The Real Question Now: Blu-ray, what's next.

[stratman]

Will it go after SD DVD? Will the format stay content at being strictly niche? Will masses of consumers adopt? Will Sony and company make money on this venture? Will VOD destroy Blu-ray? Will the economy let Blu-ray thrive? How cheap will players really get? How cheap will software really get? Will WalMart slash software to the point that the average joe will buy in to it?

All of these legitimate questions will play out in the "BIG IF", known as Blu-ray's future. I'm still a bit dubious that it will ever topple SD DVD or being adopted in mass numbers. Now the other question, will the smaller manufacturers jump on board and start mass producing inexpensive players? This I believe, will be key for mass adoption (which won't happen overnight) and survival. Who will benefit from this? The studios that were HD DVD exclusive will now be able to re-release in BD.

I hope that BD makes it, that they release a version of players without bugs. I'm one of those dinosaurs that likes to own physical media, to do with as I please, so I'll cheer for BD over VOD any day of the week. I sincerely hope that those in the BD camp (manufacturers)will do what's right by the consumers and make it affordable and reliable. And finally, that consumers will be wise enough to vote with their wallets.

 

[mike c]

agreed. the key is dependable but affordable players. the BD's are already at previous SD DVD prices.

 

[frostbyte]

Previous format wars always came with some video quality improvement. I don't see much room for video improvement on Blu Ray since 1080P is now the broadcasting standard and it meets that so I would be very surprised if the next format war will offer a video upgrade. It will likely offer some sort of alternative media. Hopefully not for 10 years as Blu Ray needs to get successful and cheap for the masses. It deserves it as SD DVD doesn't take advantage of the HDTV we are all buying. Upscaling is overrated IMO.

 

[Seth=L]

I also would like for the stand alone players to run a bit faster.

 

[Seth=L]

Previous format wars always came with some video quality improvement. I don't see much room for video improvement on Blu Ray since 1080P is now the broadcasting standard and it meets that so I would be very surprised if the next format war will offer a video upgrade. It will likely offer some sort of alternative media. Hopefully not for 10 years as Blu Ray needs to get successful and cheap for the masses. It deserves it as SD DVD doesn't take advantage of the HDTV we are all buying. Upscaling is overrated IMO.

Are you saying that HD content is at the level of 1080p? If so, that is not the case. 1080i is the highest broadcast resolution. You also have to consider that Satalite and Digital Cable are very compressed. Over the air is the best broadcast HD you will get, and it's still not at the level of Blu-ray.

 

[Nomo]

Are you saying that HD content is at the level of 1080p? If so, that is not the case. 1080i is the highest broadcast resolution. You also have to consider that Satalite and Digital Cable are very compressed. Over the air is the best broadcast HD you will get, and it's still not at the level of Blu-ray.

I think that's the biggest issue for me next to the current prices.
I've only played with display models of the BD players but they don't seem to be much faster on start up and load times than my HD DVD. As a strictly movie player it's not such an issue, but for CDs, the sluggishness is unbearable.

 

[Seth=L]

The HD DVD players are slow too, the PS3 is very fast though.

 

[frostbyte]

I'm saying that 1080P will be the highest we can get and both televisions and blu ray are capable of providing this. VHS is not capable of 480i or 480p if that is even something it could provide, but DVD was capable so an upgrade was actually an upgrade in quality. So basically satellite and cable are still catching up to the hardware capabilities. I don't see anything beyond 1080p coming in the next 50 years so blu ray is capable of that. So the upgrade will have to be in delivery such as downloadable, or media type such as memory stick etc. It will likely not be a picture quality improvement.

 

[ParkerAudio]

I would like a bigger selection at Blockbuster, or even another video store in town to carry Bluray.
The current selection/stock is a joke. One, maybe now two racks with Bluray movies.

 

[frostbyte]

My blockbuster doesn't have any blu ray yet. Every time I check they say they were suppose toget some in, but haven't. That's been 6 months.

 

[ParkerAudio]

My blockbuster doesn't have any blu ray yet. Every time I check they say they were suppose toget some in, but haven't. That's been 6 months.

Ugggghhh! Well that almost puts you in the HD DVD camp, as far as having to buy movies to watch them.

 

[frostbyte]

I'd try Netflix, but I heard the wait time is terrible in trying to get them.

 

[ParkerAudio]

It might be different for the area you live in, but the distribution in my area has been very quick with Bluray titles. I can only imagine that they will ratchet it up now that they are Bluray only. I think, they still have a 30 day free trail going on, if you can find that offer.

 

[stratman]

I wonder if Netflix will now follow through with their warning of raising prices on Blu-ray rentals.

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