Why no Blu-ray/DVD combo discs?

[BigJay]

I'm an owner of one Blu-ray player and there are four other DVD players in my home.

The Blu-ray player (PS3) is for my "home theater" set-up.

The one thing I find discouraging is the lack of Blu-ray / DVD combos.

HD-DVD (the obvious loser) has not all, but several titles available in the HD-DVD / DVD format.

Is there any reason that Blu-ray is not doing this? (Contractual, etc.)

I'd love the ability to enjoy pure and crisp HD on my main set, but sometimes the kids want to watch a movie (Cars, Ratatouille) on the "play room" set and I don't want to have to purchase two copies of the movie.

Are Blu-ray / DVD combos coming out in the future?

If you ask me, it would be a positive step for Blu-ray - hey, sure, you'll get the HD experience on one side of the disc, and the other will be perfect for trips in the mini-van or watching at Grandma's house over the holidays...

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I'm an owner of one Blu-ray player and there are four other DVD players in my home.

The Blu-ray player (PS3) is for my "home theater" set-up.

The one thing I find discouraging is the lack of Blu-ray / DVD combos.

HD-DVD (the obvious loser) has not all, but several titles available in the HD-DVD / DVD format.

Is there any reason that Blu-ray is not doing this? (Contractual, etc.)

I'd love the ability to enjoy pure and crisp HD on my main set, but sometimes the kids want to watch a movie (Cars, Ratatouille) on the "play room" set and I don't want to have to purchase two copies of the movie.

Are Blu-ray / DVD combos coming out in the future?

If you ask me, it would be a positive step for Blu-ray - hey, sure, you'll get the HD experience on one side of the disc, and the other will be perfect for trips in the mini-van or watching at Grandma's house over the holidays...

Thats an interesting idea, but BD will eventually replace DVDs. Its unlikely studios would create such a disk in the interest of double dipping (more profits) and to push the public twards total HD movie viewing.

[bajor27]

As much as I'd like them, considering all the issues with the HD-DVD combo discs - NO THANKS!!!

[miokti]

Cheaper Blu-ray players will be available before any kind of Blu/DVD combo discs, so you'll most likely have a 2nd Blu-ray player for your kids. Blu/DVD combo was never in the plan... i think. Don't get me wrong... Blu-ray players will only go down in price once once Blu-ray is widely adapted and the Blu CE's are competing against each other instead of teaming up against HD-DVD, but Blu/DVD combo is never gonna happen. So I think the only time your kids can watch your Blu movies is when you have more than one player in your house. Meanwhile, you are forced to spend quality time with your kids. that's not so bad... it's best to watch TV and movies with them anyway... you don't want them going around thinking rats can really cook... right?

[buckshot]

originally i was all for bd combo discs. but later i realized i was and i bought another ps3 instead

[BigJay]

I don't think it's crazy - obviously DVD players are inexpensive now - they are in cars, you can pick up portables for a plane ride for under US $150 - I think it's a legitimate question.

Is there any particular reason that the Blu camp isn't putting out combo discs?

Let's face it- Blu is certainly the choice for HD viewing but I don't think (at least I'm not) we're ready for a total divorce from DVD at this point....

[buckshot]

well the combo discs are more expensive, they have higher failure rates, and will be pretty redundant in a few years. now if they sold a dvd along with the blu ray i would have been on board for that (although that would be a nightmare for studios), but combo discs are gross.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I don't think it's crazy - obviously DVD players are inexpensive now - they are in cars, you can pick up portables for a plane ride for under US $150 - I think it's a legitimate question.

Is there any particular reason that the Blu camp isn't putting out combo discs?

Let's face it- Blu is certainly the choice for HD viewing but I don't think (at least I'm not) we're ready for a total divorce from DVD at this point....

I don't know why, after watching Blu, you would want to purchase DVDs? I was thinking about spending a little money on another Blu player. Did you purchase VHS after starting to buy DVDs? Did you want a VHS tape combo?

[Shaman]

I have been unable to watch a dvd since I brought home my first Blu-ray player; personally I am thankful that I don't have to pay premium price for a combo disc; I will wait till paramount comes to it's senses and for Universal to make the switch to Blu-ray.
Until then I will just have to be satisfied with Sony,Disney,MGM,Fox,Warner Blu-Ray releases!

[BigJay]

No, it's just that we have a DVD player in the car, the downstairs setup doesn't have a Blu player and my portable DVD player (a must for airports / plane rides) doesn't play Blu discs.

I was just asking more of a "why" question as in "is this part of the BDA's deal" instead of "why would you want DVDs"?

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I don't think it's crazy - obviously DVD players are inexpensive now - they are in cars, you can pick up portables for a plane ride for under US $150 - I think it's a legitimate question.

Is there any particular reason that the Blu camp isn't putting out combo discs?

Let's face it- Blu is certainly the choice for HD viewing but I don't think (at least I'm not) we're ready for a total divorce from DVD at this point....

Very Few of us even bother buying DVDs anymore. HD TVs are quickly becoming the standard. Next year, all channels are supposed to be HD. Selling a HD movie player to go with these sets are a quick and easy sell to the public. If it isn't coming out on BD, its being released on HD DVD and we will wait until Paramount and Universal drop exclusive support to DUD. We know those movies will be on BD soon enough. As far as making a blu-ray/DVD disk, it just won't happen. DVD will be phased out in time and sales have already begun to drop.

[GORT]

Why would you want a combo disc it failed for DUD and since I got my Blu Ray Player I hardly watch my SD Discs anymore

[BigJay]

Ugh, thanks for the try all.....

I understand the superiority of HD, it was just a question.

I can't hook up a Blu-ray player in the car and my portable DVD player refuses to play Blu....

Was just looking for an answer

[WickyWoo]

Several companies were trying, they just couldn't make it work

Combo packs that contain both have proven unpopular as well, and companies don't like selling something that you can give away and keep the one you want

[miokti]

Originally Posted by BigJay

No, it's just that we have a DVD player in the car, the downstairs setup doesn't have a Blu player and my portable DVD player (a must for airports / plane rides) doesn't play Blu discs.

I was just asking more of a "why" question as in "is this part of the BDA's deal" instead of "why would you want DVDs"?

I understand your problem. The rest of us are spoiled on Blu and can't even think about watching regular DVD's. You on the other hand, have kids that could care less about 1080P, 7.1, AVC, etc. And your dilemma is that you want to buy Disney movies, for example, in blu so that you can watch it in full HD glory, but also want your kids to watch them in the car and in their room. We are in a transition phase. Moving from VHS to DVD was the same. You didn't see VHS/DVD combos, did you? The thing is, Blu/DVD combos will only lengthen the transition phase... the faster we switch to Blu, the better.

[u_nick]

Originally Posted by FEP3108

Why would you want a combo disc it failed for DUD and since I got my Blu Ray Player I hardly watch my SD Discs anymore

LOL, he/she said many times why he would want an SD and they were all valid reasons.

BigJay: I dont think there is any particular reason for it. Just something the BDA never cared to do.

Price? Possibly. I think most of the HDDVDs with this feature were around 5 bucks more?

But it could be anything really. I dont think an exact reason was ever given.

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by BigJay

Ugh, thanks for the try all.....

I understand the superiority of HD, it was just a question.

I can't hook up a Blu-ray player in the car and my portable DVD player refuses to play Blu....

Was just looking for an answer

I doubt anyone here would REALLY know the answer to your question, except for maybe one of the insiders. I don't know if it was ever in Blu-ray specs to make a combo disc, although Warner and their Total HD idea never came to fruition, thankfully.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by BigJay

Ugh, thanks for the try all.....

I understand the superiority of HD, it was just a question.

I can't hook up a Blu-ray player in the car and my portable DVD player refuses to play Blu....

Was just looking for an answer

Guess we don't have the answer you were looking for exactly. Bottom line is that it just won't happen and beyond that, an answer to what will never be is meaningless at that point.

[cj-kent]

Originally Posted by BigJay

Ugh, thanks for the try all.....

I understand the superiority of HD, it was just a question.

I can't hook up a Blu-ray player in the car and my portable DVD player refuses to play Blu....

Was just looking for an answer

It's a good question. I wonder if the real reason is that it is problematic. We've all seen how many problems HD-DVD has had with their combo discs. Perhaps it's because of the already higher production costs of Blu discs compared to HD. I don't know, but it is a good question.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by BigJay

Ugh, thanks for the try all.....

I understand the superiority of HD, it was just a question.

I can't hook up a Blu-ray player in the car and my portable DVD player refuses to play Blu....

Was just looking for an answer

The complication, I believe is that combo discs suck to fabricate.

Subsequently, and paying two different royalty sets sucks even more for the production sequence [DVD Forum + BDA].

It fairly sucks for transitioning, I'll agree.