Message-Id: <1F95F1012A25D111BA7400005A44212A8D6E77@OHCEXS01> From: "Lunsford, Eric R." To: "'megami@ML.usagi.org'" Subject: RE: SM CDs Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 10:41:45 -0600 Reply-To: megami@ML.usagi.org I also own a couple of SM CDs, purchased before I knew any better. For me, the quality of the presentation and the 'goodies' that come with the real thing are DEFINITELY worth the extra expense. Especially if the first press originals come with extra goodies! Since you mentioned out out-of-print CDs, does anyone have any idea as to where someone might be able to locate something like this? For example, I assume the live version of "Hottokenai no sa" is out of print. (That was a CD single available to the public, and not a special gift, right?) So, for things like this, what's an otaku to do? Especially a poor US otaku? (There weren't a lot of used anime CDs in the used CD store, the last time I looked!) Eric -----Original Message----- From: Kevin Barth [SMTP:kbarth@qrc.com] Sent: Friday, April 03, 1998 9:05 AM To: megami@usagi.jrd.dec.com Subject: Re: SM CDs ObAdmission: I own a couple SM CDs. I knew what they were when I bought them, but the titles in question were out of print. I would buy them again if the titles weren't available otherwise. And I just placed an order with UCI for about 80 bucks worth of REAL CDs and CD singles. Just to give you an idea where I am coming from... Let me play the devil's advocate here for a minute. A lot of the argument over why original Japanese CDs are better seems to be coming from a value added perspective - you get much better booklets, package inserts, and so forth. All of which is undeniable. My question for all of you is, how much does this REALLY matter to you? I buy a CD because I want to listen to the music. Value added for me is that the lyrics are clearly printed on the inside of the folder, so I can follow along. The rest of the junk - pretty pictures, interviews, and the like - generally goes unread or is looked at once and forgotten about. That's NOT why I buy the CDs. Value added ceases to be value added if it is never utilized. This is the selling point of generic foods, bargain-packaged CD-ROM games...and Son May Cds. I would therefore argue that if you don't buy SM from a moral perspective, that's great. I agree with you for the most point. And for the amoral types out there, maybe the legal argument holds more weight. But unless I am completely off my mark most people just do not get enough usage or pleasure out of those extras to make up the $20 difference in price tag between SM and original release. Am I wrong? Kevin ===================== Kevin Barth Research Analyst Quantum Research Corp.