High Def Forum - Your High Definition Community & High Definition Resource - View Single Post - Why I think Blu Ray will win the Format War

ClashFan · 10-14-2007, 11:25 AM

Actually, I find that 300's sales only being 2-1 for BR is very good news for HD DVD. Given all the PS3's out there (reportedly 2 million) and the nice demographic similarity b/t PS3ers and 300 fans (young males), I thought that 300 BR sales would be 3 or 4 to 1 over HD DVD. Yet, HD DVD hangs in there at only 2-1. I'll bet Planet Earth sales are a lot closet than that.

Both sides throw around stats, but if you look at raw players, there's no questions that BR must have a 4-1 or so player advantage in the US. Yet, movies sales run 1.5 to 1 or 2 to 1. So, HD DVD player owners buy more titles per player bought. The PS3 alone cannot "win" this war. And, who knows how much profit/loss these # represent?

I started out middle of last year completely format neutral, but curiously reading up on the format "war." After all my reading, I decided to make the plunge to HD DVD in October, 2007. I got a refurb A1 at that time for $322. It was in my price point (under $400...Blu-ray was nowhere to be seen, here). It has the dual video streams (I love "bonus" features for home theater) and internet support built right in! Plus, great picture and sound.

I still find the whole "bigger is better" argument completely overly simple and, really, superflous. 50 gig vs. 30 gig. 99.9% of people could not care less. And, I'm one of them. We could argue MPEG vs. AVC, VC, STD, whatever.. yield rates, replication costs, etc. etc. I simply say, put out "2 Disc Special Editions" on HD DVD. Then, you've got 60 gigs vs. 50 gigs for the very few titles necessary. 50 is more than 30. But... 2 is more than 1! Neither of those slogans takes the full story into account.

I figured I'd buy 10, 12, 15 or so titles that I really really wanted (like Batman Begins), and then just rent others via Netflix until the format war sorted itself out. Even if BR prevailed in 2007, I'd still use my A1 for DVD upconverting, great CD sound, and the few HD DVD titles I actually owned.

However, after starting 2007 very strongly, BR stumbled (PS3 did not land a knockout blow to HD DVD....far from it). BR still has not got its 1.1 spec or internet interactivity ready.

Sigh. So, I found myself buying more and more HD DVD titles and not adding BR support, as I thought I might.

I just bought a second HD DVD player, the XA2, to the be centerpiece of my home theater. When/if I get a BR player in 2008, it will only be to buy BR exclusive titles.

I'm now up to 65 HD DVD titles, and will buy many more in the weeks and months to come.

It IS about the movies. Transformers, Shrek the Third, Star Trek, The Jack Ryan Collection, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes. etc.

To each his own, and there are some BR titles I'd like to have, but right now HD DVD has far more bang for the buck.

10-14-2007, 11:25 AM	#9
ClashFan Joe Strummer Lives! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,337	Actually, I find that 300's sales only being 2-1 for BR is very good news for HD DVD. Given all the PS3's out there (reportedly 2 million) and the nice demographic similarity b/t PS3ers and 300 fans (young males), I thought that 300 BR sales would be 3 or 4 to 1 over HD DVD. Yet, HD DVD hangs in there at only 2-1. I'll bet Planet Earth sales are a lot closet than that. Both sides throw around stats, but if you look at raw players, there's no questions that BR must have a 4-1 or so player advantage in the US. Yet, movies sales run 1.5 to 1 or 2 to 1. So, HD DVD player owners buy more titles per player bought. The PS3 alone cannot "win" this war. And, who knows how much profit/loss these # represent? I started out middle of last year completely format neutral, but curiously reading up on the format "war." After all my reading, I decided to make the plunge to HD DVD in October, 2007. I got a refurb A1 at that time for $322. It was in my price point (under $400...Blu-ray was nowhere to be seen, here). It has the dual video streams (I love "bonus" features for home theater) and internet support built right in! Plus, great picture and sound. I still find the whole "bigger is better" argument completely overly simple and, really, superflous. 50 gig vs. 30 gig. 99.9% of people could not care less. And, I'm one of them. We could argue MPEG vs. AVC, VC, STD, whatever.. yield rates, replication costs, etc. etc. I simply say, put out "2 Disc Special Editions" on HD DVD. Then, you've got 60 gigs vs. 50 gigs for the very few titles necessary. 50 is more than 30. But... 2 is more than 1! Neither of those slogans takes the full story into account. I figured I'd buy 10, 12, 15 or so titles that I really really wanted (like Batman Begins), and then just rent others via Netflix until the format war sorted itself out. Even if BR prevailed in 2007, I'd still use my A1 for DVD upconverting, great CD sound, and the few HD DVD titles I actually owned. However, after starting 2007 very strongly, BR stumbled (PS3 did not land a knockout blow to HD DVD....far from it). BR still has not got its 1.1 spec or internet interactivity ready. Sigh. So, I found myself buying more and more HD DVD titles and not adding BR support, as I thought I might. I just bought a second HD DVD player, the XA2, to the be centerpiece of my home theater. When/if I get a BR player in 2008, it will only be to buy BR exclusive titles. I'm now up to 65 HD DVD titles, and will buy many more in the weeks and months to come. It IS about the movies. Transformers, Shrek the Third, Star Trek, The Jack Ryan Collection, Battlestar Galactica, Heroes. etc. To each his own, and there are some BR titles I'd like to have, but right now HD DVD has far more bang for the buck. __________________ My gear: Samsung LN46A650 -- 46" 120 Hz Onkyo TX-SR674 receiver JBL Venue fronts, Infinity TSS-1100 center Infinity TSS-1100 surrounds and rear surrounds JBL SUB12 subwoofer Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player (firmware 2.7) (100+ HD DVDs) Sony BDP-S550 BD player (51 BDs) Xbox 360 game console Comcast Motorola 6412 HDTV cable box Logitech Harmony 550 Remote 1 wife, 2 sons (ages 15 and 8)