Toshiba and Sony Fail to Unify Hi-Definition DVD Format

[Audioholics]

Betamax, DAT, Hi-FD, SDDS, MiniDisc, SACD, Memory Stick and i think the list goes on. They just have the knack of producing everything proprietary even if it is doomed to fail.

I've never quite seen it lined up that that before...

 

[The Dukester]

To me, the software is the key. Not many peole are going to buy the players initially, so it will be a wait and see game. PS3 will sell if it's at a good price point, but not that many people will use it for movie watching IMO. There may be several folks on here that will, but for John Q Public, I don't think so.
Software is the key. The problem arises in what store will carry which format? Will BB align with one and CC the other? What about Wally world? In my area at least, CDs and DVDs were slow to come around because of inventory. No one wanted to carry the same release in three formats. The same will happen with HD movies. Anyone with any business smarts knows that too much inventory is a killer, especiall if it isn't moving! Also, what about the average uninformed consumer? They go into Wally world to buy jr or the neighbor's kid a movie and have no idea what they picked up off the shelf. MAYBE the checkout chick (or dude) will ask if they have the right format, but probable not. And how will the customer even know what jr/neighbor wants or needs?
Multiple formats are going to kill sales, period, I believe. I know that competition is good for the consumer as a rule, but not in this instance.

 

[Jedi2016]

You're quite right about the stores and multiple formats, Dukester. I read an article a while back, an open "WTF" letter from one of the big retailer unions (which includes some big names like Wal-Mart) saying that they're not going to stock multiple formats, period. Either choose one format, or the stores will carry none at all. It was said in an attempt to force their hand, to get them to realize just how bad a format war will be for them. They might get the point if the retailers stick to their guns, refusing to stock any of it.

 

[BMXTRIX]

That's where I just continue to disagree. I would not use my PS2 for DVDs. I already had two DVD players by the time I got a PS2. For a lot of people it was not their first DVD player, though I know half a dozen people who it was their first player.

Yet, the PS3 will be a LOT of peoples first HD player. When someone goes into a store I would think a good marketing strategy will be to advertise on the Blu-Ray discs that it is PS3 compatible. So, when a customer asks for help, the sales associate can just ask "Does your friend own a Playstaion 3?" If so, then the choice is much easier and simplified for the consumer and seller.

I believe that this all comes down to the PS3. I know that 100% I will be getting a PS3 and that will be my first Blu-Ray player. I'm not dropping a grand on a player only... But, a few hundred(ish) for a PS3? Count me in that crowd!

 

[djoxygen]

Based on all this, here are my predictions:

1) There will be no HD optical disc formats available during the 2005 holiday season.

http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/09/01/dhdvd/index.php

You guys should listen to me.

 

[djoxygen]

Well here's another question. Isn't the blue laser both blueray and hddvd use much more expensive than the existing one? Having a drive that will read both conventional DVD's and Blueray will up the cost of the PS3 to the point of pricing it out of the market.

The blue laser will be a more expensive component for a few years, but including the red laser will add a negligible amount to the cost. Since DVD players are available for $30, and considering how much other hardware is in that $30 (power supply, logic boards, case, user interface, remote control, etc...) I'd say that the actual red laser read head is probably no more than a buck or two. All the rest of the components (from the MPEG decoder on down) can be shared between the data stream coming off the red and blue lasers.

 

[Takeereasy]

I agree with you dyoxygen. The red laser that reads DVDs is dirt cheap, and that is all that the first generation of xbox 360 will have. No blue laser means cheaper xboxes, and I think that that means they will outsell the PS3 to a massive degree. I can wait to get a seperate HDDVD/Bluray only unit for when the price comes down. I don't see right now how the playstation can launch at less than $700 US. If they can launch it cheaper then we may have a gaming system battle on on hands along with the new format wars. (I know that we already kind of do, but this would be bigger I think) I don't think that that makes it a bad buy, but if I can get a fully tricked out Xbox 360 with tons of add-ons for $500 why wouldn't I do that, and then just pick up the DVD player for whichever format wins when the price drops to $200-$300 per player?

Also I read that Xbox is looking at the HDDVD format for toshiba. Just looking mind you, but still. To be fair I have to admit as well that I'm an xbox fan, well, moreso than I am a PS2 fan, so maybe I'm coming at this from a biased angle.

 

[djoxygen]

I don't see right now how the playstation can launch at less than $700 US. If they can launch it cheaper then we may have a gaming system battle on on hands along with the new format wars. (I know that we already kind of do, but this would be bigger I think) I don't think that that makes it a bad buy, but if I can get a fully tricked out Xbox with tons of add-ons for $500 why wouldn't I do that,

It'll be a while before that'll be possible. http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gaming/ebgames-starts-xbox-360-preorder-118851.php

$400 for the entry level system up to $700 for the "fully tricked out Xbox with tons of add-ons"

Or did you mean the existing Xbox, not the forthcoming Xbox 360? Since you were talking about gaming system battle, I assumed you were talking $500 for Xbox 360. Apologies if I misread.

Also I read that Xbox is looking at the HDDVD format for toshiba. Just looking mind you, but still.

Have seen similar rumours, but it looks like that will be for v.2/upgrade, not the initial release.

 

[Takeereasy]

Yeah, I was talking about the 360, sorry for not being clearer. I read that the xbox is launching for between $300 and $400 US, with the $400 unit coming with a TON of add-ons. AH link Also see the official xbox site pricing available here . Looks like Micorsoft is lined up to spank Sony. They're going to be first and cheaper. If you have to pick between a $400 fully loaded system and a $700 system that may be price cut at any time to get rid of the blue laser drive what would you do? For me it's going to be the xbox 360. Maybe I'll be wrong, but I just can't see myself using my gaming console as a DVD player.

That link that you gave for $700 comes with 4 extra games, extra wirless controller, etc, etc.