Blu-Ray Beats HD-DVD. The War Is Over!

[Haljackey 17,405]

Hey everyone, for those who are waiting to buy a high-def player (myself included) because of this stupid format war that is killing the industry, this may interest you:

From:

Friday, January 11, 2008

Nothing has been announced, but Variety is reporting that the last two major studios backing HD DVD — NBC Universal and Paramount — are opening the door for a switch to Blu-ray. These studios have commitments to release some discs this year in HD DVD, but both have ended their exclusive commitment to that format, which is backed by a group led by Toshiba.

This comes after Warner Brothers, which had been issuing movies in both formats, decided to go exclusively with Sony’s Blu-ray format. Variety also reports that retailers may also put pressure on Universal and Paramount to back Blu-ray. Last summer, Blockbuster decided to go with Blu-ray only.

So what appeared to be a stalemate may, with one relatively small move by Warner, now turn out to be a quick victory for Sony. The fight between the systems has hurt studios, electronics makers and consumers. And I suspect a winner — any winner — will be welcomed by all sides (except Toshiba and Microsoft, a key partner).

The article continues further, and can be found here:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/hd-dvds-fall-like-dominoes/?ref=technology

The only problem is that Blu-Ray player's and discs cost more, and price is one of the things keeping me back from buying a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player.

Thoughts?

[mntoes 271]

Well if we do have a winner with Blue Ray hopefully more volume sales will lead to a price drop.

I guess a lot of peeople are waiting for some sort of outcome to this battle.

[hym 358]

In terms of cost and long-term technological advancement, the downfall of HD-DVD to BluRay is a sad thing.

[belfastuniguy 18]

hhhhhhhhhmm it's still very early days. We have a player that plays both formats, cost a lot, but means whatever way the race goes we won't have a problem

[gml_josea 2]

Ending this stupid format war is just what everyone wants. After one format wins, mass production will led to a price drop.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Im wondering what the big deal is.

Its so cheap to produce DVD 's( disks and Players) that this should not be an issue.

Produce both, let people buy which one they want to buy.

IF they compete in the marketplace price for both types will drop as well as for the media.

[The_Dalai_Llama 15]

Well, it appears Blu-ray won... but nobody will care for another 4-5 years.

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes Im wondering what the big deal is.

Its so cheap to produce DVD 's( disks and Players) that this should not be an issue.

Produce both, let people buy which one they want to buy.

IF they compete in the marketplace price for both types will drop as well as for the media.

quote>

The cost of developing new technologies (especially radically different ones like BluRay) can be in the 9 digit figures.  Factor that they're making a technology that will make them effectively no money in just a few years and suddenly, it's financially expedient to make your format the dominant format.

[BurroDiablo 222]

Kinda like games really. About 2 years ago I could only find very few games out on DVD's, but these days, games on CD's is unheard of... mainly because more and more people are able to afford DVD drives, they've basically become the staple medium for Movies and Games in only a few years.

No doubt, Blu Ray will be the same... HD DVD and Blu Ray will battle it out for a while with Companies divided over wich to publish Movies on. Eventually, as movie Quality gradually gets better over the coming years they'll able to cram more special features into it and make full use of the whopping 25-50GB space they provide, making it more appealing to producers and developers alike.

As Barbarossa said, in these kinds of wars its the consumer that always loses out... all of us will have to eventually splash out on a Blu Ray drive or a Blu Ray compatible piece of hardware as it becomes the norm... its going to happen very soon I can imagine, but so will a blu-ray price crash as companies start competing with each other

[amdinside 2]

I had a feeling BluRay would take this one over HD. Sony may have lost on Betamax but they are no longer the skinny kid on the block. It will be nice to see this settled and prices for players and media come down to reasonable levels. The 25GB capacity per layer for BluRay is exciting. That's a lot of picture/music/video/file storage per disk.

[toxicpiano 125]

I was under the impression that universal had already moved...

[coolotter88 2]

oh well, Sony can't always make betamaxes.

[SimRabbit 48]

Hurray for Sony, i personally use blu-ray.

[guinea 31]

hopefully the price of ps3's may come down now,

[BurroDiablo 222]

Originally posted by: guinea hopefully the price of ps3's may come down now,quote>

I dream of the day I can afford one

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

A plague on all their houses.  Let's go back to radio and can imaging except for movies on film.

[Haljackey 17,405]

Allow me to make a general response to all the comments posted above me:

A lot of you bring up a good point. As long as this "war" is on, everyone suffers, especially customers. If there is a winner, then all these problems will be solved and prices will drop. Being a HD-DVD supporter myself, it will slightly disappoint me when the Blu-Ray wins, but it will also make me happy that there is a winner. I haven't bought a player yet, so I won't be left out when HD-DVD loses, I am being left out right now because I, along with others, can't make up our minds and have to wait it out.

When a winner is declared, prices will surely drop, and thus, sales will surely rise. I nearly bought a HD-DVD player on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th in Canada), but I couldn't because by the time I got to the store (LOL 7AM), they were all sold out. Now hearing that the Blu-Ray is nearly the winning format, I am glad I did not buy the HD-DVD player.

This may convince me to get a PS3 as well, because not only do you get a Blu-Ray player for the cheapest price on the market, its also a game system! The Blu-Ray seems to be the only driving force in the PS3's sales since its launch, but if Blu-Ray wins, then PS3 sales will dramatically increase.

[coolotter88 2]

wouldn't dedicated blu-ray players fall in price too, prehaps even below that of the ps3...or will sony force their manufacturer partners to keep prices aloft, at least, above those of the ps3 to drive sales?

[autoVino 26]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body A plague on all their houses.  Let's go back to radio and can imaging except for movies on film.quote>

 

I'm sure I have a hd imagination... more hd than any ol' blueray or some dvd player... pff... don't need that fancy things.

[Haljackey 17,405]

Originally posted by: coolotter88 wouldn't dedicated blu-ray players fall in price too, prehaps even below that of the ps3...or will sony force their manufacturer partners to keep prices aloft, at least, above those of the ps3 to drive sales?quote>

I would think so.  However, Sony has done some weird things in the past.  Who knows, they might jack up the prices of the Blu-Ray players (and maybe the PS3 too) if they win this war because it will give them nearly a total monopoly (near full-control of the market).

That will only last for a while though.  Soon, all those third party brands will enter the market like they did for DVD players. 

Last year, I bought a DVD player for $10!  I hope Blu-Ray players will be that cheap!

[Crysis 0]

WHats the differnce between bluray and HDDVD. Arent they both just High Definition dvds? Also what will replace CD's in music scince DVD's took over computer games? one more question. When did VHS finally go out?

[coolotter88 2]

MP3s on portable players (iPods mostly) have replaced CDs, DVDs surpassed VHS just recently like in 2005, and yeah, there's really not that much of a difference between the 2 formats, other than, Blu-Ray can tout they have a 51 GB disc with 3 layers over HDDVD's 3 layer 50 GB disc, or something like that.

[Crysis 0]

If feel stupid i did not think of MP3. well i guss CD in dying.

[Ded 30]

Why not use both? Thats what I don't get...

[beebs 129]

Originally posted by: haljackey

That will only last for a while though.  Soon, all those third party brands will enter the market like they did for DVD players.quote>

My store already carries a Samsung Blu-Ray player, a Pioneer Blu-Ray player and a Sharp Blu-Ray player to go along with the lone Sony Blu-Ray player. I don't think we have to worry much about prices being jacked up.

[Haljackey 17,405]

Originally posted by: Crysis WHats the differnce between bluray and HDDVD. Arent they both just High Definition dvds?quote>

Both are a high-definition format of the DVD.

HD-DVD is made by Toshiba, and more info can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hddvd

Blu-Ray is made by Sony, and more info can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu_ray

This "War" is similar to the VHS Vs. Beta track war back before the DVD.  And yes, in 2005, the VHS pretty much became obsolete, replaced by the DVD.  Either HD-DVD or the Blu-Ray will take the DVD's place when it too becomes obsolete.

---

Originally posted by: beebs

Originally posted by: haljackey

That will only last for a while though.  Soon, all those third party brands will enter the market like they did for DVD players.quote>

My store already carries a Samsung Blu-Ray player, a Pioneer Blu-Ray player and a Sharp Blu-Ray player to go along with the lone Sony Blu-Ray player. I don't think we have to worry much about prices being jacked up. quote>

Well, I consider those "2nd parties" because they aren't 1st party yet they are well known brands (Sansung, Pioneer, Phillips, RCA, Onkyo, Sharp, etc.)

What I am talking about are more value players like Citizen, Nextech, Goldstar, Etc.  Once they come to the market then the consumer will be able to better afford HD-DVD or Blu-Ray players because these brands are significantly cheaper.

[Voar Tok 4]

Originally posted by: beebs

Originally posted by: haljackey

That will only last for a while though.  Soon, all those third party brands will enter the market like they did for DVD players.quote>

My store already carries a Samsung Blu-Ray player, a Pioneer Blu-Ray player and a Sharp Blu-Ray player to go along with the lone Sony Blu-Ray player. I don't think we have to worry much about prices being jacked up. quote>

Apparently you have too much faith in the supposed good intentions of mankind.

[beebs 129]

Originally posted by: haljackey

Well, I consider those "2nd parties" because they aren't 1st party yet they are well known brands (Sansung, Pioneer, Phillips, RCA, Onkyo, Sharp, etc.)

What I am talking about are more value players like Citizen, Nextech, Goldstar, Etc.  Once they come to the market then the consumer will be able to better afford HD-DVD or Blu-Ray players because these brands are significantly cheaper.quote>

To each his own. I prefer to buy brands that I know won't fall apart on me.

[coolotter88 2]

I'm supposing all the poor people with 50 inch LCD TVs will be buying those value brand Hi def disc players huh?