Digital BW, The Print

Your arguments are tantamount to arguing that since a landline phone handset
costs less than a cellular phone handset, people want and will buy, in
developing countries, landline phones.  In fact quite the opposite is true.


> From: "Anthony G. Atkielski" <anthony@...>

> 
>> If the demand for CRTs falls they may cost, say, $1000 ...
> 
> The worldwide demand for CRTs is strong,

Why are they being dropped from production (low-end production first) and
new investment ceased in favour of newer technologies?

> and is likely to remain that
> way.  Most of the world has not yet bought a monitor, and most in that
> category cannot afford a flat panel.

They can't afford either but when they can they will buy the most readily
available technology.  On present trends that will not be CRT.
> 
>> ... whereas LCDs could be $100 because they are the
>> predominant component sought and produced ...
> 
> But they aren't, at least not outside developed countries.  They cost
> too much.
> 
Outside "developed countries" a camera or display is likely way down the
list of priorities.  But when these items do make it up the list you can be
assured that the most in demand and readily supplied technology will be
adopted by them - often leapfrogging various stages that the more developed
countries had to wade through (cellular telephony vs landline telephony is a
case in point).

>> What would the billions of people buy then - after they have bought
>> their cheap DIGITAL cameras....
> 
> They aren't buying digital cameras.  They still shoot film, which is
> much cheaper.

They either don't have either or those that do are adopting like conversion
to digital as with "developed" countries - because they are more convenient,
useful and cheaper.

Don't get me wrong, there will still be those that desire CRT or 35mm film,
for example, because they seek certain quality aspects or have a specialist
needs.  But they will have to pay the price and that price will, relatively
speaking, go up.  Just like first press vinyl records can, in some
instances, still be acquired for contemporary recordings.  But they cost a
lot more than a typical cd that can be mass produced.

Another conversation to be revisited in 5 year's time.