This really isn’t anything new or anything we don’t already know… but I read something today that once again highlighted for me why the current HD format war sucks for consumers, and why I have no intention of buying any sort of HD system for the foreseeable future.
Yahoo News ran an article today that really brings the problem into focus. You see, as most of you know, there are 2 different types of HD players. Blu-Ray and HD DVD. The problem is (for those of you who aren’t up on this stuff) they each have their own format. In other words, a Blu-Ray High def disc won’t play in an HD DVD player… and vice versa. This means you have to pick one format over the other. This isn’t like the DVD-R or DVD+R difference. Both of those burnable dvd discs will play in most standard dvd player regardless of the format. This is totally different. This creates a couple of problems:
1) Future Problem: Wars usually end with a winner and a loser. Sooner or later one of these formats will be dead and gone the way of the Beta VCR. So picking one now means you’re risking having to replace everything in 2 years with the victorious format. No thank you.
2) Present Problem: It’s one thing if all the movies came out both Blu-Ray and HD DVD… but they don’t! For example, if you picked up an HD DVD player, guess what… you won’t be able to watch Spider-Man 3 because it’s going to be exclusively on the Blu-Ray system (hmmmm… maybe that’s a good reason to pick up an HD DVD player all by itself). OR…. let’s say you’re looking forward to The Bourne Ultimatum. Well, you better hope you have an HD DVD player, because you won’t be able to watch it on Blu-Ray. Yes, there are a few players out there that are dual Blu-Ray and HD DVD compatible… but the cheap one costs about $1000 US right now. No thank you.
3) Cost: These things are are still way too frigging expensive, and the movies are more expensive to get than regular DVDs too. No thank you.
Anyway, that Yahoo article goes on to bring up some good points:
These exclusive arrangements, plus aggressive price cuts for high-def DVD players, are designed to persuade consumers to finally embrace one format or the other. But analysts wonder if the moves will anger consumers, just as the studios and consumer-electronics companies are hoping to boost high-def DVD sales as growth in standard DVDs stalls.
“The frustration for consumers is not knowing what format is going to win,” said Chris Roden, an analyst at Parks Associates. Consumers, many of whom are still smarting from the VCR format battle between VHS and Betamax, need to know their expensive equipment won’t become obsolete if the competing format wins, said Steven J. Caldero, chief operating officer of Ken Crane’s, specialty electronics chain in Southern California. “People are still frustrated there is a format war to begin with,” he said. “The studios are making people choose. What consumers want is something that will play everything so they don’t have to choose.”
Sorry all you big rich corporation types… but until you offer me a much cheaper, and universally compatible option, I’m going to continue to be quite happy with my upsampled DVD player on my plasma TV. I’m thrilled with it as it is. You’re not getting a penny out of me for this new stuff until you sort this shit out. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER.
I think that once adult films start coming out on HD-DVD it will have a big impact. Sony shot themselves in the foot when they turned away this multi-billion dollar industry. Say what you want about porn, it will be a major factor in the outcome of this war.
Just to add, according to wikipedia, 30% of US housholds own at least 1 HD ready TV, which means 33,000,000 HD ready TV’s, of that 44% recieve HD transmission from there Cable company.
So 33 million homes have access to HD, I’m guessing If they can afford a HD TV there gona want to get the most out of it and will be considering investing in a HD/blu DVD player.
VHS 1st Gen
DVD 2nd Gen
imo
HD-DVD is 2.5 Gen
Blu-Ray is 3rd Gen
Why invest, in a product that is clearly inferior to its ‘enemy’.
I will always say, Sony got there marketing wrong with PS3 and should have sold its blu-ray technology more.
As I said before, You can’t really lose if you get a PS3 because your getting so much bang for your buck, and there are plenty of ways to get legit free PS3’s out there, so why even consider HD-DVD, to me, it for sure makes no sense whatsoever.
I dont believe the systems can co-exist, when there is no point in HD-DVD
Apparently 2 out of 5 american PS3 owners don’t know their PS3 can play Blu-Ray movies …
http://uk.gizmodo.com/2007/08/11/what_the_hell_is_bluray.html
doesn’t say much about the sony fanboys though, I bet it was their parents that filled in the questionnaire (if this is indeed true).
Sal.
Am I the only one who doesn’t see a huge need for a new format. I can understand DVD – The transition to a digital (correctable signal) that in-theory would outlast VHS Tapes (so far obviously not the case – DVDs are more fragile) and would provide options not possible on tape (commentaries, subtitles etc) – and would be playable in a variety of devices – computers etc…
So with HD we’re getting – better sound, better picture…
I can tell this when I compare two movies next to each other but in most cases, I’m quite satisfied… And anyway, improved sound/picture on a bad movie still won’t make it a good one.
I agreed with most of you until I bought my HDTV. I already had a PS3, so picking up some Blu-ray movies seemed like an obvious step. I’m most certainly not going back. Watching movies, even older ones that I’ve seen a thousand times (Fifth Element) seem brand new to me. I’m elated.
Besides, while it’s OK if you don’t want to get into HD(I totally understand), I don’t get the insistence that other’s should not get a format until one wins. Somebody has to buy these, the consumers need to pick a side for a format to eventually win, or else we will never make that move.
Finally, I don’t see a downloadable content replacing any physical format in the future. I’d hate that. Like many others, I like to hold something in my hands and know that it’s mine forever, not risking losing my whole collection because of a power outage at an inopportune time. Besides, if DVD cover art can be enough to persuade me to buy or not on a movie, then no cover or case at all certainly won’t encourage me.
Let’s not forget that, even if movies are only a Gig each, it can take quite a while to download the movies you want.
Just my 2c, feel free to flame away, but I’d prefer logical arguments and debate if you choose to do so.
John, how many times do I have to tell you. Its not a format war.
Its a Civil War of Formats™
These guys are choosing sides with different studios going to different formats. Its a civil war.
And I coined the phrase first.
LG makes a Blu-Ray/HD DVD hybrid player. It’s called the LG BH100 and it lists for $999 on Amazon. It plays both! I’m sure more units from other companies will follow with a smaller price tag. This could be the answer.
I gotta say that I agree that the future of this technology isn’t in either formats. It’s in downloadable content. When I can catalog movies, tv shows, and music into one box all in high quality and watch them on any TV or home theater, why would I want to invest in either of these HD formats?
Much like how some Canadian musician offer CD’s on USB thumb drives I think movies should be sold the same way.
I think the more important debate is rights management. However with Apple beginning to sell music DRM-free, maybe change is coming, which would greatly effect future movie and video downloads.
I live next to a Fry’s Electronics: HD Dvd and Blu Ray movies for 20$ each :)
I think you are absolutly correct John.
I agree that the format war sucks.
BUT
There are fairly inexpensive options.
As mentioned above, the PS3 has Blu-ray built in. Not a chance in hell that I would have bought a standalone player for the ridiculous price being charge. But, just as Sony planned, because it is already in my gaming machine, my wife and I have purchased a few Blu-rays already. Planet Earth is freaking amazing!
In addition, the Xbox 360 has an optional HD-DVD drive for 179 dollars. (Which I wouldn’t have picked up, but the Sportselect gods were very kind to me recently. Gotta love total legalized Canadian sports gambling!) I have no idea how it compares to a standalone, but I am impressed with the one that I picked up. The bonus features on 300 are great!
I realize that not everyone has both a PS3 and a 360, but many people have at least one of them.
That is all!
The problem with it all isn’t just the format war, its the cost of upgrading. As of right now, not everybody has an HDTV, if i remember right the majority of the people in the states dont have an HDTV, thus making HD discs useless.
The difference between VHS and DVD was huge, so it warranted an upgrade, especially a library upgrade, but even so, it was just new DVD’s and player.
With going from DVD to HD-format, difference is minor, most people can’t tell the difference unless you have two TV’s side by side. Nobody wants to buy a new TV, new player, new movie collection for a minor upgrade in image quality.
“Yeah, cause that’s what I want. My HD DVD player stacked on my regular DVD player stacked on my VHS stacked on my Blu-Ray. Also, if I buy a Blu-Ray player $400 bucks, and HD DVD wins, then I gotta go out and buy one of those.”
As Scoville pointed out, both HD DVD and Blu Ray players are backwards compatible. The only thing you wouldn’t be able to play is VHS.
“True, and they’re still far too expensive. I agree that eventually they will come down even more… but for RIGHT NOW, they still cost far too much.”
Although I agree that the top of the line Blu Ray players are still too expensive, I think the $399 price point for HD DVD is pretty reasonable. Especially considering there’s still top of the line standard DVD players out there that cost much more than that. And in regards to the cost of the discs themselves, as I stated before, there’s some good sales and it’s up to your own discretion what you want to spend and what you want to replace.
Personally I think there’s a chance both formats will end up co-existing, and down the road ‘Blu Ray’ and ‘HD DVD’ won’t matter when selecting films. It will all just work on one player, similar to the whole DVD-R DVD+R issue that arose a while back.
Having said all that, I do appreciate the frustration with the format wars in general. I just think the idea of having to replace your collection is up to the individual.
John,
Unless you have a region free dvd player, you wouldn’t need to stack it with the others. Both HD players play regular dvds.
Buy a PS3 and be done with it, you dont lose either way
Or do what I did, and get a free PS3 with a mobile phone contract!!
I win full stop, weather I need to buy HD-DVD in the future or not.
This is exactly why I’m sticking with my plain ol’ DVDs.
Hey Jay,
You said:
“Who says you have to replace anything? It’s up to your own discretion. I’m know many people who still own lots of VHS copies of films and haven’t been strong armed into replacing them.”
Yeah, cause that’s what I want. My HD DVD player stacked on my regular DVD player stacked on my VHS stacked on my Blu-Ray. Also, if I buy a Blu-Ray player $400 bucks, and HD DVD wins, then I gotta go out and buy one of those.
You said:
“In only a year, HD DVD players have dropped more than half in price”
True, and they’re still far too expensive. I agree that eventually they will come down even more… but for RIGHT NOW, they still cost far too much.
The fact that there will be major titles that will only play on one format or the other is a killer as well.
Oops, the ‘anonymous’ post was me. I forgot to fill out my info. My bad.
“Walked into a store last week, Hd-DVD player was 1 grand. HD-DVD’s 40 a pop. Like hell I’m forking over that kind of money. Got the Die Hard trilogy for 20 on dvd.”
What store were you walking into? Around here (Canada) HD DVD players are as low as $399 and two major chains (Best Buy & Futureshop) have had a sale on major Warner Brothers releases (19.99 a pop) for the last two months.
As for the post:
“So picking one now means you’re risking having to replace everything in 2 years with the victorious format.”
Who says you have to replace anything? It’s up to your own discretion. I’m know many people who still own lots of VHS copies of films and haven’t been strong armed into replacing them. When a new format comes along, it’s not like the old format suddenly dissolves. It’s all up to you.
“Cost: These things are are still way too frigging expensive, and the movies are more expensive to get than regular DVDs too. No thank you.”
In only a year, HD DVD players have dropped more than half in price, (they will continue to drop until they’re as cheap as DVD players) and although some of the back catalogue titles are more expensive, many of the new releases are only around $5-$8 more than the same release brand new on standard DVD. Previously viewed, however, is a different story. Standard DVD definitely has the HD formats beat in that arena. But it’s only a matter of time.
In general, it’s all up to the consumer if they want to replace their movies. If you’re happy with your Die Hard trilogy on standard def, then why are you concerned? Is someone going to show up with a gun to your head telling you that you MUST replace it with the HD equivalent? No.
EXACTLY! This format war bothers me as well.
I will sit on the fence for as long as I care. I don’t care about the pristine video. What matter is uniformality.
I hope some other new technology will make this format war redundant and obsolete.
Screw all the consumers who bought into this.
I totally agree with you, John!! Well written!!
Donald,
I agree that the HD formats might not have the longevity they’re expecting due to other technologies like downloads.
In my opinion, all the major comapnies are missing the point. The future, at least in Europe, is in the USB technology. Most DVD players already come with a USB port for downloaded movies (downloading is legal in some countries here, only uploading is illegal).
I think given a long enough time span, that is how it will work, you’ll have an external hard drive you can hook up to your computer or Home Cinema at will and you will simply download the movies.
It makes sense, it is a HUGE space saver. I am currently reformating my collection. 200 DVDs, think about that size, now all in one box about the size of 2 DVDs and relatively similar quality. When they perfect that quality, it will be the end of all these discs. Of course, I could just be out of my mind as well…
Blame Sony.
If they’d worked with the DVD Forum instead of going after their own greedy objectives, the consumer wouldn’t have to pick and maybe the DVD successor would be better than both our current choices.
Walked into a store last week, Hd-DVD player was 1 grand. HD-DVD’s 40 a pop. Like hell I’m forking over that kind of money. Got the Die Hard trilogy for 20 on dvd.