Gizmodo Spreads HD-DUD FUD

[Xerious]

Originally Posted by http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/format-war/war-ends-in-18-months-possibly-with-hd-dvd-upset-victory-over-blu+ray-303318.php

Sales of next-gen high-def disc players won't kick into high gear for another 18 months, says a fresh report from Forrester Research. The study didn't say whose players, though, because what was once an easy call—Blu-ray by Christmas 2007—has gotten, well, murkier. In these most recent rounds, HD DVD has been *****slapping Blu-ray up and down the ring.

Following price drops in HD DVD players and Paramount's decision to stick solely to that format, analyst J.P. Gownder writes:

"Weakened by these developments, Blu-ray needs to offer a viable hardware model at the $250 price point by Christmas 2007. The Blu-ray camp must also stave off further studio defections, and employ more aggressive promotional tactics to counter HD DVD's recent momentum."
People need a $200 player or they won't buy, in spite of the current rampant sales of high-def TVs. It's still Blu-ray's game to lose, but here's Gownder's bottom line:
"Failure to alter strategy would open up Blu-ray to a possible upset defeat at the hands of HD DVD."
[Reuters]

Upset?? Yeah... riiiiiiiight...

[SS316SRV]

Oh yeah blu-ray has had a tough time sell players to this point. The only other studio that could potentially go HD DVD is Warner, and they are members of the BDA!!!

[Xerious]

What I don't like is they talk about hardware sales... afaik Toshibia is the only company releasing standalone players (the XBUTT360 being a Toshiba drive as well)... some choice huh? What if we don't like Toshitba??

[powerSURG]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

Oh yeah blu-ray has had a tough time sell players to this point. The only other studio that could potentially go HD DVD is Warner, and they are members of the BDA!!!

I wish NPD would release true sales figures. IF this story is true then HD DVD doesn't have anything to brag about. (other than attachment rates; if they are counting PS3s)

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6475686.html

[WickyWoo]

Gizmodo, engadget, most of them don't know anything about media marketing, only hardware. They read all the press releases though, and MS has been seeding them for months

[Luis_A51]

Considering bluray standalone sales are matching hddvd standalone sales recently, and the ps3 is selling better and better all the time, i know BD has the advantage in hardware.

They could do with a bit better advertising though. Hopefully a major retailer will go Blu exclusive, like Bestbuy.

[Manco]

Gizmodo, engadget, most of them don't know anything about media marketing, only hardware. They read all the press releases though, and MS has been seeding them for months

These sites are very pro HD-DVD and M$. Take anything written there with a grain of salt. HD-DVD write ups seem to get nice full bodied paragraphs. Blu-ray articles tend to get statements like "Nothing new here....".