Posted on 06/17/2007 10:29:06 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
In another blow to HD DVD, the giant Blockbuster video rental chain has thrown its weight behind Blu-ray in the fight to see which format is the high definition successor to the humble DVD.
After renting Blu-ray and HD DVD titles in 250 stores since late last year, Blockbuster has decide to stock only Blu-ray in its other 1250 US stores. Customers were choosing Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time, reports Associated Press via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The release of Sony's Blu-ray-enabled PlayStation 3 games console was also a factor in the decision, said Blockbuster senior vice president of merchandising Matthew Smith. Smith's comments comes after Microsoft conceded that the Xbox 360 games console may eventually support Blu-ray.
While Blockbuster is following market trends, its backing of Blu-ray as the format winner is possible a self-fulfilling prophesy - with other retailers likely to follow Blockbuster's lead. Blu-ray also has some heavy-hitting backers in Australia, with entertainment retail chain JB Hi-Fi declaring it will only stock Blu-ray.
It's true that Blu-ray players are more expensive than their HD DVD counterparts, but at this point I don't think price is a factor. Early adopters aren't too concerned about price tags. In 12 months time when prices fall and the tag becomes important, it will probably already be too late for HD DVD.
Things are staring to look grim for HD DVD, but the format war could drag on due to the release of dual format Blu-ray/HD DVD players from the likes of Samsung and LG. While this is might seem to be a good thing, it's just going to delay mass adoption of one format and thus stop hardware and movie prices falling. Blu-ray v HD DVD is a battle to the death, and the sooner one dies the better off consumers will be.
Sony has a history of coming out with a competing technology that is better but doesn’t make it due to licensing greed. VHS vs. Beta, Audio Cassette vs 4-track cartridge (anyone even remember the 4 track. I bought one because it was Sony, it died in 2 years (late 60s).)
The porn industry standardized on VHS and Beta died. They are backing the HD-DVD over of the Blue-Ray. Blockbuster has clout that wasn’t there with VHS vs. Beta. I wonder who will win.
Yeah, and Circuit City backs DivX
Don’t worry, all Blu-ray players will play standard DVD’s.
The only advantage hddvd has is price for now, and only for the hardware. The discs are the same.
The thing is, the Blu-ray players have dropped by half in just 1 year in price. hddvd has dropped too, but Blu-ray is always pretty close behind.
I suggest you look at the BluRay consortium membership. There are dozens involved. HDDVD has miscrosatan and Toshiba and Universal.
LLS
Yes, and most will upconvert them to 1080i, via HDMI interface.
LLS
That’s what I don’t get.. People think Blu-ray is just Sony.
It’s a consortium much like DVD and CD’s were. The vast majority supports Blu-ray now, electronics firms and the movie studios.
I have the Xbox360 hddvd player, and I’m not such a fan of it. I really prefer my PS3.
The PS3 will now upconvert standard blu-ray to 1080p.
Still looks near unwatchable compared to real Blu-ray movies on my 56” DLP though.
Maybe. But, most of the best movie titles are coming out on Blu-Ray. I say this as someone who has an HD-DVD player.
Get a new remote. You’ll like the DVR.
I did the same thing. I figured it was a good way to have my cake and eat it too. I get an HD media format with minimal investment while I wait for a winner.
PS3 is mostly a game machine that does a stellar job of playing BD’s. My Pioneer and friends Sony BD players play DVD upconverted as well as a $5000.00 Denon or my $1700.00 Elite Pioneer DVD player.
LLS
PS3 has horsepower. I’ll bet before it is over, you get firmware that will do DVD justice also.
LLS
It’s not that. It already does good for a regular DVD player. It’s just that 2megapixel 1080p looks a whole lot better than 500 thousand pixels 480p.
The MSRP of the HD A2 as of 6/18/07 at 8:00 AM is once again $399. This is only $100 less than the new Blu-ray S300 which streets today.
And who pays MSRP?
Why do these threads attract so many "I'm a Luddite and proud of it!" type posts? ;)
HDMI should be boycotted, unless you want your system hobbled by DRM.
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