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.
fyi
A monopoly will screw us all.
Blockbuster chooses Blu-ray over HD DVD
**************************************EXCERPT********************************
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Blockbuster Inc. will rent high-definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format in 1,450 stores when it expands its high-def offerings next month, dealing a major blow to the rival HD DVD format.
The move, being announced today, could be the first step in resolving a format war that has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.
Blockbuster has been renting both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles in 250 stores since late last year and found that consumers were choosing Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time.
"The consumers are sending us a message. I can't ignore what I'm seeing," said Matthew Smith, senior vice president of merchandising at Blockbuster.
Well after a three week delay, I finally got my HD DirectTV DIVO and now the remote died.
I will wait a while on HD DVD.
Just marvelous. I just bought the HD DVD drive for my Xbox360.
The picture is great. Much better than broadcast HD.
Related:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/soapbox/soap060107.html
I love movies, but am always the last one on the block to get the “new” technology. I’m currently in a small basement apartment and am itching to get a better sound system, and am considering Blu-Ray after reading that article.
When BluRay hits around $299 at Walmart, I'll consider the technology as mainstream.
Here the monopoly is more on a standard than on a product. The effect may be the reverse, where, if the standard is common, more devices can use supplies based on the same standard, instead of having to buy individual devices to support each standard. Products should get cheaper, because of the economy of larger scales, as a result of the wider use of one particular standard. Just guessing, BTW.
Looks like Sony wasn’t so dumb in its PS3 strategy.
HDTV Ping!
I am protesting the 2009 transition to HiDef broadcast through my local Congressman. I won't qualify for one of the free converter box certificates after they shut off the standard definition stations, and that's just unfair.
BUMP
I’m someone who’s generally behind the times on new technology, so maybe you or someone else can help me out on this. I have a large DVD collection. I’m assuming (hoping?) that Blu-Ray players will be able to play them?
>>>>If one wins a monopoly wont the concerned consumer groups be upset?<<<<
How is it a monopoly?
Is Blue-Ray made by only one company?
Maybe someone can clarify for me, but the down side to BLU-RAY, is that it won’t play your old standard DVD movies, and its more expensive than HDDVD.
Not only that, but HDDVD player will play standard DVD’s and bring them up to near HD quality and a HDDVD player is roughly 50% of what a BLU-RAY player cost.
If so, then we should all be pushing the HDDVD format.
The least expensive DVD player that plays HD is actually the Sony Play Station 3 for @ 600 bucks. It’s Blu-Ray
only.
All stand alone players are in the 900 dollar range.
My guess is that the people renting movies are using the kids
PS3 to watch them, like I am.
You think so? Have I got a Beta-Max for you. I think they still make movies for them in the Philippines.
Blu-Ray is technologically superior. Among other features, its writable disks will hold substantially more that its competition.
Hello out there! Standaridizing the format will bring more competition, not less, because more manufacturers will be making disks, including blanks for computer storage. Look at the list of companies supporting the two rival formats, and you will see that Blu-Ray has the edge, particularly with the upper end companies (Sony, Apple, and even Dell).
I say, bite the bullet and go with the more advanced technology now.
Go Blu!
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