Video Marketplace Gets New Competition from Wal-Mart

[Justin_McElroy]

The future apparently begins when Wal-Mart says it does. Just a few months after Microsoft kicked off its digital download service through Xbox Live, the mega-retailer is dipping its massive toe into the water.

Read the whole story here. (http://media.herald-dispatch.com/blog/games/2007/02/theres-new-blue-enemy-of-video.html)

[Gorvi]

I don't see how this has anything to do with the video marketplace. One is a PC service, one is a console service. Last I checked those were two seperate things.

[Amalor]

I can totally not get excited about anything to do with wal-mart. Unless one is on fire ;)

-Cheers
-Amalor

[Entropy Effect]

I don't see how this has anything to do with the video marketplace. One is a PC service, one is a console service. Last I checked those were two seperate things.

Is this sarcasm? I'm pretty sure both services are serving the same market.

[Johan]

I don't see how this has anything to do with the video marketplace. One is a PC service, one is a console service. Last I checked those were two seperate things.

Well...Sony doesn't agree with you on the separation you make here! ;)

MS might or might not agree; I don't know.

[Klade]

Walmarts new service does not work in Firefox, not even a little tiny bit. Smooth move walmart, way to research your audience.

[The Continental]

I'm probably making an incredibly broad generalization here (I know I am, I'm just covering my ass by sounding P.C.), but the average Wal-Mart customer doesn't strike me as being a particularly technology savvy individual. If anything most people I know who can afford to, avoid Wal-Mart entirely on the grounds of disapproving of many of their policies and not caring for the condition many of their stores are kept in.

I reckon Microsoft and other competing movie download services have nothing to worry about.

[Gorvi]

Is this sarcasm? I'm pretty sure both services are serving the same market.

Not at all. There's a big difference between buying content on your PC and buying it on a console. Most people don't have the tech knowledge to view content from their PC on their TV, therefore the video marketplace has a bit of an edge in my opinion.

[Kweli]

Most people in walmart dont even know how to walk straight... nevermind use some online TV 'thingie'

I cant believe how many people cut me off in that place... i hate going in there.... and i always feel like punching people by the time im walking out

On a side note... i dont see any 'service' from walmart being popular

[gzsfrk]

I'm probably making an incredibly broad generalization here (I know I am, I'm just covering my ass by sounding P.C.), but the average Wal-Mart customer doesn't strike me as being a particularly technology savvy individual. If anything most people I know who can afford to, avoid Wal-Mart entirely on the grounds of disapproving of many of their policies and not caring for the condition many of their stores are kept in.

Elitist much? Cripes, if you're going to hate on Wal-Mart, go ahead; I realize that's the currently fashionable position. I personally think their negative effect on local retail businesses is truly regrettable, accelerating the mega-corporatization of the consumer goods marketplace. Also, I find the amount of trade they do with known massive-scale human rights violator China extremely objectionable.

But drop the condescension towards their customers at the door; it's truly distasteful. Not only is the derogatory tone applied as a sweeping generalization, it's telling on your character that you equate the desire/need to save money when shopping with a lack of intellect. The "unsophisticated, unintelligent Wal-Mart shopper" is a tired cliche that bears very little resemblance to reality. Are there stupid luddites who shop at Wal-Mart? Sure, lots. Are there very intelligent, technology-savvy people who shop at Wal-Mart? Sure, lots. Are there idiots who can't program their VCRs who shop at Target, H.H. Gregg, B.F. Meyers, et. al.? Sure, lots.

You could, of course, try and argue the population proportions for each of those groups relative to the individual stores, but that question would largely be academic.

Oh, and have you been enjoying that 3% annual inflation for the last decade or so? That's largely thanks to Wal-Mart. (Not that I think their means to that end, vis-a-vis their huge trade with China, was a good way to go about it.)

I reckon Microsoft and other competing movie download services have nothing to worry about.

I agree, for the most part. I don't think Wal-Mart is going to make a serious dent in MS' 360 video sales. However, if Wal-Mart expands their service to become a competitor to IPTV, THEN we could see the beginning of a nice, price-reducing competition between providers, in which case the consumers will win handily.

[gzsfrk]

On a side note... i dont see any 'service' from walmart being popular

Yeah, they really failed miserably with their ventures into optometry, photography, petroleum, groceries, automotive maintenance and repair... the list of abysmal failures just goes on and on...

On a related note, I remember that back when Netflix first started gaining momentum, Wal-Mart began launching a competing service. However, they were forced to quit due to patent reasons as, apparently, Netflix had patented their business model. Business model? How the hell do you patent a business model? Idiocy...

[Swiper]

Walmart's service may be competition for the Video Marketplace, but it's actually good news for 360 users.

The 360 is an excellent "media center extender," so it can play movies stored on your PC if you have Windows Media Player 11 or Vista. Once people download movies to their PC, they're going to want to play it on their TV. One of the best ways right now to do that is to have a 360.

[dirtystreetz]

Elitist much? Cripes, if you're going to hate on Wal-Mart, go ahead; I realize that's the currently fashionable position. I personally think their negative effect on local retail businesses is truly regrettable, accelerating the mega-corporatization of the consumer goods marketplace. Also, I find the amount of trade they do with known massive-scale human rights violator China extremely objectionable.

But drop the condescension towards their customers at the door; it's truly distasteful. Not only is the derogatory tone applied as a sweeping generalization, it's telling on your character that you equate the desire/need to save money when shopping with a lack of intellect. The "unsophisticated, unintelligent Wal-Mart shopper" is a tired cliche that bears very little resemblance to reality. Are there stupid luddites who shop at Wal-Mart? Sure, lots. Are there very intelligent, technology-savvy people who shop at Wal-Mart? Sure, lots. Are there idiots who can't program their VCRs who shop at Target, H.H. Gregg, B.F. Meyers, et. al.? Sure, lots.

You could, of course, try and argue the population proportions for each of those groups relative to the individual stores, but that question would largely be academic.

Oh, and have you been enjoying that 3% annual inflation for the last decade or so? That's largely thanks to Wal-Mart. (Not that I think their means to that end, vis-a-vis their huge trade with China, was a good way to go about it.)



I agree, for the most part. I don't think Wal-Mart is going to make a serious dent in MS' 360 video sales. However, if Wal-Mart expands their service to become a competitor to IPTV, THEN we could see the beginning of a nice, price-reducing competition between providers, in which case the consumers will win handily.

i culd raed al da wurdz butt i dunt undrstnd whut dey mean, i think im gunna git me sum chiken an toob socks frum wal-mart.