http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/ Engadget HD Comments for Amazon offers up Buy 1 Get 1 on HD DVD flicks http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/2 Bogos in less than amonth though (with very recent eleases like Bourne and HP), interesting...
Ah well, in any case, Disney answered, and you can also buy Blu Ray discs at 45% to 50% off from Amazon, including also recent releases like Ratatouille and PotC: AWE.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000183011&tag=bluraynews-20]]>Dec 27th 2007 12:18AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 8:26AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Not as good, but someone is saying Best Buy will have a buy 3 get 2 free next week.

My wife is going to kill me, I just got 6 DVDs from Amazon and their B1G1 and had ordered 3 from Best Buy with their B2G1.

This is going to be a rough month if they keep having HD-DVD BOGOs. Maybe HD-DVD can buy support to skew the numbers like Blu-ray finally!

]]>Dec 27th 2007 11:14AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/21 of 25
39 of 50
67 of 100

Those numbers gotta be killing the blu-ray fanboys!
]]>Dec 27th 2007 12:39AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 12:49AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 9:31AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
How am I supposed to get off now?!]]>Dec 27th 2007 10:07AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 12:50AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 1:54AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 8:25AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 10:06AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 2:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 3:05AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 3:36AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Amazon.com
Planet Earth - HD DVD
The Matrix Trilogy - HD DVD

Frys.com
Dawn of the Dead - HD DVD
Dante's Peak - HD DVD
Mission: Impossible 2 - HD DVD
The Mummy - HD DVD
The Mummy Returns - HD DVD
The Fast and the Furious - HD DVD
2 Fast 2 Furious - HD DVD
Apollo 13 - HD DVD

and today V for Vendetta from Hastings!]]>Dec 27th 2007 6:51AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
http://formatwarcentral.com/index.php/2007/12/27/muggles-gone-wild-potter-hd-dvds-claim-top-4-amazon-ranking-spots/]]>Dec 27th 2007 7:11AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
The best things in life are red... Hot Tamales, a '65 Mustang in red, Frank's Red Hot Sauce, Lava (except when touched), Super Mario, and HD-DVD... ]]>Dec 27th 2007 8:22AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 9:17AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 8:43AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
And while I can say the free movie experience with the Sony PS3 purchase wasn't much better (only 2 of five chosen titles arrive, along with three crappy titles I didn't choose), the common denominator in my house thus far is 3-to-1 ratio in Blu-ray favor just on title assessment in my home.

BTW, the same deal was being offered in retail yesterday at Fry's Electronics.]]>Dec 27th 2007 8:50AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 9:10AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 11:51AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 9:28AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 10:08AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 10:12AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
You see all those other covers with the ugly swooshes on them? That's Universal. Also different from the last BOGO, no Paramount or Dreamworks titles in sight.

So, what does it all mean? F@#% all, that's what. I'm sure Warner has no problem at all continuing to take money from redheads, blu-beards and f@#%ing purple people for as long as there are two formats. PROTIP: it all spends the same.]]>Dec 27th 2007 10:14AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Exactly, a BOGO is a BOGO on either side, let this be a lesson to those tards who try to read into a BOGO sale anything more than a good deal.....a BOGO for red doesn't mean anything more or less than a BOGO for blu.....just means someone is trying to move merchandise out of their stock and into consumers hands....]]>Dec 27th 2007 10:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
I don't remember seeing anyone say that, at least not seriously. Warner wouldn't have to dump stock, just like Paramount didn't. Heck, if anything they'd be more likely to sell BD (or HD DVD) at full price if they switched sides, since not everyone wants to be dual format!]]>Dec 27th 2007 11:03AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Precisely. BOGOs are not a crystal ball for looking into either format's future.

The only thing you need to know about BOGOs is that they obviously skew the Nielsen numbers and that Blu-ray has had far more of them this year. ;)]]>Dec 27th 2007 11:04AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 11:52AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 9:54AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 10:05AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
I've read lots of posts where HD DVD fans blamed the Blu-ray BOGOs for why Blu-ray is outselling HD DVD so substantially - seems pretty hypocritical to be complaining about BOGOs in one thread then supporting them in another.

On DVD EMPIRE Blu-ray is currently selling 62.46% of Hi Def media for the week of Dec. 25th:
http://www.dvdempire.com/Content/Features/hidef_wars.asp?view=1&userid=99366107352745

They have Blu-ray outselling HD DVD 61.91% to 38.09% for the year 2007.

Some interesting stats ... I had thought HD DVD was doing much better then this :/
]]>Dec 27th 2007 10:18AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
And only now has Warner started pricing new releases in both formats equally.]]>Dec 27th 2007 10:59AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
"We do wonder why Warner would have a deal on just the HD DVD version of these movies? Some might point to an excess stock of the HD DVD versions at Amazon, but without in stock #s nobody can know for sure."

From what I remember from checking in on the Amazon stats daily, Blu-ray has been outselling HD DVD for all Harry Potter releases on Amazon ... so it would make sense that there is an excess stock that Amazon is trying to unload.]]>Dec 27th 2007 10:23AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Thank you for playing! Please try again.]]>Dec 27th 2007 11:15AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 10:26AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
YES! The PQ is AWESOME compared to DVD's (when it works). I won't compare PQ to Blu movies cause A. I don't own a Blu player (yet!) and B. I wouldn't think the difference in PQ between formats could even be that noticeable to the average person. Perhaps the higher capacity of blu discs will tilt PQ to their favor down the road, and even if, it would most likely be negligible.
Audio, I'm sure sounds great... I recently took down my surround system cause I'm going to be renovating the home and upgrading the HT so I haven't experienced the audio side of HD movies yet.

This is where my praise ends. For starters, I own an HD-A3 that I got for $99, so my not-so-early adopter buyers remorse is bearable.
1. Load times SUCK! Yes Blu players face the same problem, but PS3 owners I'm told enjoy much faster load times and since most Blu players currently out there are PS3's, this category goes to Blu.
2. Ah, the ever glorified ethernet connection for firmware updates. "First gen HD-DVD players don't go obsolete..." "1st Gen Blu players are now bricks with the new profiles...". BLAH BLAH BLAH! What you don't tell folks on the fence is that the downloads take FOREVER, if they even get to finish. I tried downloading the firmware updates yesterday and it failed every single time. I gave up after 10 tries. Order the firmware discs? Make an ISO image disc via the web and a CD burner? Yeah good luck trying to explain that to the rest of the non-techno babel consumers that will decide this HD stalemate. REAL. F**KING. LAME.
3. HD Players losing features that most DVD players have: How come you press STOP and it loses your place in the movie? How retarded is that? My 5 yr. old 5 disc SONY DVD changer remembers the last spot of a movie for the last 30 or so movies I have played on the player. Simple stuff that they really dropped the ball on, no excuse. (Not exactly sure if Blu suffers the same, so my complaint goes to BOTH formats unless BLU players do indeed remember their place in a movie)
4. Disc Read Errors: WTF is up with these? You put a slight fingerprint on a disc and it gives you a read error. Not even DVD's were this fragile with playback. BLU discs have an awesome scratch coat on their discs that withstand a hell of a lot more than HD DVD discs.
5. WEB connection mandatory on some movies?? I was trying to play BATMAN BEGINS yesterday without the player being connected to the web and kept getting the disc read error. Exchanged it for another copy and same error. Tried updating the firmware to no avail (see no. 2 above). I finally tried playing the movie again with the player web connected and lo, it worked. WHY THE HELL does a movie need to have the player connected to the web in order to play JUST the movie? Forget about all the special feature crap that doesn't interest me, I just wanted to start the movie and it wouldn't play until it was hooked up to the web. THAT is friggin lame.
6. HD-DVD's movie library is seriously lacking.

Conclusion: For those on the fence, be aware of the cons of these new HD formats. And as an HD-DVD owner, I would advise that if you are only going to pick one format RIGHT NOW, go BLU, and specifically PS3. It's a hell of a lot more future proof than any HD-DVD or BLU standalones, PERIOD. I am certainly getting a $400 PS3, mainly for movies and as a bonus, for any games that might eventually interest me. If you can wait, then just wait. As I said, the PQ is great, but the cons really take away from the HD experience. Caveat Emptor]]>Dec 27th 2007 11:39AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
As far as your conclusion, you claim the PS3 to be future proof and compare it to HD-DVD and Blu-ray. HD-DVD is essentially future proof, the spec if finalized. The only thing that will change are minor and will not affect the format as a whole unlike the profiles with Blu-ray.

People picking a format should really go with the format that has movies they want, or better yet, go neutral for the best HDM experience.]]>Dec 27th 2007 11:50AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 11:58AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Is that your response fanbot? How is my comment misinformation when I own the damn player. It's first hand experience you douche. Your the type of fanboy my comment was directed at. Admit the misgivings of the format and stop portraying HD-DVD as this UTOPIAN format. Come up with some better counter-points other than your lame defensive post. You guys act like someone slapped your mother with your format jealousness.

@ Jbenner.
All my other movies played just fine without being connected to the web so it shouldn't be related to the player.]]>Dec 27th 2007 1:18PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
So let me ask ya something, were you crying blu tears when you typed all that rubbish up? Don't lie!]]>Dec 27th 2007 2:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
It is funny you go off on a tangent whining about how people react. Yet all you can muster up is a bunch of name calling, touché…

It really is great that you own a HD-DVD player, but it really means nothing. Especially when all you are doing is bitching about your experiencing while also dishing out a good bit of misinformation. Not to mention your elegant and poetic wording. On top of that, did I once say that HD-DVD was perfect? To make it easier for you, the answer would be no. Next time can we please not go around putting words in ones mouth?

1.) Moot – Did you ever own an early generation DVD player? Load times were not all that great either, but got better as time passed. Same goes with Blu-ray and HD-DVD, each generation player is having better load times. As far as the game consoles are concerned, you can’t really compare them to stand-alone players. They are not the same thing, games consoles are essentially computers with a lot more resources while stand-alone units are embedded systems with a specific task. On top of that, the load time complaints are just over-exaggerated whining. Waiting a minute really is nothing and to cry about it is kind of pathetic, people have been spoiled by DVD players that have been perfected over time, it will come with HDM players in due time.

2.) Misinformation and moot – I am sorry that you are having problems with updating your firmware over the internet, but the fact remains that you are in a small minority. Check out AVS Forum or other sites with HD-DVD users to confirm this. HD-DVD including an Ethernet port and allowing the ability to update over the internet is the best solution out there. You basically said it yourself, that downloading the firmware and burning it to CD is not a good solution for the masses, which is the only option for Blu-ray right now. In fact, I would like to see if you could come up with a better solution. As far as downloads taking forever, if by forever you mean 5 to 10 minutes, then sure… it takes forever. The firmware is going to take time no matter what, on either format, so the point is rather moot.

3.) Here is the only point you have that I will agree with you, but again. Did you own an early generation DVD player? The features were limited, remember, we pay a premium for being an early adopter. There are a few things that HDM got right and it is the internal ram to handle layer change. That is still a problem in current DVD players unless you are willing to spend more money and get a higher end player.

4.) Misinformation – Again, I am sorry that you are having problems with discs, but you are in minority again. I have yet to have any issues with any of my 50+ HD-DVDs and the 10 or so I have rented, again this can be proven on forums, so it is just not me. This includes finger prints, smudges and minor scratches. I would not say that HD-DVD is any more fragile than DVD, because that would just not be true. Now the combo discs have been getting publicity to be problematic, but not as much as the hype has played them to be. The only reason Blu-ray has the protective layer is due to how fragile the discs are without it. Due to how Blu-ray was designed, the disc was thin and could be damaged easily. The protective layer was a must or else you would be getting you Blu-ray movies in a caddy (that is not factoring in the companies that wouldn’t have supported it if there was a caddy). I will admit, the surface is great, but let’s remember why it is there.

5.) Misinformation – Web connectivity is not mandatory; it is not in the spec. I have seen problems with some discs, but not everyone is having the same problems, as jbenner said and as I have seen on forums. Most of these problems are other issues, which could include a firmware update. We know how you feel about the firmware updates, but it is nice to see that studios and manufactures are supporting us. This was not the case with DVD, where firmware was very uncommon (Oppo is the one to break this mode with great support of their players) and no ability for studios to do anything.

6.) Misinformation and moot – HD-DVD’s library is almost the same size as Blu-rays (370 to 398). Both are actually really small when you factor in DVDs library. Determining who has better movies is personal opinion, not fact like you were trying to pass it off as. Which is the reason why I said for a person choosing a format, to go with the format that has the movies that they like.

You can call me whatever you want and use name calling if it makes you feel better, but it is no skin off of my teeth. I just call it how I see and you were spreading misinformation, so I called you on it. I will agree that neither HDM format is perfect and each has a ways to go. Though... being a early adopter, it is just the price we pay as the bugs and kinks are worked out. That however does not mean you should go around crying about it while spreading misinformation, try doing research next time before diving into the deep end head first, it looks like it will save you a lot of headache.]]>Dec 27th 2007 3:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Hand a bit cramped? Glad I'm getting the attention of the hardcore zealots! Read my post with comprehension before blanketing your response with misinformation as your word of the day.
To answer your curiousity, I was a rather early adopter with DVD (late 2007).

LOAD TIME = FACT: I bought a $379 Panny DVD player that I have till this day and guess what? The load time is still better than HDDVD/BLU standalones. So although this also goes against BLU, your RED defense is desperate. Call me pathetic if thats all you can defend this with. A 10 yr old DVD player with a faster load time than a 2nd-3rd GEN (I'm not counting) HD-DVD/BLU-RAY player is PATHETIC.

FIRMWARE updates... Again, my 10+ yr old DVD player has never had a firmware update and guess what? It still plays every DVD movie I throw at it till this day. This is what both formats should have been aiming for, not unpolished formats that need a firmware update for every new title that comes out. HD-DVD is HARDLY a finished spec. (And again, neither is BLU). NOW, I am not against firmware updates in the least bit, it does future proof player, but not with the frequency that they currently need to be updated.

The web connectivity point I made was an opinion and a question (see the ??) based on my experience. Maybe it's just MY player, but I know other's have experience the exact same problem.
BLAH... I made it clear when it was my opinion and when I stated facts. If it makes you feel better, defend your precious format till you bleed but you guys exagerate how "great" HD-DVD is. Can't wait to read your next defensive post. Glad my lowly opinion can have such an impact on your love of HD-DVD!


@ MUSIC PIRATE: You're a tool. Hope Tosh is paying you well.

]]>Dec 27th 2007 4:34PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
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zargon
zargon @ Dec 27th 2007 5:47PM

There is no blanketing going on with my response, there is only blanketing going on with your complaints. You have admitted that you have limited experience, which includes just you. Like I said, does some research before you go around crying and spreading your misinformation. Yes, I did use misinformation again. No it is not because it is the word of the day; it is because that is what you are doing. This is also not about HD-DVD vs Blu-ray, it is about HDM. You claim to have a HD-DVD player and that is where your complaints are coming from, but you are somehow blanketing your complaints across both HDM formats now, even though you claim to have little knowledge about Blu-ray. I am only merely pointing out where your complaints are invalid and void.

I also hate to break it to you, but you would not be a early adopter if you got into DVD in 2007. Try 1997, 1998 or possibly 1999 for being consider an early adopter.

I have never said load time is not an issue, I have merely said that people are making it into a bigger issues than it is your complaint is moot. You know moot, as in: 1.open to discussion or debate; debatable; doubtful: a moot point or 2.of little or no practical value or meaning; purely academic. I have never said that HD-DVD or Blu-ray load times can compete with DVD. I however had pointed out that load times on DVD when they first came out, not in 2007, were not the best either. One thing I did not mention however is how vastly more complicated HD-DVD and Blu-ray is from DVD. The added interactivity into the two HDM formats adds more complexity to the booting and loading process. I do not have it off hand, but there is a nice article out there on what HD-DVD exactly does on boot and disc loading. It is a lot more than DVD does and until they can fine tune it and tweak it, the load times will be a little slower than DVD. Though, as I said before… people (including you) are making a mountain out of a mole hill with the load times. If they were 3, 4 or 5 minutes, then you would have me on board saying it is too long, but the fact remains is they are not. The load times while a little slow are not as big of a deal as your are trying to claim.

With firmwares, you again are trying to compare two different things. HDM formats are more complex, plus I think manufactures and studios have seen the light that firmwares are actually a good thing. If you knew anything about DVD, you would know that some of the best DVD players out there, the Oppo line, updated their firmware on a pretty regular basis. Maybe you are right, that both formats are slightly “unpolished”, but at least they are not stagnant. Firmware allows companies to fix issues, unlike DVD that if you were unlucky to get a DVD player that was as good as the one you had and played everything, you were screwed. You are trying to say that firmware are released on a pretty regular basis, this just goes to show that you don’t know what you are talking about. If you are comparing it to DVD, then yah, quarterly or so sure is a lot more than never. On top of that, no one says that you have to update your firmware, my A2 is still running 2.6 (I think that is it), the version before 2.7 that came out in November. Also, anyone who has been involved with the computer world knows that you only update firmware when you need too. Which pretty much makes the frequency of updating the firmware even less. Personally, I am glad we get firmware updates and will gladly update every time if I need too. I applaud the companies willing to continue supporting their products. Besides, if it weren’t for firmware… your shiny new PS3 wouldn’t be able to be upgraded to profile 1.1.

Whatever you claim your web connectivity rant to be, it still does not change the fact that you are in the minority. Yes it sucks that you had the problem, but again, it most likely has to do with other issues. If you did your research you would know this instead of ranting and whining about it.

I don’t know what else to possibly tell you, especially when the majority of the population aren’t having all these issues with HD-DVD or Blu-ray that you are claiming to have. That and making a mountain out of a mole hill and spreading misinformation based on your limited experience. I guess all you have left to do is pack up that HD-DVD player and sell it, and then you can get rid of this horrible HD-DVD format. I hope that since you are having such a huge issue with non-issues, that Blu-ray does not also disappoint you.

I am glad that you took the time to respond to 3 out of 6 of your complaints that I addressed. Maybe someday, HDM will finally be able to make you happy. Until that day, I will be enjoying both of my HDM formats now.]]>Dec 27th 2007 5:48PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 28th 2007 2:08AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
Now down to just 30 titles.

First four Harry Potter films still available.]]>Dec 27th 2007 1:48PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
They have the Toshiba A3 HD-DVD player at Amazon.com for $179 now]]>Dec 27th 2007 1:50PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/Dec 27th 2007 1:52PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/12/26/amazon-offers-up-buy-1-get-1-on-hd-dvd-flicks/
This isn't a basketball game where the side with more "points" at the end of a "quarter" or "game" somehow wins the match. Studios are looking at a hell of a lot more than Nielsen's numbers, you can be sure of that.]]>Dec 27th 2007 1:58PM