Blu-ray vs HD-DVD in the news...yet again.

[Reorx]

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2430446720070924

A somewhat interesting read.

Enjoy.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

As an audoholic you just have to make a decision and get one and that's why I got the PS3. If HD DVD wins; I have a nice game system. If I had of gotten a HD DVD and Sony wins, I would have a dedicated CD player or a good paper-weight.

 

[gmichael]

As an audoholic you just have to make a decision and get one and that's why I got the PS3. If HD DVD wins; I have a nice game system. If I had of gotten a HD DVD and Sony wins, I would have a dedicated CD player or a good paper-weight.

We think alike in this matter.

 

[Hutzal]

I have to add that instead of getting an Oppo, I chose to go with an HD DVD player...why get an oppo for the same price as a low end HD DVD player that will upconvert AND play HD DVDs?

Its a no brainer, unless you need DVD-A and SACD playback, then the oppo would make sense.

I got the A20 for $244...if HD DVD loses, I have an outstanding upconverting DVD player.

 

[avaserfi]

As an audoholic you just have to make a decision and get one and that's why I got the PS3. If HD DVD wins; I have a nice game system. If I had of gotten a HD DVD and Sony wins, I would have a dedicated CD player or a good paper-weight.

The PS3 is the only reason I joined in on this stupid format war. I wanted a next generation video game system and wasn't about to invest in an Xbox 360 after having quiet a few friends have theirs overheat and the reports online. I ended up getting a PS3 for cheap on ebay when they were selling like crap and am glad I have a HD player.

If I see a good deal on an HD DVD player come the holidays I will strongly consider picking it up as I don't really buy any source material since Netflix is cheaper and few discs are worth buying now a days.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, my Toshiba HD DVD player is usually just sitting there begging to be played, but I just perfer blu-ray. Too bad movies like Batman Begins, Matrix Triology, and the upcoming Transformers and Bourne Ultimatum are only in HD DVD. I guess I'll just have to buy them on HD DVD, unless I hear they will release them in blu-ray as well.

 

[bigbangtheory]

I'm happy with whatever drives the prices down further

But I have to say, it has taken all of my patience not to sell some crap on eBay so I can afford a BluRay or HDDVD player, and let it really show me what my TV is made of! I think (correction: I KNOW) if I wasn't a father, then I would have an HDDVD player by now.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I have to add that instead of getting an Oppo, I chose to go with an HD DVD player...why get an oppo for the same price as a low end HD DVD player that will upconvert AND play HD DVDs?

Its a no brainer, unless you need DVD-A and SACD playback, then the oppo would make sense.

I got the A20 for $244...if HD DVD loses, I have an outstanding upconverting DVD player.

I would have done the same. Why not? If HD DVD dies, I think it will be 2 or 3 years from now. So why wait? Just enjoy now---in either format. In 3 years, it will be time for an upgrade anyway. And by then, you could probably by an HD player (either one) for $100-$150.

 

[stratman]

Well the good/bad is that all major retailers are gearing up for a dismal Christmas holiday, Wal-Mart has scaled back it's Q4 expectations. Sales are expected to be way off as signs of a mild recession take hold. The good, expect great sales after the holidays as retailers need to move left over merchandise. There are rumblings in some of the marketing sites as to the severity and longevity of the upcoming slump. It's my opinion based on reading the market that if you want to jump on the hi-def DVD bandwagon wait till after Christmas, you're bound to get some excellent deals.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I am among those consumers who are "not warming to either type of device".

 

[stratman]

I am among those consumers who are "not warming to either type of device".

I will say you're in the majority. Though ironically high def tvs are expected to do well this Christmas due to price drops all summer and an expected drop right before the shopping season kicks off, it looks like it's the only A/V segment expected to do a bit well.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... if you want to jump on the hi-def DVD bandwagon wait till after Christmas, ...

Wait??? For an audioholic??? Four month??? That is contradictory thinking. LOL

 

[j_garcia]

Well, it isn't exaclty audio technology I am waiting for holiday, or rather after holiday sales to pick up a new TV myself.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Wait??? For an audioholic??? Four month??? That is contradictory thinking. LOL

That's a good point. A "holic" is suppose to be addictive, impulsive, & irrational, right?

We're not suppose to be all sensible and thinking about actions/reactions/consequences. Well, I guess we don't want to be, but our budget limits our addiction.

 

[crashkelly]

Budget? What is a budget?

Is that what they call it when your credit card comes back as declined?

Or is that what they are now calling "the look" you get from the wife when yet another delivery truck shows up at the door.

 

[FunkIncubator]

According to the Reuters article, HDTV owners are not willing to spend more than $200 on a hi def player.

Let me get this straight. They'll spend c. $2000 on a display, but they're unwilling to spend 10% of that to view the the hi def content the display was designed for? Surely, many HDTV owners have spent at least $200 to upgrade their dish/cable hardware and subscription tiers to view HD broadcasts.

I don't think price is the issue. It is not for me. The format war is what makes me hesitate. It's not the $300 cost of a player that stops me, it's spending $300 on a player for which no new titles will be published a year from now if I choose the wrong one.

It's also the bleeding edge of the technology that scares me off. If I bought one last Christmas, I'd be kicking myself for missing out on Deep Color, or TrueHD. And next year, when HDMI 1.4 comes out that supports, I don't know, 3D, and deeper color, and olfactory stimulus, I'll be wishing I'd waited. I guess that is the nature of technology, but a possible "loser" in the format war is what makes me, and I'm sure many others, content to wait. Not money. I mean, for the uninformed Big Box shopper, they'll spend $200 on a wall mount, $100 on monstercable and another $200 for someone to mount it and hide the wires in the wall. Price is not the problem.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Budget? What is a budget?

Or is that what they are now calling "the look" you get from the wife when yet another delivery truck shows up at the door.

True. Sad, but true. Last time the delivery guy came and my wife says, "You are so busted. What did you buy now?"
My quick response was, "Honey. I'm just testing the equipment. They are providing free shipping both ends just for testing their equipment."

 

[j_garcia]

It's also the bleeding edge of the technology that scares me off. If I bought one last Christmas, I'd be kicking myself for missing out on Deep Color, or TrueHD. And next year, when HDMI 1.4 comes out that supports, I don't know, 3D, and deeper color, and olfactory stimulus, I'll be wishing I'd waited. I guess that is the nature of technology, but a possible "loser" in the format war is what makes me, and I'm sure many others, content to wait. Not money. I mean, for the uninformed Big Box shopper, they'll spend $200 on a wall mount, $100 on monstercable and another $200 for someone to mount it and hide the wires in the wall. Price is not the problem.

I agree, with the two formats available, that means people are interested but they aren't interested in spending a LOT until the scales clearly tip one way or the other.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I mean, for the uninformed Big Box shopper, they'll spend $200 on a wall mount, $100 on monstercable and another $200 for someone to mount it and hide the wires in the wall. Price is not the problem.

If a BD & HD DVD player only cost $25 each, would you still wait for the format war to be over?

My wife won't hesitate to spend $5,000 on a 2 week vacation, but she won't spend $5 for some hot pepper at Wal-Mart. But if those hot peppers were $0.10, I bet she would buy them.

The mind works in mysterious ways. But unless you are a billionaire, money will always be a factor.

 

[stratman]

By the way, new information released this month by marketing think tank NPD Associates reveal that mass consumers are aware of hi-def DVDs, as the only panels being produced are hi-def hence the connection between the two, gone are the EDs and CRTs, but they see the dual formats as being confusing and relatively expensive, they rather spend the money first on the panel and later upgrade to a DVD format, the joeblow salesguy at the local BB and CC is doing more to promote the formats than what was previously believed by the marketing research gurus. If you guys can hold off, I'm telling you after Christmas sales are going to be great for CE.