A Plea for a Unified, Blu Future

venomxr8

Just read this at http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_id=11875
really hits the nail on the head imo

"It’s time to knock it off. Ever since the two rival next-generation formats launched in 2006, I have been calling for an end to the format war, but without specifically telling one side or the other to get out.

I’m doing so now. With Warner Home Video dumping HD DVD, the format has the support of just two of the six major studios. It cannot win. At best, it can be a spoiler, but I’m hoping Toshiba, Universal and Paramount will take the high road and, for the good of the entire industry, bow out. Universal and Paramount, in particular, need to jump on the Blu-ray Disc bandwagon so we can go into the new year with a unified front and a unified mission: To educate consumers about the advantages of high-definition media and convince them the time to transition from standard DVD to Blu-ray is the day they bring that HDTV into their home.

Prolonging a format war that never should have happened in the first place makes no sense at this point. Study after study shows that consumer confusion is the No. 1 reason people aren’t rushing out to buy HD media hardware or software, and the format war is the reason everyone’s so confused — why risk buying something that six months down the road could be obsolete?

Quite honestly, I never favored either Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD. I saw the advantages of both. I also believe we need a successor technology, one that takes full advantage of HDTV and presents viewers with a true high-definition picture.

I also never bought any of the arguments that sought to defuse the potential damage of the format war by presenting it as a good thing. Sure, multiple formats exist in other industries, such as games and computers, but home video isn’t like that. Much like music, we have the exact same product — the hit of the week.

The events of the past two years could be a textbook case for how not to launch a format. Blu-ray Disc was rushed to market simply because HD DVD was already there, fit and primed. That’s why we have these evolving players and technologies such as Bonus View and BD-Live. Sure, it would have been nice to have everything in Blu-ray’s final spec. But that didn’t happen.

Looking back, HD DVD never had the support it needed. One CE maker against dozens; just three of the six majors, and even that was whittled down to two out of six when Warner bailed out.

The writing’s clearly on the wall. Let’s do the right thing."

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thrlride

I'm glad Toshiba isnt throwing in the towel yet. A rushed format that isnt complete after two years does not deserve to be the victor.

Look at it this way, at least with Toshiba pushing forward Blu has more time to become complete and are being forced to keep prices in check.

bigboar

opinions are like @ssholes, everybody has one!!!

why is it when Toshiba has one little price cut everyone seems to get worried?

If HD DVD is dead there shouldnt be anything to worry about now should there???

I say let people buy what they want and quit trying to force what you wish down their throats... this is America after all!!!!!

Lee Stewart

Sorry - I seem to value my money more than you do. The more expensive format is not best for the consumer and it sure is not best for me. Let alone the fact that BD is STILL playing catchup.

Let the war continue! Damn The Torpedos . . . Full Speed Ahead!

venomxr8

Dont you realize that ALL products come down in price over time. Sure not everyone has a 1080p hdtv or has the ability to decode the new hd audio formats, but wouldnt you like to HAVE that ability in your player once you DO get a 1080p set and an new sound system. Think of when dvd's first came out. How many people had dolby digital 5.1 systems??? not many but the dvd players had the ability to play dd 5.1 and now everyman and his son has a 5.1 system. So yes blu ray is more expensive at the present time than hd dvd but in time the prices will fall and at least you know you are buying into a format with a LONG and successful future ahead of it that Will display 1080p and WILL be able to play true hd and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 when YOUR home theatre system catches up with blu ray technology

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gallandro

Sorry, but I call bollocks. And here is the biggest line of BS of them all:

Study after study shows that consumer confusion is the No. 1 reason people aren’t rushing out to buy HD media hardware or software, and the format war is the reason everyone’s so confused

What a bunch of garbage. Study after study HAS in fact shown why people haven't rushed out to buy HDM... pricing... and satisfaction with DVD.

People are not going to rush out and buy what they view as little more than "glorified DVD players" for the price either side was asking (Toshiba's new pricing model is at least somewhere in the ballpark now).

All you have to do is look at the format wars of the past as evidence to that consumers care about affordability. VHS did not "take off" until it became affordable and worth the investment to the consumer. The same with DVD, until players reached sub-$200 prices no one was interested. Laserdisc suffered a similar fate with both high priced players AND high priced media (hmmmm... something familiar about that).

Sorry but people aren't going to "rush out" and spend $300 plus dollars on a player when they can run down to Wal Mart and buy an upconverting DVD player for thirty bucks. And with all of the doom and gloom about the state of the economy on the daily news, that fact is not likely to change soon.

Finally, the NPD Group (the most reliable statistics firm the industry uses) announced just a view months ago that in their surveys 73% of HDTV owners reported that their current traditional-format DVD player still works well for them, so they do not need to replace it; and 62% said they are waiting for the prices of high-definition players to fall.

That's why neither of these formats has taken off and why both are simply vying to be the next "laserdisc" until something better and more shiny comes along.


Yancy

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HD-DVD: 33
BD: 127

I've got one red lens and one blue lens! DUDE IT'S 3D!!!!!

iDarren

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cbcdesign

You just don't get it do you, there are no players available yet that meet the sort of prices and specs we enjoy from Toshiba and until there is blu-ray is a pipe dream.

Don't waste your time pleading to us to support blu-ray. Plead to the BDA to get their act together and get affordable players with proper features onto the market, then we can talk.

gallandro

Well said...


Yancy

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HD-DVD: 33
BD: 127

I've got one red lens and one blue lens! DUDE IT'S 3D!!!!!

venomxr8

ive posted this above but ill do it again 4 your benifit,

Dont you realize that ALL products come down in price over time. Sure not everyone has a 1080p hdtv or has the ability to decode the new hd audio formats, but wouldnt you like to HAVE that ability in your player once you DO get a 1080p set and an new sound system. Think of when dvd's first came out. How many people had dolby digital 5.1 systems??? not many but the dvd players had the ability to play dd 5.1 and now everyman and his son has a 5.1 system. So yes blu ray is more expensive at the present time than hd dvd but in time the prices will fall and at least you know you are buying into a format with a LONG and successful future ahead of it that Will display 1080p and WILL be able to play true hd and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 when YOUR home theatre system catches up with blu ray technology
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Lee Stewart

This advertisement has been brought to you by the "Friends for a blu future."

You don't have a handle on what is going on in the real world. Less than 50% have any kind of a sound system. Most of the remaining 50% have a Pro Logic system. Less then 1/3 of the USA has an HDTV - WW is is less than 15%.

BD means replace . . . HD DVD means to merge with because both are evolutionary formats and will never unsurp DVD.

Nikopol

Also very well said.

(it´s a sad conclusion and i prefer be in denial about it, but almost two years of pretty ridiculous sales for both HDM formats imo support it. i hope i am wrong though and keep buying red & blu)

cbcdesign

As I said, when they get there act together we can talk, It's pointless you telling me that prices will fall eventualy. I don't care about what happens a year or two from now. I care about the here and now and blu-ray isn't ready for me yet!

Dr. Jones

bleah

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Qbfinest83

Agreed. Its hard to convince someone to go out and say "I know you have movie already but pay 200-300 for a new player and 29.99 for that movie again and watch it in HD." Most people will just say that there DVD look fine on there HDTV and they dont need to upgrade there player.

ALSO Bluray was rushed out to market. I am sticking with HDDVD until they finalize and start to sell 2.0 players. At that point its complete and worth buying. No sense in paying 200-300 now for a 1.0, 200-300 later for a 1.1 and again 200-300 for a 2.0