Are HD-DVD and Blu-ray Both Doomed?
For the record, I am an avid sports fan and home theater enthusiast. I didn't buy the ESPN phone, and I haven't bought an HD-DVD or Blu-ray player yet. Brian Mitchell Founder & CEO eCoustics.com |
||||
| Author | Comments | |||
     New member Username: ThemangodPost Number: 1 Registered: Oct-06 |
yea, it is going to be a big task for them to market them to the end users right, but it can be done we just need great marketing from tv mfgs the movie business and anyone and everyone that is related. If the blue-ray players are on all new high end tvs there as the standard its a small start everyone needs to help make it work. |
|||
|
Moderator Username: AdminPost Number: 1611 Registered: Dec-03 |
I received this e-mail from Pete Putnam regarding HD DVD and Blu-ray's future: (1) Flash memory is getting cheaper by the year. We're up to 16 GB now, 32 GB will be announced by Xmas. The future is a flash memory key where you download an HD movie with a secure encryption key and move it from one player to another. If you decide to buy it, you can then burn it to optical disc. (2) Taiwan has Forward Versatile Disc (FVD) which is already encoding 720p/24 and 1080p/24 movies on red laser DVDs. (3) The average buyer who just upgraded to a 37-inch or 42-inch flat panel HDTV can't see the difference between blue laser and red laser, particularly with a good upscaling red laser player. (4) The players are too expensive. Toshiba's new HD-XA2 does incorporate 1080p output, but it's $999! Sales of both formats have been a disappointment to date. Are HD DVD and Blu-ray the next D-VHS/D-Theater? At these price points and with all of the HDMI interfacing problems, I'd say yes. Pete Putman, Manager ROAM Consulting L.L.C. Editor/Publisher, HDTVexpert.com |
|||
|
New member Username: ChibombiePost Number: 1 Registered: Oct-06 |
I'm confused as to why everyone is pitting these two formats as a winner take all battle. Blu-Ray is merely a technological progression, being the next wavelength of light for optical storage. It will prevail, unless someone finds a way to produce the next wavelength and completely skip blue. In terms of computer storage, I would much rather have a blue laser drive than a red for next generation. In terms of quality, I think that comes down to more than just a storage format, movies would somehow have to use more detailed recording processes and be encoded for higher quality, leading to needing more space on an optical disk for storage. Naturally, Blu-Ray is the future, whether we want to admit it or not. |
|||
|
New member Username: KretonPost Number: 1 Registered: Nov-06 |
I would not be upset if both failed. Most people do not need more advanced technologies but simply better quality productions. My movie lover girlfriend got tired of watching mediocre films filled with violence and now she is reading the entire range of Russian classics she can find. Many books and few movies provide a genuine feeling of depth, and long lasting satisfaction unlike numerous 90 min movies followed by an empty feeling. Once I read in Wall Street Journal that we become happier if we spend our money to have better experiences such as traveling and eating with friends rather than simply buying stuff. This is critical point. When it comes to material based experiences, to me, a high end audio system is an experience but the tv, dvd are just commodities because they have already become one dimensional. These new technologies will not enrich our life so we will not buy them any time soon, we will simply resist as much as we can. |
|||
|
New member Username: AdrianjfrostPost Number: 1 Registered: Nov-06 |
Arkin makes a fascinating point here, that I wholly agree with - technology needs to enhance life experience to be of worth to humanity - but at the same time, suspect that this wont make any difference because of 'the masses'. So many consumers do not know how to be happier (apparently each generations has been less happy than their parents) but we all buy new things in the hope it may help Individuals that control large businesses know they must one day grow up and try to do more than just make more money - but, alas, markets are often dictated by the lowest common denominator, the lowest level of conciousness - so its greed or fear To quote "never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers" |
|||
|
New member Username: MaxmanningPost Number: 3 Registered: Jan-07 |
I agree that Blu-ray is technologically a step forward as Bice stated, but not necessarily for TV viewing. I do see the point of this article. The difference between DVD and Blu-Ray/HDDVD seems to be far less significant than the difference between VHS and DVD. As a HDTV owner, I wouldn't mind improved HD content, but as a more technical person I don't believe I am a good sampling of the masses. I know tons of friends/family who don't really even feel the need for these new formats. Personally, I'd much prefer my cable/satellite provider to provide HDTV viewing options for me via services like my Comcast's OnDemand. Limitations in terms of variety and amount of HD content are the only thing that prevent me from using it more. In terms of computer storage and console games, I agree that Blu-ray is probably the way to go. http://myadd.wordpress.com |
|||
|
New member Username: EttakemehomeUS Post Number: 1 Registered: Jan-07 |
Let’s look at some points. I have a 6.1 surround sound Denon system and satellite speakers. A 32” Panasonic 10 year old TV that works perfect (twice the resolution of a “normal” TV), and an old Denon DVD player, and two VHS recorders. I have no intention of getting a HD player until both my TV and DVD player dies. If the DVD player dies I will buy another one they are only $30. I will probally get the TV fixed unless it would cost more that lets say $400. When one VHS player dies I will buy a DVR to record TV shows to watch later, we rarely watch TV live. I am one of those “afflicted” with being about to hear every flaw and annoyed with the slightest video flaw, so I do notice the difference. So with that said. Most people like 90% would not care about HD TV, they will keep their TV’s until they die and may still replace them with non HD tv. (You need the room for a HD TV, not much point in a 30” HD TV, the picture is only about 10” high! Most people do not play games. Most people do not have a surround sound system or a HD TV. Most people would never use the “extra” space on a Blu-ray on a computer. The only advantage to the extra space on a blu-ray is computers or games. There is plenty of space on a HD-DVD disk for 4 hours of a HD movie and the 7.1 surround sound. I am a computer tech and use a USB drive for saving, not a DVD. DVD ROMs take too long to format and read, so there is no advantage for me especialy on these old computers in my lab. FYI: In 2006 the US dropped the requirement of the broadcasters that would make them transmit in HD TV only by the end of 2006. The reason is that HD TV cannot be received by those that use rabbit ear antennas or those in rural areas with low end roof antennas and that is tens of millions. So it will be a while, probably never when your analog TV is obsolete. (Remember Beta max and 8 track. Beta was slightly better quality than VHS and 8 track than cassettes, until Dolby but both lost!) Unlike beta VHS wars there are more players in the blu-ray vs HD-DVD war, games, computers and DVD disks. Anyone can make or break this war, just depends on what people buy the most of. So the difference between Blu-ray and HD-DVD who will win, maybe none! They both have their technical problems (it seems blu-ray has more though). VHS won because it costs less and that was because only Sony sold Beta, they refused to license competitors so they would be sold at a lower price. People bought VHS because they cost less and so did the tapes at first at least. Most reviews of Blu-ray VS HD-DVD side by side, I have seen said that Blu-ray pictures were not as good. There are more technical problems with Blu-ray, and they admit that you will not be able to get more than 25 g on a disk. Blu-ray disk is more complicated than it needs to be and that is a worry. As a technician I have seen many technologies die because they were too complicated. Keep it simple and you have fewer problems. (Reports coming out say that they are not scratch proof either, despite that claim.) Blu-ray requires the factories to completely retool but HD-DVD is close enough to DVD that they can use the same equipment to make the disks (or make simple retooling). Now: Blu-ray has more supporters and there are players coming out that will play both blu-ray and HD-dvd. Which will confuse the issue. Most movie studios do not make their movies in both formats, three if you include VHS tapes! So my prediction Like Beta VS VHS it is marketing and support. So far the HD-DVD started first so their players cost a lot less, they have more market share but Blu-ray has more movie studios backing it. I suspect that which one gets prices of the movies and players down to a reasonable price will win maybe. In the end the people are screwed. It the companies compromise then we will end up with three types off movies DVD, Blu-ray and HD-DVD unless one wins or both lose. If you can wait for the digital HD LED and Plasma flat screen TV’s to go down in price and wait to see what happens to this HD war. I suspect that in a year we will know but as I said with the combo players it will cause problems it could be that we will be stuck with two HD disks, especially if the movie studies refuse to make their movies in both formats. Personally I believe they both jumped the gun just to be "First", and should have spent more time RD before coming out with a HD player. Neither is up to technology. Do not buy a HD player for at least a years two is better. If your DVD player dies get another one. If your TV dies by all means get a digital HD TV, (do not buy a HD compatible TV. It will still need a box to make it work on digital broadcasts.) |
|||
|
New member Username: SuzziUberlandia, Minas Gerais Brazil Post Number: 4 Registered: Mar-07 |
GREAT NEWS: Let me bring up to you a third name which will end up with the HD formats battle soon. I'll make a short introduction: New Medium Enterprises has patented the multilayer technology for optical disc which comes up as the very first low cost solution for storage and playback of high definition contents. ``We are committed to providing U.S. consumers with an affordable and high-quality HD experience via the HD VMD solution. The red laser-based VMD format and players are a natural successor to the DVD market, allowing consumers to get high-definition for a fraction of the cost of today's HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs and players,'' said Mahesh Jayanarayan, CEO, NME, Inc. VMD is currently being adopted by content providers and distributors in 12 regions worldwide, including Brazil, Central Europe, China, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Japan, the Middle East Russia, Scandinavia, and the United States. This red laser based disc can provide up to eight information layers on each side and can be utilised for both blue laser and red laser formats. New Medium Enterprises "NME" is based in London UK, has just patented the very new option that will offer it all together: backwards compatibility with current DVDs, no need of a big industrial retool, software for playback of the format on PCs, a driver will be offered for PC manufacturers for future VMD formats, up to 40-GB on dual layer discs, no need to wait for longer as the first Player of the company that will go on sale later this year, for less than U.S. $200. Bingo! ;-) More information at: www.nmeinc.com About VMD at yahoo finances: http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/070226/114452.html Susana. |
|||
