Comments on: Fallout Begins Over Warner Bros. Blu-ray Decision; Is the Party Over (Literally)? http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:00:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Isaac Madsen http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-508318 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:58:27 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-508318 I happen to root for Blu-Ray primarily because I already have a PS3 to watch my films on. I'm probably one of the few people who actually bought a PS3 because it's was the cheapest option for HD film at the time. Otherwise I might have needed to get an Xbox 360 and HD-DVD addon drive or an even more expensive HD-DVD or Blu-Ray standalone player. Like Kevin Tsujihara said, the WB's decision was made partly because of "consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry." Without a single format clearly identified as (not necessarily superior but) the choice for consumers, HD films will become less expensive faster and, therefore, a more inviting option for the average consumer. I could be happy either way. Owning a PS3 and plenty of Blu-Ray discs is great, but if the primary format should become HD-DVD, I'm absolutely willing to go along with it. My last word is merely that I think Blu-Ray has more potential simply because of the storage capacity. Fancy options can always be added on later. Even if Blu-Ray doesn't currently support many of the options available to HD-DVD, I'm convinced that it will do so in the future, especially if it does become the leading format. The only reason I hope the format war ends is simply to stop the endless bickering between fanboys. As for buying Paramount films, I'm waiting for either the end of their contract or the end of this format war so I can clearly know that I'm getting their films in a format I'll be able to use later. I don't want to go out and buy an HD-DVD player if it will cease being useful to me a year or two from now. As I already own a PS3, even if Blu-Ray fails, I'm still able to play my games! I happen to root for Blu-Ray primarily because I already have a PS3 to watch my films on. I’m probably one of the few people who actually bought a PS3 because it’s was the cheapest option for HD film at the time. Otherwise I might have needed to get an Xbox 360 and HD-DVD addon drive or an even more expensive HD-DVD or Blu-Ray standalone player. Like Kevin Tsujihara said, the WB’s decision was made partly because of “consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry.”

Without a single format clearly identified as (not necessarily superior but) the choice for consumers, HD films will become less expensive faster and, therefore, a more inviting option for the average consumer. I could be happy either way. Owning a PS3 and plenty of Blu-Ray discs is great, but if the primary format should become HD-DVD, I’m absolutely willing to go along with it.

My last word is merely that I think Blu-Ray has more potential simply because of the storage capacity. Fancy options can always be added on later. Even if Blu-Ray doesn’t currently support many of the options available to HD-DVD, I’m convinced that it will do so in the future, especially if it does become the leading format. The only reason I hope the format war ends is simply to stop the endless bickering between fanboys.

As for buying Paramount films, I’m waiting for either the end of their contract or the end of this format war so I can clearly know that I’m getting their films in a format I’ll be able to use later. I don’t want to go out and buy an HD-DVD player if it will cease being useful to me a year or two from now. As I already own a PS3, even if Blu-Ray fails, I’m still able to play my games!

]]> by: Leroy http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-458964 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:25:21 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-458964 I think one think that people are not even factoring in is consumer. All this talk about blu-ray yeah its great but its expensive. Not only that you will only see a difference if you have a 1080p tv now granted that the hd-dvd player is half the price of a blu-ray i cant see why i would buy a blu-ray. warner bros. is a big studio but i happen to like Shrek and Transformers and if Iron Man is anything like Transformers was i dont know. Also dont forget that other companies and technologies are trying to come down or make a competitive price for consumers. I think one think that people are not even factoring in is consumer. All this talk about blu-ray yeah its great but its expensive. Not only that you will only see a difference if you have a 1080p tv now granted that the hd-dvd player is half the price of a blu-ray i cant see why i would buy a blu-ray. warner bros. is a big studio but i happen to like Shrek and Transformers and if Iron Man is anything like Transformers was i dont know. Also dont forget that other companies and technologies are trying to come down or make a competitive price for consumers.

]]> by: HD DVD vs Blu-Ray: the DVD wars may be over http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-454168 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:38:05 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-454168 [...] Fallout Begins Over Warner Bros. Blu-ray Decision; Is the Party … [...] […] Fallout Begins Over Warner Bros. Blu-ray Decision; Is the Party … […]

]]> by: Jason http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-453953 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:55:18 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5229#comment-453953 There will be no outright "winner" much like + and - DVD burners in a year you will just go out and get an "HD" DVD player that will have both formats. All of the discs you bought before that be they Bluray or HD DVD will play on it. This whole Beta VHS comparison forgets the formats can already both be played in one player with the right software and minor hardware additions. There will be no outright “winner” much like + and - DVD burners in a year you will just go out and get an “HD” DVD player that will have both formats. All of the discs you bought before that be they Bluray or HD DVD will play on it.
This whole Beta VHS comparison forgets the formats can already both be played in one player with the right software and minor hardware additions.

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