We HD DVD owners surrender, but...

[ADWyatt]

I own the BD player Samsung BD-P1200, and although I started into BD late, 39 of my 89 movies are in Blu-ray. Fortunately, my five Harry Potter movies, which were bought in HD as part of a promotion, can be exchanged for their BD counterparts. Still, that leaves 45 HD-DVD movies, and the cost of the 1080p player ($240) Gone With The Wind.

For those of us who got caught in the format war, when untimely info (Paramount's decision to go HD-only, and Sony's new BD boss giving the initial impression that BD might actually lose the format war) pushed us into investing in both technologies, can there be any kind of effective damage control?

In the long run, the answer is "No." Toshiba will quit the game sometime in 2009, and replacement parts for its players will cease to exist several years later. After that, their players will just be glorified doorstoppers.

We have to be content in two ways...

First, while they last we can still use our HD players, partly as upscalers for standard DVDs (They do a marvelous job at that! BD does as well, but why put extra strain on your only hi-def player?), and as players for our current library of HD movies. We can replace them when these movies' BD counterparts are released, after which we can sell each replaced HD movie for a sack full of burgers.

Secondly, even those of us who bought into HD-DVD can at least be thankful that the war ended now. Had Warner committed to HD, the war would have dragged on for at least another two years, and would have cost people like me a great deal more money than it already has. And there is no way that mainstream America (and the rest of the world) would have given full support to hi-def DVDs. As we all know, with competing formats, most people are going to hold back. (And yes, I'm eating crow right now. Please pass the salt.)

What I'd like now is to get this thing over with--officially--as quickly as possible. When that happens, and the buying public becomes fully aware of it, there will be a flood tide of consumers buying into the next generation of Home Theater. And when that happens, a whole lot more top movie titles are going to be released, along with lower prices for movies and players.

With that in mind, I'd like to see the BD camp offer some kind of financial or technological sop to the HD-DVD developers and backers, to hurry the process along. They don't have to, of course, but it would be to the public's benefit, and it would help save face for developers who could prove valuable in the future. Please feel free to give your opinion on this.

[JTK]

There's no way this lasts into 2009 at the rapid fire rate the dominos are already starting to fall. Warner's gone. New Line just went BD exclusive, you know HBO is going to follow. I'm halfway expecting signals from Paramount and Universal before CES is over. They're most certainly going "neutral" at the very least as soon as any out clauses can kick in. I'm expecting it within six months, if not sooner.

Toshiba needs to stand down now. Their stockholders will not allow this madness to continue much longer and certainly not into 2009.

It's over.

[darkblueme]

The best way for HD DVD supporters to save face and seek monetary compensation is to sell their booty on eBay. Don't expect compensation from anybody else.

Did Paramount compensate Blu-Ray supporters? Get real! At least Warner is still releasing movies on HD DVD through May. That is a lot more than Paramount offered.

[bhuyanp]

Agree with both the points you made here.

1. HD DVD players are not waste and they can still be used as upscallers od DVDs.

2. End of war early on is good for consumers.

[Blu As Hell]

2009?!!! Sorry kid this is all over this year!!!!! Go sell your HD DVD stuff and buy some Blu-rays.

[T-Wrecks]

Why not. Show me HD receipts within the last 90 days and get 1 free Blu ray disc per HD DVD disc up to five with the purchase of a Blu Ray player.

Already have a Blu-ray player? Hmmm tough one. A discount maybe?

[u_nick]

Slightly off topic, but I have to ask since I wasnt around at the time: How did Beta loosing to VHS effect all the people who bought into Beta?

A lot of people are now stuck wondering what happens to all the people who bought into HDDVD, so I assume it would be similar.

I mean, the only things I can think of similar would be when a Gaming console dies. I bought into both Dreamcast and Gamecube and loved them both. When they eventually faded away, well... nothing happened. Just loved the past experience and moved on to other things. Would it be the same here?

[iNCREDiPiNOY]

Or trade 5 HD-DVDs for 1 Blu-Ray DVD of your choice!

[darkblueme]

Originally Posted by u_nick

Slightly off topic, but I have to ask since I wasnt around at the time: How did Beta loosing to VHS effect all the people who bought into Beta?

A lot of people are now stuck wondering what happens to all the people who bought into HDDVD, so I assume it would be similar.

I mean, the only things I can think of similar would be when a Gaming console dies. I bought into both Dreamcast and Gamecube and loved them both. When they eventually faded away, well... nothing happened. Just loved the past experience and moved on to other things. Would it be the same here?

Well said!

[JTK]

Originally Posted by u_nick

Slightly off topic, but I have to ask since I wasnt around at the time: How did Beta loosing to VHS effect all the people who bought into Beta?

A lot of people are now stuck wondering what happens to all the people who bought into HDDVD, so I assume it would be similar.

I mean, the only things I can think of similar would be when a Gaming console dies. I bought into both Dreamcast and Gamecube and loved them both. When they eventually faded away, well... nothing happened. Just loved the past experience and moved on to other things. Would it be the same here?

Same as any other venture:

The Betamax people went on to buy VHS with no handouts or help. They took that loss. They knew what risk they were taking going into it.

No one forced them to buy anything one way or the other back then same as now.

No one forced anyone here to buy anything one way or the other.

[mikesoba]

As I read it, he is stating continued support of players with parts, warranties, etc., will last until 2009, not the viability of the format.

We all put ourselves at risk by being early adopters, so any of us who chose BD should be able to empathize with what the HD DVD supporters are experiencing now.

Thankfully this now appears to be at an end as HD DVD withers and dies down over the coming months.

[sj001]

This is the price that early adopters sometimes pay, the technology doesn't pan out. Unforunately for HD-DVD owners, the writing has been on the wall for quite some time, I'd say cut your losses now, and sell the stuff on eBay before NOBODY wants to buy the stuff!

[Petra]

We HD DVD owners surrender, but...

your title is funny, but you have good points in your post. We always welcome moderate ex-HD-DVD followers. It's the extremists that we have problems with

Yeah I do hope that the HD-DVD studios are now thinking about the bigger picture, end the format war, move on to the battle versus DVD, and bring HDM to the mainstream.

[flyingdutchman]

Originally Posted by ADWyatt

I own the BD player Samsung BD-P1200, and although I started into BD late, 39 of my 89 movies are in Blu-ray. Fortunately, my five Harry Potter movies, which were bought in HD as part of a promotion, can be exchanged for their BD counterparts. Still, that leaves 45 HD-DVD movies, and the cost of the 1080p player ($240) Gone With The Wind.

For those of us who got caught in the format war, when untimely info (Paramount's decision to go HD-only, and Sony's new BD boss giving the initial impression that BD might actually lose the format war) pushed us into investing in both technologies, can there be any kind of effective damage control?

In the long run, the answer is "No." Toshiba will quit the game sometime in 2009, and replacement parts for its players will cease to exist several years later. After that, their players will just be glorified doorstoppers.

We have to be content in two ways...

First, while they last we can still use our HD players, partly as upscalers for standard DVDs (They do a marvelous job at that! BD does as well, but why put extra strain on your only hi-def player?), and as players for our current library of HD movies. We can replace them when these movies' BD counterparts are released, after which we can sell each replaced HD movie for a sack full of burgers.

Secondly, even those of us who bought into HD-DVD can at least be thankful that the war ended now. Had Warner committed to HD, the war would have dragged on for at least another two years, and would have cost people like me a great deal more money than it already has. And there is no way that mainstream America (and the rest of the world) would have given full support to hi-def DVDs. As we all know, with competing formats, most people are going to hold back. (And yes, I'm eating crow right now. Please pass the salt.)

What I'd like now is to get this thing over with--officially--as quickly as possible. When that happens, and the buying public becomes fully aware of it, there will be a flood tide of consumers buying into the next generation of Home Theater. And when that happens, a whole lot more top movie titles are going to be released, along with lower prices for movies and players.

With that in mind, I'd like to see the BD camp offer some kind of financial or technological sop to the HD-DVD developers and backers, to hurry the process along. They don't have to, of course, but it would be to the public's benefit, and it would help save face for developers who could prove valuable in the future. Please feel free to give your opinion on this.

Was the same offered to Betamax buyers back when? I don't think so. So I don't think HD-DVD owners should receive anything.

[Petra]

flyingdutchman
Member

Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 89

Did you hack the 'join date' in your profile?

[Wheelman1970]

Originally Posted by JTK

Same as any other venture:

The Betamax people went on to buy VHS with no handouts or help. They took that loss. They knew what risk they were taking going into it.

No one forced them to buy anything one way or the other back then same as now.

No one forced anyone here to buy anything one way or the other.

That's exactly right. We pay and we pay and we pay. Make a mistake - we pay. Make the wrong decision - we pay. The new format war is no different. Buck up and hand over your cash and THEN welcome to the community.

[scott1256ca]

First off, please remember beta was around a long time before it died off. Personally, even when the writing was on the wall, I bought a beta player because I mostly wanted to record and playback, and I had plans to move cassettes over to the beta hi-fi (never did, more trouble than it was worth). Movies continued to be available for a few years after I bought my player, and when it died after 7 or so years of use, I went VHS. I never expected any compensation.

That being said, anyone who invested much in either HD format KNEW FULL WELL that their side might not last a long time. So I for one don't feel you are entitled to any compensation. Even so, it might be a good promotion if WB were to offer some kind of trade in for old HD DVDs when you buy a BD of the same title.

The studios (both audio and video) have always tried to act as if we are licensing their product, not paying for the media, so this might be a great time to ACT like it and back it up with a "send us a WB hd dvd and $5 and well send you the BD of the same title" type of deal (you pay the shipping).

[jw]

Originally Posted by JTK

There's no way this lasts into 2009 at the rapid fire rate the dominos are already starting to fall. Warner's gone. New Line just went BD exclusive, you know HBO is going to follow. I'm halfway expecting signals from Paramount and Universal before CES is over. They're most certainly going "neutral" at the very least as soon as any out clauses can kick in. I'm expecting it within six months, if not sooner.

Toshiba needs to stand down now. Their stockholders will not allow this madness to continue much longer and certainly not into 2009.

It's over.

Toshiba should win our hearts with a 99.00 blu-ray player

[flyingdutchman]

Originally Posted by Petra

Did you hack the 'join date' in your profile?

No. I joined in May 2003 and was at that time a charter member. Why do you ask?

Here's my first post:

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Old 05-05-2003, 12:36 AM #3
flyingdutchman
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Join Date: May 2003
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Just wondering where you are from markw. Do you live in Japan? If not, how does your recorder work outside of Japan?
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Notice the 05-05-2003 posting date, the day I joined.

[Snider]

Originally Posted by JTK

There's no way this lasts into 2009 at the rapid fire rate the dominos are already starting to fall. Warner's gone. New Line just went BD exclusive, you know HBO is going to follow. I'm halfway expecting signals from Paramount and Universal before CES is over. They're most certainly going "neutral" at the very least as soon as any out clauses can kick in. I'm expecting it within six months, if not sooner.

Toshiba needs to stand down now. Their stockholders will not allow this madness to continue much longer and certainly not into 2009.

It's over.

I would have to agree out of sheer want for the war to be over and a few solid movies to come to Blu