Save up to $300/year on phone billsOctober 15, 2007 4:00 AM PDT
False starts in race to future of DVDs
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(continued from previous page)
Another turnoff to consumers is that most titles are not released on both formats. Though 300 was released on both, blockbuster titles like Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Spiderman 3 will not be available on both.
Warner Bros. is the one remaining major studio to play it neutral and offer its content on both Blu-ray and HD DVD. Paramount was taking this same approach until its much-publicized decision to go HD DVD-only in August.
Though it received a moderate amount of flack for reportedly taking money to make the switch, the studio could be credited for at least picking a side. Warner Bros. is still backing both, which while potentially offers consumers more choice in the short term, could actually serve to further prolong the format war. Because, after all, if a powerful studio like Warner Bros. isn't choosing a side, why should consumers?
"This is not a format war on technology, it's a format war on content, and no one's going to win," said Yankee Group's Martin. At this point, he contends, there are two outcomes: Toshiba, which backs HD DVD, and Sony, which supports Blu-ray, can realize they're only hurting themselves and come up with one standard--"that's not likely to happen," he says--or the studios can get together and agree to offer everything on both or on one format.
"Then the free market decides what the winning format is," Martin said.
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So, there is probably another 12-18 months before there is enough demand for either format for a commercial decision to be made by the studio until then it's just R&D money and posturing.
What Martin suggests is basically where we're currently at; and the market is being awful darned slow to decide. How about this as a third alternative (from the two Martin suggested):
The two competing format associations (HD DVD and Blu-Ray) get together and guarantee to consumers the following:
1. The studios can use whichever format they chose. One or the other or even both--the studios chose.
2. That the two associations will only allow the manufacture of player devices that support three formats .. forever: DVD, HD DVD and Blu-Ray. There will be no single-format (or dual-format, if DVD is included) players manufactured .. ever.
3. That high def disks will be sold for a reasonable price, consistent with that the consumers have come to enjoy for DVDs.
Do the preceding and everyone can win. But, that's the problem. The associations aren't so much concerned about winning as they are about the other side losing. The want total control. Until they're willing to give that up, there'll be a format war and I seriously doubt the market will decide to do anything, meaning the status quo (DVD rules) will remain.
--mark d.
I, like most consumers, just want to push play.
People don't wait because "DVD is good enough", people can wait because DVD is good enough and the high def content war is a disaster.
"DVD is good enough" wins when the alternative is a $500 next generation DVD player turned paperweight a year later.
A lot of people still remember BetaMax.
As for the WaPo article, I notice it used an Xbox 360 as the HD-DVD player, and a Sony PS3 as the BD player. I assume the test used a new, Xbox 360 Elite with the HDMI output, and the Accell device was an HDMI switchbox. However, realize two things with this configuration. First, the next-gen DVD players, and associated logic included with game consoles are not designed specifically to produce the best movie outputs. Second, switchboxes can sometimes affect the signal quality. This may have explained some of the video artifacts mentioned in the article.
As the comparison was with a top of the line SD-DVD player, WaPo should have used higher quality HD-DVD and BD players. The top of the line SD player may have features focused on movie presentation.
Also, the WaPo article incorrectly states an upscaling SD-DVD player is required to get the best picture from an HDTV. All HDTVs include upscalers to convert SD content to the HD display. Some HDTVs do a better job of upscaling than some upscaling DVD players (although the Oppo device is considered one of the best). The biggest problem is many people still connect SD-DVD players to HDTVs via a composite connection.
My personal opinions are based on the following: I can clearly see the difference between SD-DVD content played on my upscaling SD-DVD player (I do not own a next-gen DVD player) and HD content delivered by satellite (such as HBO in HD). I also was able to clearly see the difference between Blu-Ray and SD-DVD in a Sony Style store. The SD-DVD was a non-upscaling device, and the 50" SXRD HDTV upscaled the content very well. But the BD on a 70" SXRD HDTV was jaw-dropping.
If you go giant-screen, you should consider a next-gen DVD player. If you stay 50" or below, you can probably do find with a good quality SD-DVD player for now.
But the answer if we had a single standard would be, buy the HD device now.
"Most of the appeal (of a next-generation player) will come from (having) 1080p. While that may be the standard in the future, 720p is still selling very strongly."? ....Standard dvds are only able to produce 480P, not 720P. You can buy an "upconverting" player but all it does it double the lines. (i.e. Garbage in garbage out)
Great info but make sure you know your topic before you write about it.
Soon most people will want movies on an SD sized chip that they can insert in a photo/movie service type kiosk/machine and drop in a few coins to move the latest movie onto it .... the capacity already is here ... the will is not ... Blue Ray and HD DVDthe just reminds us all that greed is rife !
I don't mind buying the combo disks, but NOT if they are going to charge the same as buying the HD disk AND the DVD!
I also agree that neither will really win this tug of war because while they are busy bribing studios to go their way other technology will come to market that will put both of these technologies to shame. Technology marches on and it doesn't wait for two bickering companies.
You best bet is to continue purchasing regular DVD's. If you rent but don't buy then go ahead and take a dip in the HD player pool but just purchase the least expensive player you can find because it will be outdated in a year.
see the difference from VHS to DVD, but not much on the same tv
with a BR. He's in his mid-60's with the typical eyesight of
someone in that category. If you are limited physically, what's the
point? How many people can actually enjoy it, especially at those
prices? It's like audio systems that can extend the highs out near
to 20Khz or so, the upper hearing limit of average humans. But
even by the time you're in your late teens, research shows that
upper figure slowly creeping down. Pitty.
Maybe if the studios weren't so paranoid about "protecting" their product & breaking copyright law because they have the money to do so by bribing law makers...this Blu-ray/HD-DVD "war" wouldn't be happening. Maybe if the studios & hardware makers would put more money & thought into DIVX...this "war" would be a footnote for stupidity in history.
If they expect us to risk our money on trying to decide which one will win they should have another thing coming.
Unfortunately for us consumers most consumers are like Lemmings and head right for the cliffs. Frankly, I don't think either format is a big enough advance given the risks, the costs or the benefits.
They also need to allow the consumer to make one legal back up of the disc. The price per disc should not be any more than a DVD.
Robert
"regions" I hate DVDs. Until the almighty industry decides that
we DON'T need regions, I will keep my very small collection of
DVDs until they come up with a technology that's not "in my
face" to keep their silly control. I want to be able to buy them
where I want and play them where I want. I'm not going to
coddle to anymore of their region madness. I would buy many
more DVDs of any technology if I didn't have to fight with silly
technologies that block me from using them.
New DVD technology? If it's more of the same, I don't want it.
Call it old, DVD is the staple that shows no reason to change. Opinion is not value.
...I say this as someone who still has a closet full of Laserdiscs, DAT tapes, and OS/2 discs among other artifacts.
DVD is good enough for the vast majority of the people. In addition, studios are charging a premium for BlueRay and HD content.
Many people predicted the fall of both of these formats years ago, before their debut. It's simply a way for the studios to try and cram more DRM restrictions onto the consumer.
to stay neutral, and let the consumers decide which format is the
winner. - Within a year or two the studios should be able to see a
clear winner in the sales numbers or each format, and then they
can drop the hammer if they feel a need to.
- Give me all or go away
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by amigabill
October 15, 2007 11:54 AM PDT
- I'm giving the industry a choice to make.
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Reply to this comment
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See all 90 Comments >>1. Give me everything in one affordable quality player with all features supported, which supports all DVD, HDDVD and Bluray formats.
2. Go away and put an end to all HD formats.
I do not offer a third option.
Now, all you industry people, choose.