Consumer education about HDTV is one of the hottest topics of the last few weeks. Executives from movie studios, manufacturers, retailers, and industry analysts have all come out saying that more needs to be done to educate consumers about their HDTV purchases. The number of choices to be made in setting up even a simple home theater are overwhelming to many consumers, and all parties involved need to spend a little bit of time to teach their prospective customers about the technology.
HD DVD and Blu-ray player manufacturers, and the studios need to demonstrate how a high-definition disc is better than DVD and why a consumer should make the switch. HDTV manufacturers and their retailers need to work on demystifying the numerous display choices available (plasma, LCD, rear projection, front projection, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 24Hz, 120Hz, etc.), and they also need to explain that the HD experience only starts with the HDTV purchase, and requires some sort of additional investment in high-def content, whether it’s a high-def disc player or upgrading their cable or satellite subscription plan.
It’s in this setting that Amazon.com has launched their High-Def 101 initiative. At this microsite, Amazon provides definitions for HD terminology, FAQs about the technology, as well as shopping guides to match up a customer’s budget and needs with the right HD products. Some of these pages even include video demos.
Amazon’s vice president of movies and music, Peter Faricy, says, “Amazon High-Def 101 is a place where anyone can come to learn and ask questions about the complex HD landscape. We will continue to expand and evolve the site to meet our customers’ needs.”
Many of the elements of High-Def 101 have already been available at Amazon for a while, but it’s now organized into one easy to read page where you can follow up on more links to get the information you’re looking for, or start some serious shopping.
