Is HD DVD Trying to Lose?

[admin]

As many of you know I have been somewhat of a critic of the high definition DVD format war. I have never understood how apparent shortsightedness and desire for short-term corporate licensing profits could have prevented so many companies from embracing a unified format. Instead, most companies are bent (I could end the sentence here) on duking it out and forcing customers to flip the bill and go through the decision-making process.


Discuss "Is HD DVD Trying to Lose?" here. Read the article.

[autoboy]

I just wanted to say that I LOVE dual format disks and is one of the reasons I went with HD-DVD. Not all my DVD players are HD and I enjoy being able to take the disc anywhere in the house or even over to a friends house to watch the disc. I probably won't watch 300 on a little screen in my office, but there are lots of movies I would. I DO want dual format discs.

I DON'T want to pay extra for dual format discs. Especially not $5 more when I think movies should cost $10 on DVD and HD DVD anyway.

Also, why is the mastering more expensive for a dual format disc? Yes, the disc may cost more to make, a few cents perhaps, but the DVD version is the same as the regular DVD version, costing $0 extra to master, and the HD-DVD version is the same as the HD-DVD only version would be to master. So where is this extra mastering you speak of?

If they want HD-DVD to survive. Lower the disc prices to the same as the DVD and include the HD-DVD version at no extra cost. Then there will be no stopping HD-DVD. This is their best weapon and I don't know why they don't just suck it up and use it. HD-DVD is fighting like an Athenian. They need to fight like Spartans!

[j_garcia]

If I were on the fence, dual format discs would absolutely not win me over and would likely have exactly the effect noted in the article. I find them a complete waste. If I am going to pay more for the disc, why not just get the HD-DVD player now? I noticed that there are some releases that you CAN buy the HD-DVD version only OR a "flipper" version, but not all.

There is no extra mastering, but the disc needs to be pressed as a flipper which I'm sure adds to the cost a little.

[Clint DeBoer]

It's good to hear feedback from a consumer. I have no use for the hybrids, but it's good to hear another perspective.

[Leprkon]

And the marketing genuises are all at Sony, where they assumed people would be stupid enough to pay 2x DVD prices for something they could watch on their PSPs ? or who couldn't even make BluRay players work with a standard CD ?

I'm thinking your analysis is a little biased.

[mike c]

funny story. I know someone who bought HD DVD discs and played them on his DVD player. he said there was no difference between them and ordinary DVD's. He thought HD DVD - naturally, it was "compatible" with ordinary DVD players.

[no. 5]

Both format camps are in this to win, so either HD DVD is going to do a big offensive soon, or they are hoping for a slow and painful death.

funny story. I know someone who bought HD DVD discs and played them on his DVD player. he said there was no difference between them and ordinary DVD's. He thought HD DVD - naturally, it was "compatible" with ordinary DVD players.

That is funny.

[BMXTRIX]

I have no real issue with hybrid discs, but they shouldn't cost the consumer more. If it costs more, than there should just be HD DVD versions available for most people. Do a test run of both formats and see which actually sells more copies.

I think some of the things that have astounded me since the format war began include how people swore that HD DVD media would cost significantly less to consumers, but that not only hasn't played out, but because of these discs, it actually appears that HD DVD costs more once you own it.

As well, the HD DVD name while immediately invoking brand recognition, also confuses consumers... If I have a DVD player, why not get the HD version of the DVD? That makes perfectly rational sense to an average consumer. Most are amazed that you can even play a CD in a DVD player. But, they expect a HD DVD to play in the DVD player. Just because it's HD doesn't mean it's an entirely new format... does it?

Really, I have never believed there was a format war. On my business side I try to remain fairly neutral, but realistically, I don't think that HD DVD has ever had a chance. They have Universal. Microsoft is not seriously in their corner, but Universal is. But, should that end, then what reason is there to buy HD DVD? Yes, Blu-ray players run a couple hundred bucks more. Actually less for comparible models. The A20 to the BP301 was less than $50.00 price difference this evening when I was shopping. The A2 was 100 bucks less. If Universal were neutral, that $50 - $150 savings would give you about 40% less movies possible to be released.

I really believe that this holiday season, unless Wal-Mart goes HD DVD in a very big way, it will be fairly clear writing on the wall for HD DVD. Writing that was very predictably there well over the 14+ months ago when these formats first hit the street.

Now, cutting into the DVD format? That will be the serious format war. 300 indeed.

[MDS]

While I admit that this is the first time I've heard of hybrid DVD/HD-DVD, I think I'd pass anyway.

Remember DualDisc? Touted as both a CD and a DVD when in fact it was neither. In order to put both formats on one disc, it conformed to neither the CD spec nor the DVD spec and many players had a hard time playing them.

I hope the DVD/HD-DVD hybrid doesn't go the same way.

[hifiman]

I took audio and home theater way too seriously. I poured all my extra money into it. I did the constant upgrade thing because I wanted to, not because I had to. I bought into the various formats that vanished soon after they appeared. In trying to keep this short I'll simply say the DVD-Audio and SACD made me take more than a moment of pause. I was tired of getting screwed because companies wanted it all. I guess they all want to be the next Microsoft - including Apple. HD-DVD and Blu-ray made me laugh right from the start. There's too many similarities to the hi-rez audio formats that failed. I refuse to get burned again. Add to that the seemingly never ending versions of HDMI and all the ensuing issues and I want no part of it. I've downsized my equipment to nothing more than a shadow of what it once was. My iPod is my primary source for music and my Xbox 360 is my only DVD player. Soon I will get rid of my pre/pro and amp and get one of those receivers I've avoided for many years. I'm just tired of playing this endless game at the mercy of companies screwing the consumer.