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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ogscorpion @ Feb 18th 2008 2:29PM
As I have posted on the other engadget site, why wait until tomorrow? There is got to be a reason why wait for Tuesday and not announce it now? Arent' they ready yet? Didn't they have the entire weekend to prep for this?
My champagne is in the fridge and my party hat is sweating. Toshiba, please end it officially, please!!!! It would be the best for all to end this war so we can all concentrate and move on with BD.
TFG @ Feb 18th 2008 2:41PM
Blu-Ray winning pretty much guarantees that Physical HD Media will remain niche for a lot longer. The best, most compatible player for all Blu discs is not only over $400, but it's also a video game console. My mother has a big HDTV in her home and would balk at this idea, settling in on the more affordable and simplistic upconverting DVD player.
I finally jumped on the HD DVD wagon during the holidays when I saw that I could get the A30 for $200 with 10 free movies. That's a consumer friendly deal.
Now it looks like HDM will be exclusively for gamers that need more use out of their PS3 or tech-hobbyist that have extra money to burn. Not for the average working-class guy that just financed a big screen HDTV from Best Buy.
trekkie604 @ Feb 18th 2008 2:42PM
It's a holiday in some parts of the world today.
ogscorpion @ Feb 18th 2008 2:49PM
To TFG: It may be a niche for lot longer but not that long. Just so let you know, there are already Blu Ray players that costs way less than 400 bucks now (including PS3s). You just have to look for them. If you have a Costco in your area, you can pick one up for around 300 bucks. I've seen Best Buy in my area yesterday selling the same Samsung BD player for around 300 bucks. If I were you, I would wait until at least summer as for sure there will be some price drops by then. Not to mention, if you can manage to wait a little longer is for the sales that will be happening during this year's holidays.
Mr. E @ Feb 18th 2008 2:58PM
Gawd, how many times to we have to debunk the niche "argument"? Blu-ray hardware pricing is right in line with where DVD hardware prices were at this point in DVD's introductory phase. Software sales are currently lagging behind DVD adoption, but that's EASILY explained by the format war sowing confusion and keeping consumers from buying in until they were sure their collections would not become obsolete.
In two years, if the cheapest BD players are not $100 or under, and most new release are not DVD/BD day-and-date, then I'll agree that BD is headed for niche status. Plus I'll eat my pants with a side of gravy.
mntwister @ Feb 18th 2008 3:06PM
HAHA tfg, that's a good one. You are so wrong. Gamers? Gee, I have 4 friends, plus myself, who own PS3's, I have a few games but bought it for the movies, and my other friends have no games but plenty of blu-rays. You guys never cease to amaze me with this gamers statement. Of course, I know you hd-dvd fanboys have little else to say anymore that has much substance with what's happening now. Sorry your format lost. Accept it and move on. The world isn't over, our country was not a war, your family and friends are still well, and you can still buy high def movies.
Player prices will be the same as hd-dvd was by the holidays.
Gus @ Feb 18th 2008 7:14PM
The point you blu idiots keep forgetting is DVD could, and still does, hook up to ANY TV and upscaled, does a damn fine job.
BR can never maintain pace with DVD because they hook up to HD TVs. BR pricing is going to remain high because HD TVs are still a small market and BR is carrying a massive debt that DVD never had.
(stealing someone else's quote)....By the time HD TVs are mass market and BR player prices are cheap enough BR will have missed the boat, downloads or the next big thing will be here.
J6 isn't going to pay $400 for a BR player for his 20' CRT in his trailer, he has 3 DVD players.
Gus @ Feb 18th 2008 7:18PM
When DVD was released, every house in the world had at least 1 TV, representing billions of sales.
How many HD TVs are in houses throughout the world today?? 5%, 10%, 20%??
Not enough which ever way you cut it, BR has no choice but to remain niche.
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 18th 2008 11:19PM
@Gus et. al.
Sour grapes? Get over it already. HD DVD was destined for the same end based on your arguments so why would HD DVD have faired any differently?
If it remains a niche, then so be it. But you and your fellow HD DVD evangelists are the last folks to be predicting what will happen with BD in the coming years... after all, you folks backed HD DVD despite the clear writing on the wall.
HDTV's are growing in market, and guesss what retailers can pair up with those new HDTV purchases? Thats right, a BD player. So there's a better chance that BD will NOT be just a niche product.
You and your other colleagues will own a BD player by year end. Enjoy!
Sam Winter @ Feb 19th 2008 1:53AM
@TFG
player prices will be dropping very quickly. But, apparently you were not around for the introduction of DVD players when they stayed above $500 for years. If you are too cheap to buy a $300 or $400 player then stick with DVDs until the price comes down. If people are in a financial situation where they cannot afford a $300 player, then they probably shouldn't be spending money on such frivolous items. If however, you are talking about the "working man" who just spent $2K on an HDTV, I don't think an extra $300 is going to break the bank.
All you HD-DVD people need to realize that the only reason you got a HD player for $100 or $150 is because Toshiba was losing their ass on them subsidizing the costs in order to win the format war.
The blue laser module itself probably costs close to that much. It's totally unsustainable for hardware manufacturer to sell a player at that price! Why do you think Toshiba was the ONLY manufacturer making HD-DVD players??
bottom line: Buy a BD player. PS3 is a great option, as it gives you a great network streaming video player as well. If you can't afford it or a $300 standalone, just wait a few months.
Sam Winter @ Feb 19th 2008 2:36AM
@Gus
Oh god, not you again. I get frustrated every time I read one of your comments because the vast majority of the time, they are absolute bullshit.
Anyways, to the topic at hand.
"HD TVs are still a small market "
Just this statement makes you a complete moron. Have you been living under a rock? Do you understand how popular HDTVs have been in the US? They are literally flying off the shelves! I don't know any official numbers other than total overall sales in the USA of HDTVs exceeded 60 Million units at the end of 2006. I'm sure the numbers are even better now that it's 2008. I bet HDTV penetration is close to 25% by now, and among upper middle class and affluent homes, I'm sure it's easily over 50% and probably closer to 75% or more.
"BR is carrying a massive debt that DVD never had."
What exactly would that be?