stopped 'em before.

It's a clever idea--funding Star Wars thru Gen X and Y's fascination for home theater and video games. Still, I wonder how many would buy a DVD player that emits particle beams...and if they'd be willing to cough-up $9.6 Trillion for a Sony Playstation????

McDonnald Duckless has manufactured some prototypes, but so far they've failed to hit anything, including the high-end marketplace. It's probably the brand-name recognition issue, and the faceplate--a lime green and neutron-emmitting borated plastic--but it's thick.

Mothra Research is investigating the pruchase of technology licensing rights for application in their balanced powerline appliance. That's just a rumor, but I have it from a source inside the beltline (Raymond Burr).