Blu-ray Sales Up 400% Compared To 2007

[BMXTRIX]

I think people who subscribe to these forums believe everyone is AV crazed and its simply not true? I believe for the most part that your average consumer is very content with his SD up conversion dvd player, CRT tube and HTIB set up. In fact from the people I know most of them don't care for this hobby.

I think you are dead on with this and I think it is the fanboy base, mostly the opposition, that sees a lack of immediate worldwide acceptance as proof positive of BD failure.

Blu-ray is establishing itself as a 15+ year format. Just like VHS and DVD are. DVD will take years to replace and it will be a gradual changeover as BD players pricing falls, and people replace their tube TVs for HD displays.

Many of my friends only own a handful of DVDs, and only a few own HD displays unlike the four I have in my home. I think where BD has really done well is setting expectations of steady growth and then meeting those expectations. Not phenomenal growth, but steady and solid. The CEs involved with Blu-ray are on board with this growth, and they know what to expect. From 2% market at the start of 2008 to 8% market by the start of 2009. Solid growth, but not out of this world - just steady.

So, my friends, while they know about Blu-ray, aren't running out to buy it right now, like they aren't replacing their 32" CRTs with 50" LCDs. They DO want it, they are aware of it, but they are in no rush. They'll do it when money allows and pricing is right.

Not one of those things stopping BD from growing at a steady pace.

Keep in mind, most people actually were happy with VHS up to the day they got a DVD player, then the price was at a point where they were happy.

I think a big shift is how Blockbuster and Netflix are so strongly embracing Blu-ray right now. I remember Blockbuster taking YEARS before they started carrying DVD, and then they would have 3 DVDs for 20 VHS tapes, and the DVDs would be rented out, while the VHS tapes were in plentiful supply. The fact I can go into Blockbuster now and rent Blu-rays at all even when market penetration really is so low, just blows me away.

 

[Alamar]

The fact I can go into Blockbuster now and rent Blu-rays at all even when market penetration really is so low, just blows me away.

I think perhaps you impress a little too easily

I can't think of a business model for Blockbuster or [esp.] NetFlix that would not involve relatively strong support for what's the only HD game in town. As you said at this point you need to keep the nerds [fanboys] happy and hope that the rest will follow eventually.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I think perhaps you impress a little too easily

I can't think of a business model for Blockbuster or [esp.] NetFlix that would not involve relatively strong support for what's the only HD game in town. As you said at this point you need to keep the nerds [fanboys] happy and hope that the rest will follow eventually.

Sorry - I mean it blows me away that a company that is SO slow to respond as Blockbuster is actually stepping up with a new technology. When DVD was around, they were incredibly slow, and didn't care that they were years behind the release of the format. Hopefully Netflix has spurred some competitive sense into them. But, the concept of Blockbuster having any common sense is what blows me away. It would be like walking into Best Buy and having an intelligent conversation about A/V with an employee... sure, it could happen, but would still blow me away.

Yeah, I guess you're right, I impress to easily.

 

[itschris]

Most people think the Panasonic BD30 is pretty solid. I haven't used it personally, but you may want to check the thread in the main 'general forum' as there is a long thread on the best BD player on the market right now.

I'm really hopeful that the BD50 from Panasonic which is do out soon, will be rock solid.

I'm more hopeful that Sony will take the PS3, put an IR receiver in it, eliminate game play completely, and sell it as a stand alone BD player in a case that looks like a normal A/V component. Not holding my breath on that one though.

Why would they do that? Wouldn't that just be the new BD350 or 550? But with better processing? I mean that's what I don't get. Why can they make a game console be the end all be all bd player, but leave out the same peformance for the ht crowd who'd prefer a more traditional piece of gear and who really want it the most?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Why would they do that? Wouldn't that just be the new BD350 or 550? But with better processing? I mean that's what I don't get. Why can they make a game console be the end all be all bd player, but leave out the same peformance for the ht crowd who'd prefer a more traditional piece of gear and who really want it the most?

Honestly, that question will bug some people for years. If you were to take a PS3, have it in milled aluminum and with some nearly dead silent fans installed, make it standard component wider, with IR on it, and keep the PS3 in it completely, but just add the form factor of a solid piece of A/V gear, then drop the ES name on it - The PS3 ES - I would consider dropping $1,500 or more on something like that as a truly premium piece of gear.

I also don't think that I would be alone.

 

[supervij]

You would pay triple the price . . . if it looked prettier?

cheers,
supervij

 

[BMXTRIX]

You would pay triple the price . . . if it looked prettier?

cheers,
supervij

Not just looked prettier, it has to be nearly dead silent (unlike the current PS3), and it has to include full discrete IR functionality. I would prefer it to have traditional A/V inputs/outputs on it as well.

Just a few extras...

But, the PS3 is subsidized against future game sales, and I would be willing to pay into a fair profit for the product if it stood ahead of the competition.