[ NNSquad ] Re: nnsquad Digest, Vol 2, Issue 201

[Ben Kamen <bkamen@benjammin.net>]

> Message: 3 Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:59:38 -0600 From: Brett Glass
> <nnsquad@brettglass.com> Subject: [ NNSquad ] Re: Comcast's New "Two
> Strikes and	You're	Dead" Internet	Usage Policy -- and More To: "Bob
> Frankston" <Bob19-0501@bobf.frankston.com>, <nnsquad@nnsquad.org> 
> Message-ID: <200808301500.JAA09900@lariat.net> Content-Type:
> text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> At 10:29 PM 8/29/2008, Bob Frankston wrote:
>
> > What nonsense saying ?The Internet is NOT an effective delivery
> > mechanism for HD entertainment??
>
> This is absolutely correct. It is insanely wasteful to transmit
> content millions of times -- once to each recipient -- rather than
> broadcasting it. What's more, digital transmission requires far more
> resources than the analog transmission of yore, and requires 100%
> accuracy to produce a good picture. (Analog signals degrade
> gracefully; digital ones do not.)

This is true, but then it's not exactly VoD. So while you're right, that's not the point. I think you 
missed the differentiation of effective vs. efficient.

The internet is *effective* for delivering the content.. 
It's just not as *efficient* as a single channel broadcasting to millions simultaneously.

> > Remember when the internet was not a way do voice communications?
> > Now it is far better than the PSTN.
>
> Not so. VoIP has long latencies (which confuse a conversation) and
> often cuts corners by making conversations "one way." (Ever try to
> interrupt someone to whom you're speaking on a VoIP call to tell them
> you have to put the phone down? Very often, you can't, because he or
> she cannot hear you.)

This is true and yes - you're correct on being lucky if it works. But you're comparing apples to oranges. (which you even reinforce below)

Voice is a real time application.

Video is not. Video can be buffered and stored away for viewing 30 seconds from now or 30 hrs from now.

So let's make the distinction that these are different things.

> Ever hear of broadcasting and time shifting (Also known as VCRs and
> DVRs)? The "end-to-endians," who are fond of placing intelligence at
> the edges of the network, ought to be especially enthusiastic about
> this idea.


--
Ben Kamen - O.D.T., S.P.
======================================================================
Email: bkamen AT benjammin DOT net       Web: http://www.benjammin.net