It's still in a testing period, which probably means you can have it in a few years... if you move to Japan.

There's still an issue of the latency inherent to satellite-based Internet. I wonder how they plan to address it?

Fixed.

Here is more information on the satellite.

It has two antennas, one for up to approx 155Mbps down and one for up to approx. 1.2Gbps down. For one-way content like websites or movie downloads, latency isn't a huge deal.

Here's the blu-ray problem.

I'm in that camp, myself.

1997 reports that 73 percent of vcr owners "are satisfied with vhs and dont feel the need to replace" their current players."

and then things change!

Well. That. and the fact that they need to send up a "couple" more before it's truly effective, if this one even works.

General Japanese Public won't even be able to use it:

Unfortunately all this does is make me realize how far behind the times the United States is falling behind in the times. Japan is pushing their space program and are planning on inhabiting the moon by 2025.

And i agree with Reaper, i am happy with my DVD's at the moment, even if i was to switch over, i would have a multi-player or a DVD player and Blu-ray player. But i see no need for it now. It will be a long time off.

Most Blu-Ray players (all of the ones I have seen & tested) will play standard-def dvd's as well as Blu-Ray discs, so you won't need 2 players.

Like LPs -> cassettes -> cds, the supply side will drive this. At some point, the distributors will cease making SD dvd's and you will have to buy Blu-Ray.

There are ways to compensate for the delay. Look them up.

So, uh, how are those CD sales doing?

I think they are about as good as Laserdisc right now

Since you seem to know what they are, why don't you produce some sources? All I know is that it takes 240 milliseconds for a signal to travel from the ground to a geosynchronous orbit and back, and that can add up fast.

I'd think people who spent that much money to put a satellite in orbit would have it worked out.

There was barely any difference in picture quality between the two formats. HD-DVD had much cooler special features on the whole and best of all....was region free. The idea of having access to greater choice and lower price by importing my discs from North America was awesome.

With Blu-Ray i'd be stuck with whatever they actually release in the UK, and even then i'd have to pay the equivalent of nearly $50 a movie.

Also the fact that Microsoft used it in some of their technology isnt really a decent reason to outright hate the format. You hate CDs and DVDs too?