If you're remotely interested in the Hi-Def format war

[neglet]

I wish they'd settle this already. Or else have someone come out with a player that can read both formats and doesn't cost and arm and a leg. It can't be that far off, so I'm starting to wonder whether I should stop buying DVDs until the war over.

[neglet]

That's really weird. It gave me an error message when I tried to post, then put my response above the original one.

[neglet]

Testing to see if full menu still does the weird thingy--last two times were on quick reply.

[neglet]

That is some weird shit going on in here.

[Jakester]

Well, there are one ore two combo players on the horizon, but they don't fully support the HD-DVD spec; so while it'll play the movie, you can't do all of the cool HD-DVD features, like in-movie experience) with a combo player.

I wouldn't hold off on buying DVDs altogether, but you might want to use a little more discretion in purchasing DVDs. Remember, the hi-def market is still very much a niche market right now, and the format war is helping keep it that way. If it doesn't get resolved, both formats may implode. The disappointing sales of the PS3 aren't helping Blu-Ray's cause, but clearly the exclusive studio support from Paramount, Universal and Dreamworks doesn't seem to be helping HD-DVD, either. Also note that the first Speilberg film to go hi-def is Universal's Close Encounters of the Third Kind and, despite their exclusive HD-DVD deal, it will be released exclusively on Blu-Ray.

So, HD-DVD gets Transformers, the Shrek movies, and many Dreamworks titles.
Movies like War of the Worlds and the Jurassic Park movies are exempt from the exclusivity deal because they're Speilberg's. Same with the Indy movies.

Blu-Ray gets all of the Disney & /Pixar movies and Pirates of the Carribean as exclusives, in addition to the Touchstone library, and whatever else Disney has their hands in.

[Jakester]

That's pretty fucked up right there, Negs.

[Jakester]

The time stamping is all whacked out. My "fucked up" message came AFTER my other two.

[Jakester]

Recently, someone (probably Toshiba) paid some studios (like Paramount) a lot of money to go exclusively HD-DVD, which effectively cancelled several Blu-Ray titles (like Blades of Glory) and Transformers.
However, when Transformers was released, the HD-DVD camp claimed that it sold over 190k copies the first week. It was later scaled back to about 112k. Still a pretty good showing for a niche market (all of hi-def DVD is a niche market). Nevertheless, Blu-Ray still won the week with a 51% to 49% margin over HD-DVD. And with such tentpole releases like Return to House on Haunted Hill, Hollow Man and The Reaping, why should it be a surprise? </sarcasm> Also remember that Bay was pissed that Transformers wasn't going to be on Blu-Ray, then backpedaled a bit, and once it hit DVD, was once again pissed that it wasn't on Blu-Ray.

Next week, Disney and Pixar will be releasing Cars and Ratatouille exclusively on Blu-Ray (and standard DVD, of course).

So what does Toshiba do to counter? For the next three days, you can buy a year-old HD-DVD player (that never sold very well and was originally priced at $499) at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Best Buy for $99. So, Toshiba is dumping the player (ie - selling it below cost) in a last-ditch effort to keep the format war going. Thing is, I know lots of people will scarf this player up, and then be pissed on Tuesday evening when it will refuse to play Ratatouille. It's also important to note that this player doesn't support 1080p, only 720p and 1080i.

Just something to be aware of before you see the great bargain and take the plunge on a player that may (or may not) go the way of Beta.

[sickness]

I'm still staying out of this format war until one format or the other gives me good reason to believe both a) it is technologically superior and, most importantly, b) it will win the format war. Otherwise, I'll just wait 'til the dust settles and pick up whichever one is the standard.

[Jakester]

I'm with you sicks. I was just throwing it out there for people who aren't really up to speed, but see this really amazing deal on a hi-def dvd player and want to snarf it up.

[Bark]

There is no way I'm banking on Sony. No way. They just make such horrible business decisions I cannot and will not go out on a limb for them. The fact is it's easier to produce HD-DVDs. Also, pr0n won't be on Blu-ray, mark my words. I want HD-DVD to win because I think that format will be friendly to consumers on the business side of things.

However, the truth is HD is not was widespread at generic television was in the 1980s. Getting a VCR was almost a necessity back then. Getting an HD player now isn't anywhere close to that now. 1) Most people don't have HD. 2) People with HD are content with HD programming and HD video on demand. 3) People with HD are, for the most part, content with standard definition DVDs for the time being. Ergo, there won't be an end to the format war anytime soon because neither side will get enough of a surge of consumers that they vanquish the competition.

[Jakester]

I was initially all set to support Blu-Ray, but then the PS3 launch sort of ifzzled, and still doesn't have any sort of killer app that I've got to have. I suppose my Hi-Def DVD spot ain't itching so much because I don't yet have an HDTV, so I've been keen to wait-and-see. Still, it's looked like Blu-Ray was seriously outselling HD,
When the studio-exclusive support for HD announcement was made, it seemed like the pendulum was going to start swinging back the other way, and I was a bit hopeful because I'm really irked at Sony DADC's SecuROM crap. Unfortunately, it looks like it was a just a setback, prolonging the war.

I don't see HD-DVD winning. Perhaps they will both coexist for a while, but ultimately, either both will fold, or I think Blu-Ray will win...unless the PS3 disappears, because I think that's driving the bulk of the Blu-Ray media sales, but I could be completely wrong on that, too.

[Bark]

I've read that their are only two Blu-Ray printing presses, one in Japan and one in North America. Blu-Ray is completely ignoring the European market. HD-DVD is region free, so many exclusive Blu-Ray titles in North America are avaliable in the HD-DVD format from European sellers. You could just buy them there or on the internet and pay for international shipping.

Can Blu-Ray survive by ignoring Europe?