3 ms·

This is just a function of the inevitable decline of custom hardware information storage vs software information storage (where hardware is fungible, could on t

This is just a function of the inevitable decline of custom hardware information storage vs software information storage (where hardware is fungible, could on the cloud, locally or a mix of both). CDs have finally declined to the levels of hobbyist collectors of vinyl and will soon go to 0 as the reader hardware dies out (as did many hardware formats before it). Vinyl will stay around probably for a long time as a curiosity as the hardware is relatively simple - our kids of a small record player which works on the same principle and it is actually fascinating as a concept - you can see the data stored as bumps in the plastic records. There really is no reason for CDs to stay around, they are neither attractive nor convenient and haven't been for a decade at least.

Cthulhu_ 4y ago
But the same ("there really is no reason for CDs to stay around") was said for vinyl and casette tapes before; given that these are now having a resurgence, I don't think you can be as absolute about CDs. That said, I don't see minidisks making a comeback any time soon, but then their timing was very unfortunate - only just before the much more convenient MP3 players.
- grey-area 4y ago
  Can you even buy new cassette players? You still haven’t given any reasons I’d want a cd. Vinyl I can see the attraction as the players are pleasingly simple, these other formats, why bother? I can’t see use outside very niche cases.
  - iggldiggl 4y ago
    > You still haven’t given any reasons I’d want a cd. Not universal reasons to exclusively buy only CDs (because I haven't done so either), so I guess it might fall under your "niche cases", but 1. Some gapless live albums have been released online (both downloads and streaming) in a broken fashion, so getting the CD is the only legal way of getting a non-broken digital release. 2. Occasionally even a new CD costs less (!) than the digital download. 3. Vinyl albums are of course unmatched in terms of cover art, but even CDs are usually still a step above purely digital distribution – sadly the practice of including the cover booklet as a PDF or something like that is far from universal. While of course ultimately the music is the main thing, with a number of albums missing out on the full cover art and/or liner notes is still somewhat of a shame, because they're interesting/funny/informative/part of the complete art package.
  - crtasm 4y ago
    Yes, the mechanisms are poor quality though.

Cthulhu_ 4y ago

But the same ("there really is no reason for CDs to stay around") was said for vinyl and casette tapes before; given that these are now having a resurgence, I don't think you can be as absolute about CDs. That said, I don't see minidisks making a comeback any time soon, but then their timing was very unfortunate - only just before the much more convenient MP3 players.

grey-area 4y ago
Can you even buy new cassette players? You still haven’t given any reasons I’d want a cd. Vinyl I can see the attraction as the players are pleasingly simple, these other formats, why bother? I can’t see use outside very niche cases.
- iggldiggl 4y ago
  > You still haven’t given any reasons I’d want a cd. Not universal reasons to exclusively buy only CDs (because I haven't done so either), so I guess it might fall under your "niche cases", but 1. Some gapless live albums have been released online (both downloads and streaming) in a broken fashion, so getting the CD is the only legal way of getting a non-broken digital release. 2. Occasionally even a new CD costs less (!) than the digital download. 3. Vinyl albums are of course unmatched in terms of cover art, but even CDs are usually still a step above purely digital distribution – sadly the practice of including the cover booklet as a PDF or something like that is far from universal. While of course ultimately the music is the main thing, with a number of albums missing out on the full cover art and/or liner notes is still somewhat of a shame, because they're interesting/funny/informative/part of the complete art package.
- crtasm 4y ago
  Yes, the mechanisms are poor quality though.