Laserdisc is dead

Laserdisc is dead
Laserdisc, the format from 1978, is now at the end of the road. The Philips developed disc format was originally marketed as Discvision but changed its name to Laserdisc in mid-80s when Pioneer bought majority of its shares.

LD was the choice for many home theatre enthusiasts because of its better quality over VHS and Betamax. However, LD didn't get popular amongst the general public and quickly became obsolete when DVD hit the markets.



According to Akihabara News, Pioneer has ended the production of its all three Laserdisc players. It sold over 3,6 million LD players in Japan between 1981 and 2002.

Written by: Matti Robinson @ 19 Jan 2009 8:47
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  • 28 comments
  • DoomLight

    those laserdiscs were huge! like dinner plate size.

    19.1.2009 09:10 #1

  • BobL

    Imagine the recording capacity we'd have if the 12" disc had become the standard size, combined with today's Blu-Ray recording density (and of course, multiple layers).

    Of course, you'd have to put the media drive under your monitor, not inside your CPU case.

    19.1.2009 09:21 #2

  • Smurff

    didn't know they were still in production, thought they were phased out years ago.

    19.1.2009 10:31 #3

  • Torrs

    I had a LD player and it was great, at the time.

    That said the disc's themselves really suffered from 'disc rot'. I had a disc for less than a year and it became so badly degraded it was unwatchable. Then there was the problem if you had a dual-sided disc. Not all players had auto turn over (my first one didn't) which meant having to get up halfway through a film to turn it over! Bummer.

    19.1.2009 12:18 #4

  • wolf123

    I wants saw a movie when I was in the marines in okinawa in '97 but then I knew they were old because of the size and thought they were gone too long ago because of the DVD.

    I liked the little they have on g4 Laser Disc Duesday.

    Long live the DVD for a few more years at least the BD will take over unless they come up with something that you don't need a disk.


    One thing I can't believe the CD is a viable format still and they still use it. That's out dated too.

    19.1.2009 12:47 #5

  • gallagher

    Originally posted by wolf123: One thing I can't believe the CD is a viable format still and they still use it. That's out dated too.The CD is still good technology. I agree that it is old (1979 I believe), but what are the alternatives? Audio DVD's never really took off, and I certainly don't want my only option to be downloading. Have I downloaded? Yes. But if I like the artist and there isn't too much album filler, I buy the CD.

    19.1.2009 14:09 #6

  • bomber991

    Quote:Originally posted by wolf123: One thing I can't believe the CD is a viable format still and they still use it. That's out dated too.The CD is still good technology. I agree that it is old (1979 I believe), but what are the alternatives? Audio DVD's never really took off, and I certainly don't want my only option to be downloading. Have I downloaded? Yes. But if I like the artist and there isn't too much album filler, I buy the CD.Yeah, cd's just plain work. I've never listened to an Audio DVD, or one of those SACD's, but my guess is you probably can't tell the difference between that and a cd.

    Cd's, they old as hell now but they're still a good size. Small enough to be portable, large enough not to lose them.

    19.1.2009 16:11 #7

  • SamNz

    Quote:Quote:Originally posted by wolf123: One thing I can't believe the CD is a viable format still and they still use it. That's out dated too.The CD is still good technology. I agree that it is old (1979 I believe), but what are the alternatives? Audio DVD's never really took off, and I certainly don't want my only option to be downloading. Have I downloaded? Yes. But if I like the artist and there isn't too much album filler, I buy the CD.Yeah, cd's just plain work. I've never listened to an Audio DVD, or one of those SACD's, but my guess is you probably can't tell the difference between that and a cd.

    Cd's, they old as hell now but they're still a good size. Small enough to be portable, large enough not to lose them.
    if it anit broke dont fix it

    19.1.2009 16:21 #8

  • wolf123

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cd

    19.1.2009 16:57 #9

  • wdtv

    I still watch my collection of LDs. Can't beat the DTS laserdiscs, especially Jurassic Park, great sound

    19.1.2009 21:10 #10

  • jutsu

    btw is LD size is the same as the old, music disc that use needle to play?

    19.1.2009 21:27 #11

  • JaguarGod

    No, those are records. Laser Disc players used a laser to read the disc and the record used the needle. They are the same size, but that's about it. Laser disc is more similar to a CD.

    20.1.2009 00:44 #12

  • wolf123

    It is too live life too the fullest then never lived at all.

    20.1.2009 04:34 #13

  • DoomLight

    imagine...

    the Next Nintendo Wii will use Laser Disc's LOL
    since those cheap bastards will do anything to save money.

    20.1.2009 08:23 #14

  • ZippyDSM

    Originally posted by DoomLight: imagine...

    the Next Nintendo Wii will use Laser Disc's LOL
    since those cheap bastards will do anything to save money.

    Well MS uses DVD9s so they much be cheap too.... :P
    ====================

    I thought LD died when DVD took off?

    20.1.2009 08:40 #15

  • wdtv

    Quote:Originally posted by DoomLight: imagine...

    the Next Nintendo Wii will use Laser Disc's LOL
    since those cheap bastards will do anything to save money.

    Well MS uses DVD9s so they much be cheap too.... :P
    ====================

    I thought LD died when DVD took off?

    A few Pioneer dealers offer North American specification DVL-919s, and a unit purchased in April 2004 had a manufacture date of December 2003. Manufacturing of the DVL-919 continued until January 1, 2009 when Pioneer announced [10] that production would cease after a final production run of 3000 DVL-919 and other model laser disc players.

    The last two titles released in North America were Paramount's Sleepy Hollow and Bringing Out the Dead in 2000. A dozen or so more titles continued to be released in Japan until the end of 2001. The last Hong Kong-released Laserdisc-format movie title was Tokyo Raiders.

    20.1.2009 13:09 #16

  • ZippyDSM

    Quote:Quote:Originally posted by DoomLight: imagine...

    the Next Nintendo Wii will use Laser Disc's LOL
    since those cheap bastards will do anything to save money.

    Well MS uses DVD9s so they much be cheap too.... :P
    ====================

    I thought LD died when DVD took off?

    A few Pioneer dealers offer North American specification DVL-919s, and a unit purchased in April 2004 had a manufacture date of December 2003. Manufacturing of the DVL-919 continued until January 1, 2009 when Pioneer announced [10] that production would cease after a final production run of 3000 DVL-919 and other model laser disc players.

    The last two titles released in North America were Paramount's Sleepy Hollow and Bringing Out the Dead in 2000. A dozen or so more titles continued to be released in Japan until the end of 2001. The last Hong Kong-released Laserdisc-format movie title was Tokyo Raiders.
    Oh gawd if that's what it takes to kill a format lets hope people stopped pressing out discs for HD-DVD.....

    20.1.2009 13:15 #17

  • JaguarGod

    Originally posted by wolf123: Why are you saying records and LD are the same size when we know LD are bigger and thicker.Do you even own both laserdiscs and records?? They are the same size (approx 30cm). Even an LD single is the same size as a 45rpm. You are probably right about thickness, but one would not normally measure the size of a record or LD by thickness.

    20.1.2009 23:55 #18

  • 5882300

    You can absolutely tell the difference between dvd-audio or SACD and regular cd. Unless you're listening on little pc speakers -- the difference is night and day.

    But I agree the CD format just plain works. Mp3, while the ultimate in convenience, is a detriment to quality. I can't wait for companies to start putting more music or discographies on blu-ray.

    As for LD -- I still have an old Sony hooked up. Remember when they made electronics that lasted for 20+ years? Ha, probably not.

    21.1.2009 13:10 #19

  • gallagher

    Originally posted by 5882300: As for LD -- I still have an old Sony hooked up. Remember when they made electronics that lasted for 20+ years? Ha, probably not.I still have my 1989 RCA television. Wonderful quality.

    21.1.2009 14:25 #20

  • bassdog69

    I just gave my 1983(!) Zenith television to my sister (house fire). Still works GREAT!

    25.1.2009 17:16 #21

  • Bluto1841

    I still have six LD players in my junk that are probably still in working condition but are headed for the rubbish bin. I am tired of storing them. They were great but since the disks were limited in content and expensive, the players wound up on the bottom of the junk pile. Anyone want one???

    25.1.2009 21:47 #22

  • Lohdriver

    Any of them Pioneer? Still have my Star Wars & Platoon box sets; plus some Disney stuff. Man, the thousands I wasted on those things.

    25.1.2009 23:08 #23

  • ZippyDSM

    Originally posted by Bluto1841: I still have six LD players in my junk that are probably still in working condition but are headed for the rubbish bin. I am tired of storing them. They were great but since the disks were limited in content and expensive, the players wound up on the bottom of the junk pile. Anyone want one???Suureeee..if you'll pay for shipping :P

    26.1.2009 00:35 #24

  • dbminter

    Funny thing, I was just given a Laserdisc the other day. I've never owned a player but someone I know gave me a still sealed in its shrink wrap Apocalypse Now. I'm keeping it as a novelty. It can join my collection of things like 8 inch floppy discs and etc.


    As for things lasting a long time, my Magnavox TV is still going strong after about 19 years. As was said, back when they used to make products that didn't intentionally self destruct to continue filling corporate coffers.

    26.1.2009 16:05 #25

  • ZippyDSM

    Originally posted by dbminter: Funny thing, I was just given a Laserdisc the other day. I've never owned a player but someone I know gave me a still sealed in its shrink wrap Apocalypse Now. I'm keeping it as a novelty. It can join my collection of things like 8 inch floppy discs and etc.


    As for things lasting a long time, my Magnavox TV is still going strong after about 19 years. As was said, back when they used to make products that didn't intentionally self destruct to continue filling corporate coffers.
    I wonder if they could build stuff to last the way they mass produce and sell things at lower prices, more and more the industry is not built to make stuff to last because they don't make quality components they don't use quality parts,they don't use quality manufacturing processes and its all to shave pennies so the CEOs can stay in cocaine....

    26.1.2009 16:17 #26

  • garmoon

    I'm still using a state of the art Sansui 6500 quadraphonic 4 true channels-amp and four 15" Pioneer speakers(each 70lb wt.) all 1972 and a Dual top of the line turntable also 1972. The amp has one burned out light on the fm dial! 37 years of service. And I acquired my Pioneer SX-770 back from parents that I bought them in 1971 with some 10 " KLH speakers from 1969-40 years old. This all still works fine.



    "Remember some people are alive simply because it is illegal to shoot them"

    26.1.2009 17:31 #27

  • ZippyDSM

    Originally posted by garmoon: I'm still using a state of the art Sansui 6500 quadraphonic 4 true channels-amp and four 15" Pioneer speakers(each 70lb wt.) all 1972 and a Dual top of the line turntable also 1972. The amp has one burned out light on the fm dial! 37 years of service. And I acquired my Pioneer SX-770 back from parents that I bought them in 1971 with some 10 " KLH speakers from 1969-40 years old. This all still works fine.Ya 20+ years ago they made stuff to last with decent parts now a days your lucky to get 5 years out of it.

    I wonder if thats not a reason why the car industry has been falling if it starts breaking down after acoupel years and it has a 5 year warranty they are spending millions on repairs. That with so many dealers and vehicles on the street and new cars in stock at high prices the whole thigns is out of whack.

    We need 5-15K cars that get 50-100MPG that can last 20 years, the disposable nature of the modern consumer will keep them buying new every 2-5 years, plus it would be that much easier to sale more than 1 car to a house hold. The bigger more fancy cars can be sold at 40K+ to help balance things out...

    I mean look at it like this if the tech/gadget stuff we got now was 2 or 3 times its price and lasted as long as it dose now would the industry be able to sustain itself so well?

    Fallout 3 has stole my soul, for about 30 hours till the paint wore off.... even if its a action focused FPS RPG, at least its a FPS RPG not a under deved shooter like Bioshock!

    26.1.2009 17:38 #28

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