Warner Pulls Support For HD DVD and Backs Blu-ray

[prerich]

Originally Posted by merv46

Ummm, a little concerned about the connectivity statement, what is wrong with the HDMI? I have a Panny 10A, PS3 and a Tosh A1. All connect fine to my KDL 46 xbr4 flat pannel as well as to my JVC RS1! No hand shake problems with any of them. I think that statement is a little slanted or out of frustration maybe. As far as bd java how many really care? How many HDDVD owners actually access this stuff? I have once to see how it works, no big deal to me. I think it is sad to see one side eventually lose, but in the end with only one format, won't we all be better off?

I have seen others with the connectivity problems in blu-ray (can't talk like this on the blu-ray.com forum - I love you guys). BD Java makes a BD load slower, I'm glad I went the PC route now because I just upgraded my processor and wow - it takes no time to load now. I'm now Maxing out my ram (for xp pro) and see what type of further benifits I get. The HD-DVD extras work great - you can go straight to the movie, smooth menu access ect. it was very nice - especially for demoing. Jerry is also right aobut including a HDMI cable - if you're going to flaunt it - give it to them. I don't agree with concessions (trade in programs and the like).

[glocksout]

I work for a high-end custom integrator in Southern California. Two years ago we looked at both formats and saw that Blu-ray was more strongly supported by the industry, especially in custom channels (Toshiba isn't a custom-friendly company) but because of the impending war we decided to aim our customers to DVD and tell them to wait it out. But then they kept asking for Blu-ray by name, so we had to oblige. I'm talking about specific consumers, we didn't just give it to everyone, just those who asked but it was a significant amount. The only clients who asked for HD DVD asked for the dual-format players.

We haven't had any problems with Blu-ray connectivity. We've used Samsung, Sony and Pioneer Elite players. I don't know where this came from. As a custom integrator, these issues are right on the top of our priorities in choosing product, we don't' want to be servicing systems every week as you can imagine. When a product isn't reliable we don't sell it regardless of client requests, we tell them to buy it from someone else and we'll install it but we're not responsible for it. The only issues we've had with Blu-ray is the slow load times. We have to update the firmware on them and keep them current so the new titles can play. That's a pain. Connection problems? Never heard of them until now.

In fact, with the news of Warner's decision and how well the Sony players have been working for us, one of our salesmen has said he is only going to sell Blu-ray unless the client only wants DVD. At this point, companies that rely on client satisfaction and a long-standing relationship, it would be foolish to sell an HD DVD player.

[deacongreg]

Jerry, in your next to last paragraph, you said it all. People when they find out, will be even more bitter. They will probably say, what, not again. Fool me once, shame on, fool me twice, you get the picture.

If this does really go down, it must go down quickly I believe. Death must be swift. For all those consumers that went crazy buying those inexpensive Toshiba HD DVD players in November. So that buyers remorse, does not set in too badly. And then people will say, just forget the whole thing!!

[richardl]

With HD DVD out of the picture, Blu-Ray is pretty much synonymous with Playstation 3 during this critical consolidation phase. Standalone Blu-Ray players cost the same or close to the cost of the Sony Playstation game and media system. The overwhelming majority of the Blu-Ray market is now people with Playstations. This may remain the case forever if Playstation momentum continues and Blu-Ray players don't get a lot cheaper quickly.

The part that has me concerned is that if HD DVD is in such trouble, Blu-Ray can't be far behind. Warner Bros. cited concerns about recession as one of the primary motivations for their dropping the second format. But their decision to drop HD DVD was apparently based on HD disc sales favoring Blu-Ray over HD DVD 60% to 40%. That's not a huge difference in units given the tiny size of the market. The fact is Blu-Ray sales have been very disappointing too.

It will be interesting to gauge Warner's commitment to Blu-Ray and HD discs. The first test will be to see if they release some of their exclusive HD DVD titles like The Matrix Trilogy to Blu-Ray. (The Matrix should sell well to PS3 owners.)

I'm hearing a lot of indifference toward HD disc from the kinds of people who Sony need to be enthusiastic about the format. It's not like either Blu-Ray or its doppleganger the Playstation 3 have anything close to the market enthusiasm of the Wii or the iPhone. Throw in the fact that about 1 million early adopters have just been alienated out of the market overnight.

I don't think the Blu-Ray camp should be celebrating yet.

[deacongreg]

Originally Posted by richardl

With HD DVD out of the picture, Blu-Ray is pretty much synonymous with Playstation 3 during this critical consolidation phase. Standalone Blu-Ray players cost the same or close to the cost of the Sony Playstation game and media system. The overwhelming majority of the Blu-Ray market is now people with Playstations. This may remain the case forever if Playstation momentum continues and Blu-Ray players don't get a lot cheaper quickly.

The part that has me concerned is that if HD DVD is in such trouble, Blu-Ray can't be far behind. Warner Bros. cited concerns about recession as one of the primary motivations for their dropping the second format. But their decision to drop HD DVD was apparently based on HD disc sales favoring Blu-Ray over HD DVD 60% to 40%. That's not a huge difference in units given the tiny size of the market. The fact is Blu-Ray sales have been very disappointing too.

It will be interesting to gauge Warner's commitment to Blu-Ray and HD discs. The first test will be to see if they release some of their exclusive HD DVD titles like The Matrix Trilogy to Blu-Ray. (The Matrix should sell well to PS3 owners.)

I'm hearing a lot of indifference toward HD disc from the kinds of people who Sony need to be enthusiastic about the format. It's not like either Blu-Ray or its doppleganger the Playstation 3 have anything close to the market enthusiasm of the Wii or the iPhone. Throw in the fact that about 1 million early adopters have just been alienated out of the market overnight.

I don't think the Blu-Ray camp should be celebrating yet.

OOH, I definitely agree. That is why, I said, we will see what happens now. Most consumers I`m sure do not even know yet, and I`m sure the Circuit City/Best Buy salesperson will not mention it.

[glocksout]

Jerry,

You seem to still think porn is a big factor as it was in VHS. I disagree, but I wanted to ask if you were aware that Vivid and Digital Playground are both behind Blu-ray. Porn support should be about even right now.

http://wesleytech.com/digital-playgr...ps-hd-dvd/504/