Bashing Blu-ray hurts more than just Blu-ray.

[tron3]

It's one thing when the red fan boys are preaching the demise of blu-ray, while still sucking at the dried up teets of Toshiba. It is another when Toshiba takes parting shots and continues to try to undermine the success of blu-ray. "Super up conversion, flashram, and digital downloads will make you obsolete." Etc.

HDTV has been with us about a decade and is already becoming an old hat trick. Blu-ray is the most exciting thing to happen to home entertainment since HDTV and is a much needed enconomic stimulus. Intentionally trying to undermine the adoption of blu-ray hurts the economy. "But it is only a segment of the economy." is no excuse. Gas prices are only a segment of the economy, and look how fuel costs have changed the price of EVERYTHING.

With Circuit City failing, and jobs being lost, mass adoption of blu-ray could stimulate and secure more positions in that job market. Every little bit helps. Suppose Radio Shack closed their doors forever and no one took them over? Do we blow it off and say, "But they are only small stores with a few employee's. No big deal." Radio Shack has over 6000 stores in the nation. That is probably more than the other electronic retailers combined! If the average store employed 6 people that is 36,000 people out of jobs. That doesn't even take into account the local district offices and home office. Thousands more without out jobs.

I'm not trying to say blu-ray will save the day, but it will save some jobs, and create new ones. Business is always looking to cut costs. Unfortunately when money is tight the employee goes from asset to liability in the blink of an eye.

The entire format war caused a massive slow down in the acceptance of either format. Plus all this mud slinging has shaken consumer confidence. The format war should not have happened. On the other hand, it shows the victor was indeed the superior technology. In this case, blu-ray.

Paramount / Dream Works, and Universal need to start showing support for blu-ray. Right now they look like they decided to abstain altogether. Again, not a good impression for consumers.

To all you red campers, digital campers, and general anti-blu campers, it is time you stop the antics. The next job which is lost may be yours.