What's the next generation install media?

DVDs are becoming old technology. What is the next way we will buy windows at retail? Flash drive? ISO over the internet? Something to do with flash media? What do you think. It has to come pretty soon. The DVD drive is going the way of the floppy!

nate42nd said:

DVDs are becoming old technology. What is the next way we will buy windows at retail? Flash drive? ISO over the internet? Something to do with flash media? What do you think. It has to come pretty soon. The DVD drive is going the way of the floppy!

I was thinking it would go the easy way and be either both SD Cards and Flash drives, or SD Cards. =P

zigzag3143 said:

I like the idea and with the increase in memory and decrease in cost I see a future there.

Ken

Well heres my concept art for the day.

Attachment 15162

I'll bet the next generation "Windows 8" or whatever will have choices like these. I almost don't need a DVD drive now except for software. Are DVDs supposed to last longer or be more stable than flash media? or is it just a cost thing I wonder?

Frostbite said:

I think DVD's have some life left in them yet. Mainly due to the cost of pressed media being so little compared to other forms of data storage. Just look at the humble CD, going since 1982.

That is true. Look at Ubuntu for example, they will send free copies of Ubuntu x86, Kubuntu x86 and Ubuntu Server Edition x64 on CD.

They also sell DVD versions in their store, along with Flash Drives that have Ubuntu on them. They have the right idea and its working well for them.

DarkNovaGundam said:

That is true. Look at Ubuntu for example, they will send free copies of Ubuntu x86, Kubuntu x86 and Ubuntu Server Edition x64 on CD.

They also sell DVD versions in their store, along with Flash Drives that have Ubuntu on them. They have the right idea and its working well for them.

I did not know Ubuntu was doing that. Good idea. I just happen to be running Ubuntu right now for the first time in weeks or months...haha It's fun to play with now and then. If I wan't so familiar with Windows i would probably be running it a a lot more.

Interesting they are offering flash drives to install.