Official HDDVD vs. Bluray thread

[dreamcastrocks]

I figured we need one of these by now.

It looks like HDDVD may be coming even closer to the middle, or winning the war, depending on what you feel.


Disney may be willing to go Duel Format

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multim...ney_Votes_for_51GB_HD_DVD_Media_Approval.html

Walt Disney Home Entertainment, a major Hollywood studio and one of the strongest backers of Blu-ray disc format, voted for approval of a preliminary specification of 51GB triple-layer HD DVD media, just like all the backers of HD DVD and unlike some other backers of Blu-ray Association within the DVD Forum, who typically abstain in HD DVD-related votes.


At the Steering Committee meeting in September Walt Disney Home Entertainment voted for triple layer twin-format HD DVD as well as triple layer HD DVD 51GB revision 1.9 preliminary media standards, according to the notes from the event available at the DVD Forum. During the meeting, twelve steering members of the DVD Forum out of twenty approved the former and eleven members approved the latter.

 

[nashman]

Go HDDVD!!

 

[abomb]

Consumer Reports Ranks Blu-ray, Hd DVD Equal


Not even the venerable Consumer Reports can decide between the rival Blu-ray and HD DVD high-definition video formats. The consumer-product testing publication has ranked Pioneer's DBP-94HD Blu-ray player and Toshiba's HD-XA2 HD DVD player both at No. 1, with an overall score of 91 percent. The publication evaluated nine high-definition players. The magazine commented that all of the players tested provided excellent picture quality. It indicated, however, that the HD DVD players have the advantage of lower price.

 

[D-Dogg]

Disney goes Dual Format and BOOOM! War over.

 

[krispydude]

eh, disney has been voting for years on hd dvd things just because they are part of the dvd forum. i just dont see disney moving neutral anytime soon, they seem to spend more on blu-ray than even sony.

i dont understand how you think its close or hd dvd pulling ahead slightly? the sales still favor heavily blu-ray 2-1 and the new 40gb ps3 will sell 5x more units than hd dvd and blu-ray standalones this xmas.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

eh, disney has been voting for years on hd dvd things just because they are part of the dvd forum. i just dont see disney moving neutral anytime soon, they seem to spend more on blu-ray than even sony.

i dont understand how you think its close or hd dvd pulling ahead slightly? the sales still favor heavily blu-ray 2-1 and the new 40gb ps3 will sell 5x more units than hd dvd and blu-ray standalones this xmas.

you?

Are you referring to us in the thread specifically? Or Consumer Reports ranking HDDVD and Bluray equal? Or Sony CEO calling the format war a "stalemate?"

 

[krispydude]

you?

Are you referring to us in the thread specifically? Or Consumer Reports ranking HDDVD and Bluray equal?

sorry, you. you said hd dvd may be coming closer to the middle or starting to win the war. just curious why you think that?

i just wish one would win though, im not a huge movie buyer but i rent quite a bit and enjoy a good movie experience.

hd dvd would have alot more momentum if they had some good releases this xmas though. i think the only major one left for them is the bourne trilogy?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

sorry, you. you said hd dvd may be coming closer to the middle or starting to win the war. just curious why you think that?

i just wish one would win though, im not a huge movie buyer but i rent quite a bit and enjoy a good movie experience.

hd dvd would have alot more momentum if they had some good releases this xmas though. i think the only major one left for them is the bourne trilogy?

I think that it is closer to the middle right now. It has been moving towards the middle since the beginning when it didn't look like HDDVD had a shot.

You really shouldn't let the format war get in the middle of the movie experience. If HDDVD fails, you are only out $100 or so if you pick one up cheaply. Hell, I guarantee that if you pick up a $100 player along with the 5 free movies that you are going to get, you could sell it and come out even or better.

If you want Bluray to win, get a PS3. The price/value is pretty damn good right now, and you can get 5 free (or 15) free Blurays if you get it during the Black Friday deal.

 

[D-Dogg]

eh, disney has been voting for years on hd dvd things just because they are part of the dvd forum. i just dont see disney moving neutral anytime soon, they seem to spend more on blu-ray than even sony.

i dont understand how you think its close or hd dvd pulling ahead slightly? the sales still favor heavily blu-ray 2-1 and the new 40gb ps3 will sell 5x more units than hd dvd and blu-ray standalones this xmas.

What is the attach rate on a PS3? Counting PS3s as blu-ray installs is misleading since the vast majority don't use it for movies or even know it CAN be used for movies.

Wal Mart has tossed its hat in the ring behind HD DVD. That's all you really need to know. Wal Mart is not in the business of losing; they make you conform to their will. Ask Vlasic.

Before WM, HD DVD was getting its ass kicked. Post WM, sales are up, God knows how many software units have sold (because WM doesn't report that) and the Sony CEO starts talking about the war being a stalemate and only about prestige, anyway.

 

[D-Dogg]

With that said, I'd buy a blu-ray player in a heartbeat if it was economical. It just isn't.

 

[Shane]

If you want Bluray to win, get a PS3. The price/value is pretty damn good right now, and you can get 5 free (or 15) free Blurays if you get it during the Black Friday deal.

What deal is that? and where did you see it?

 

[D-Dogg]

What deal is that? and where did you see it?

walmart and I think the deal is on Saturday.

 

[Shane]

walmart and I think the deal is on Saturday.

15 movies huh? I may just have to buy one.

 

[D-Dogg]

You're basically getting a ton of free movies for the cost of a PS3...if you are in the market for a PS3, it's a no brainer. I am not in the market for a PS3. Too pricey. I also don't need 15 movies..yet.

 

[krispydude]

What is the attach rate on a PS3? Counting PS3s as blu-ray installs is misleading since the vast majority don't use it for movies or even know it CAN be used for movies.

Wal Mart has tossed its hat in the ring behind HD DVD. That's all you really need to know. Wal Mart is not in the business of losing; they make you conform to their will. Ask Vlasic.

Before WM, HD DVD was getting its ass kicked. Post WM, sales are up, God knows how many software units have sold (because WM doesn't report that) and the Sony CEO starts talking about the war being a stalemate and only about prestige, anyway.

of course the attach rate isnt that great for ps3 in terms of blu-ray movies, but many people have bought the ps3 just because it was the best blu-ray player out and how much of a future-proof player it is. i think i saw a number like 60% of ps3 owners dont realize it can play blu-ray movies. i can see that as a good thing since sales are already at a 2 to 1 favor for blu-ray and if those people realize it can be used as a blu-ray player it can increase the ratio even more just because of the shear amount of ps3's out there.

obviously the ps3 is the deciding factor right now in this war because in terms of standalones its something like 400-500k hd dvd against 300-400k blu-ray.

should be interesting to see how the harry potter sets sell on each format. i still think warner is key to deciding this thing, i just dont see disney moving from where they are for a while unless hd dvd was to become the clear winner.

edit: viral marketing videos...great, just what we need lol http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&&article_ID=11591

 

[D-Dogg]

edit: viral marketing videos...great, just what we need lol http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&&article_ID=11591

That smacks of desperation marketing right there.


(good other points, but I just snipped because that kind of marketing does not come from a position of strength and I was surprised to see it.)

 

[Chaplin]

HD-DVD made a temporary jump and was "winning" the sales war when Paramount made it's change. However, over the past month, Blu-Ray has come back and taken the lead back. That speaks volumes, don't you think?

 

[D-Dogg]

HD-DVD made a temporary jump and was "winning" the sales war when Paramount made it's change. However, over the past month, Blu-Ray has come back and taken the lead back. That speaks volumes, don't you think?

According to what numbers? wal mart numbers are NOT calculated.

 

[Chaplin]

According to what numbers? wal mart numbers are NOT calculated.

It came from the official industry watchdog for home entertainment. But hey, if you want to put all your faith into Wal-Mart, more power to you.

 

[D-Dogg]

But hey, if you want to put all your faith into Wal-Mart, more power to you.

Chap, I worked for five years getting xbox, PS2 and PC games into the Wal-Mart channel...I put a TON of faith in Wal-Mart and we had hugely successful games sold through there. Wal Mart sells something like 70% of the videogames in the US and their numbers aren't reported...thus reported sales data doesn't really tell the whole story.

They are ruthless, evil and efficient. They get their way. Don't put your faith in them at your own risk. I have absolutely NO doubt that they WILL be the deciding factor in the format war.

 

[krispydude]

the walmart by my house (83rd and union hills) has jack for blu-ray and hd dvd. about 10 titles of each with only 1 copy in stock of each title.

i have also read that even though walmart doesnt disclose their sales every week, that the neilsens actually does in fact include an approximate sales for walmart in their weekly numbers.

 

[D-Dogg]

the walmart by my house (83rd and union hills) has jack for blu-ray and hd dvd. about 10 titles of each with only 1 copy in stock of each title.

i have also read that even though walmart doesnt disclose their sales every week, that the neilsens actually does in fact include an approximate sales for walmart in their weekly numbers.

Yeah, it's garbage though. We had an estimate in the gaming world too, and our actuals were always higher..by a lot.

 

[nathan]

Did walmart really pick HD DVD, or was Toshiba the first to cut prices?

Reason I ask is Walmart is offering 10 free in-store bluray movies with the 80 GB PS3 for $499 with five more available by mail.

 

[bankybruce]

Target now has a ton of Blueray movie and about 5 HD movies. They also have a couple of Blueray players, but not one HD player other than the Xbox 360.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Target now has a ton of Blueray movie and about 5 HD movies. They also have a couple of Blueray players, but not one HD player other than the Xbox 360.

Target is insignificant in the format war.