In a recent article I read there was some discussion in regards to how the format race is tightening up, Blu Ray which had dominated in the beginning of the year is now feeling pressure from HD DVD and it’s exclusivity deal with Paramount, specifically because of Transformers.
To me it is a bit annoying that I can’t get Heroes and Transformers in BluRay, but I don’t think it is going to drive me to buy an HD player just for a few select titles, in fact I just bought the DVD’s instead and played them on my PS3. My intention of getting a PS3 wasn’t really to get the BluRay player, but I considered that a bonus, I actually did not want to take part in this whole format debacle for this same reason, what format will win and what should we invest in as consumers?
I am sure that back in the day someone decided to invest into a whole collection of Beta Max movies and is sitting there kicking themselves years later. I will wait until maaking any serious investments, how about you?
Hit the jump for the portion of the article and a bad quote from an analyst comparing the format wars to a yacht race? go figure!?
From the article:
Despite being outsold nearly 2 to 1 by Blu-ray in the first three quarters of this year, some analysts expect HD DVD to make a strong finish in the fourth quarter. They point to sales records set by the HD DVD release of Transformers by Paramount Pictures.
Earlier this year another HD DVD release, 300, generated a lot of buzz until it was released on Blu-ray and the HD DVD numbers were quickly eclipsed. Ironically, until August Paramount also released movies in both formats, which could conceivably have dealt yet another blow to HD DVD if they hadn’t decided to release on HD DVD exclusively.
Still, a single title can’t determine the success of an entire format, and this holiday season may be a turning point for either one. Besides competition for standalone player sales, the success or failure of Sony’s PS3 will also have some effect since it doubles as a Blu-ray player.
“It’s going to be 2008 before the dust will really starts to settle. For now, its like watching a yacht race,” said Gerry Kaufhold, an analyst with the In-Stat research firm.
7 Comments
Write a Comment»blu-ray just makes so much more sense the hd-dvd. I don’t know why they are prolonging thier life, it’s obvious that blu-ray will win. Just give it time.
The format stalemate is only going to screw the consumer in the end. Both formats are basically the same thing, with the only major differences being capacity (Bluray holds more) and read-write (HD-DVD is quicker).
I only have Bluray because it came with my PS3, otherwise I wouldn’t have it either. As for HD-DVD, if it had come packaged with the 360, I would most likely have adopted HD-DVD first. As for Transformers and Heroes, I won’t be buying either, on any format, screw Paramount. Transformers was a great movie, but not a movie that I would find myself watching all that often. Heroes was great, but the HD box sets are prohibitively expensive, on either format.
If the technically superior format won then HD-DVD would win. BUT looking back in time the technically superior format betamax lost to VHS. My vote is for HD-DVD, but i still refuse to enter that market till I can see a full future for one the other or both.
They can do whatever they want… when they release a cheep dual format machine i’ll invest in High Def
FatSteveIrwin,
On what basis is the HD-DVD a better format:
BluRay has a faster read speed
BluRay has more storage (although difference isn’t huge)
HD-DVD on the other hand is easier to produce (although this is being negated somewhat as BluRay is maturing).
They both support the same video/audio codecs (although the HD-DVD spec does mandate the use of a couple of higher quality audio codecs that are optional on the BluRay).
Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDDVD for actual differences.
I would like to see BluRay win as I have a PS3 and this would be an easy way to get into HD movies. However at $30 - $40 for a new movie I will hold off getting a significant number of BluRay disks.
On a side note, at least where I am at Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have dedicated significantly less shelf space to HD-DVD then BluRay recently. Best Buy had the most drastic change where BluRay went from one shelf (on the back of the new release shelf) and HD-DVD was on the center isle selves which you pretty much had to walk through. Now BluRay takes up three full shelves, plus an additional center stand in the middle isle. The HD-DVD disks were moved to the old location of the BluRay.
The Other stores now have 2x or more shelf space for BluRay then they do for HD-DVD.
I hope both formats lose. There have been some ideas for a low cost HD DVDs. I don’t think either side should win, I think they should just come out with something cheaper thats produced by everyone…
If anything, early adopters will have to buy the Combo DVD drive (blueray hddvd) until one finally wins.