Why I'm Still Resisting Neutrality

[Croweyes1121]

As ludricous as the $98 Wal-Mart pricing is on the HD-A2, I have decided to stay strong and wait this thing out. Let's be honest. It's tempting at that price point...I don't care how true Blu you are. The thing is, I absolutely hate the idea of being a war perpetuator. You have to take these three points into account, too.

1. If Blu-ray Disc wins in the end, then an HD DVD player - however cheap it may be - will just be money wasted in the long run, as will any money I spend on software for it.

2. If HD DVD ends up winning instead, then I certainly won't have any trouble finding a dirt-cheap HD DVD player at a later date, especially at the rate Toshiba's going.

3. At a $98 price point, I think the format war is likely to be resolved sooner rather than later. Just my opinion. I mean, I see it this way:

Possibility 1: HD DVD is going to reassert itself as a viable format and handily overtake Blu-ray Disc in sales in Q4 due to these insanely low prices. After lagging behind consistently for over nine months, a comeback like that would be nothing short of a revelatory and decisive victory for HD DVD that would probably sway things in a big way, and could possibly even influence studio support in Q1 2008.

Possibility 2: Blu-ray either wins or loses but comes very close to winning Q4 because of its (much) stronger title lineup for the holidays. If this happens despite the country's largest retailer selling the HD-A2 at $98 a pop, I think everyone is going to know that this thing is all over whether they like it or not.

In short...I think Q4 is going to decide this one way or the other, and I've been patient this long, so why not just wait a few more months? I think it's going to be a lot clearer at that point exactly where things stand (and if not, it's not like there won't be comparable or even cheaper deals post-Christmas).

[Go Blu]

AGREED 100%

I for one will not do anything to further drag out this war.
It's a matter of principal.
Once the war is over you WILL get your movies on Blu.

[TauRus]

Personally, I am not even tempted by the cheap HD-DVD players, even if they start bundling them at no charge with a roll of toilet paper, I will still not care - I do not need a component in my rack that has little to no value.

[Xerious]

okay, you have a choice between what is solid and what is cheap.

why drive a ferarri when you can drive a kia... i mean, a kia is a few hundred thousand cheaper. both are cars. both perform the same task. well, one will get to only three places, but at half the speed and the gas tank is smaller than the other, which will get you to more places, faster, and you look good doing it.

but only one will get you poon at the club

bluray = guarenteed butang
hd dvd = comes with a bottle of vaseline and some tissue paper

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

Possibility 1: HD DVD is going to reassert itself as a viable format and handily overtake Blu-ray Disc in sales in Q4 due to these insanely low prices. After lagging behind consistently for over nine months, a comeback like that would be nothing short of a revelatory and decisive victory for HD DVD that would probably sway things in a big way, and could possibly even influence studio support in Q1 2008.

Possibility 2: Blu-ray either wins or loses but comes very close to winning Q4 because of its (much) stronger title lineup for the holidays. If this happens despite the country's largest retailer selling the HD-A2 at $98 a pop, I think everyone is going to know that this thing is all over whether they like it or not.

Seriously, those are your only 2 possibilities? How about the one where Walmart buyers just aren't the type to go HD yet and even if they buy a few players they still don't buy many titles? Blu is going to crush HD-DVD in terms of titles sold in 4Q. How much do you wanna bet, most of the WM shoppers who buy the $98 player turn around and pick up a stack of $5 DVDs and no HD-DVDs at $20+ a pop?

[glenn22]

I think the hype over this $98 player is being blown WAY out of proportion. Think about why the player is selling for that price... Toshiba knows that Warner is almost certain to choose a side at the beginning of 2008 (as has been practically confirmed recently by warner) and they are DESPERATE!

they are looking at the $399 price tag for the PS3 and thinking, "why would anyone buy this crappy A2 when they can get a 1080p Playstation 3 that functions as a complete HD media center (movies, music, games) for only $200 more?

This is a last ditch effort by Toshiba to hang on and attract as many people as they can to just hold on.

[johnnyd1]

Originally Posted by Croweyes1121

As ludricous as the $98 Wal-Mart pricing is on the HD-A2, I have decided to stay strong as wait this thing out. Let's be honest. It's tempting at that price point...I don't care how true Blu you are. The thing is, I absolutely hate the idea of being a war perpetuator. You have to take these three points into account, too.

1. If Blu-ray Disc wins in the end, then an HD DVD player - however cheap it may be - will just be money wasted in the long run, as will any money I spend on software for it.

2. If HD DVD ends up winning instead, then I certainly won't have any trouble finding a dirt-cheap HD DVD player at a later date, especially at the rate Toshiba's going.

3. At a $98 price point, I think the format war is likely to be resolved sooner rather than later. Just my opinion. I mean, I see it this way:

Possibility 1: HD DVD is going to reassert itself as a viable format and handily overtake Blu-ray Disc in sales in Q4 due to these insanely low prices. After lagging behind consistently for over nine months, a comeback like that would be nothing short of a revelatory and decisive victory for HD DVD that would probably sway things in a big way, and could possibly even influence studio support in Q1 2008.

Possibility 2: Blu-ray either wins or loses but comes very close to winning Q4 because of its (much) stronger title lineup for the holidays. If this happens despite the country's largest retailer selling the HD-A2 at $98 a pop, I think everyone is going to know that this thing is all over whether they like it or not.

In short...I think Q4 is going to decide this one way or the other, and I've been patient this long, so why not just wait a few more months? I think it's going to be a lot clearer at that point exactly where things stand (and if not, it's not like there won't be comparable or even cheaper deals post-Christmas).

I look at it this way. Does the red format have ANY movies I need ?
The answer is no ! With so many great Blu Ray movies now available and more on the way, I don't have enough time to watch all I own now. I must have 12 still in wrappers, and more on order !

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by TauRus

Personally, I am not even tempted by the cheap HD-DVD players, even if they start bundling them at no charge with a roll of toilet paper, I will stay not care - I do not need a component in my rack that has little to no value.

Maybe it has "little to no value" in your eyes, but for the film lover in me that just cares about films and doesn't give a crap about EITHER format, there is still a temptation. Serenity, King Kong, Smallville: Season 5, Top Gun, The Bourne Trilogy, The Matrix Trilogy, and Batman Begins are valuable to me, even if HD DVD isn't.

But, like I said, I refuse to be a reason BOTH formats die, which is what's going to happen if things don't end decisively - one way or the other - in Q4. I am a strong Blu-ray Disc supporter, don't get me wrong, but I don't let it transcend into hatred for HD DVD. I mean, maybe it's just me here, but I'd rather have HD DVD than standard DVD. Some people on here seem to think that HD DVD sucks so bad that they'd rather just have all HD media die completely before letting it win over Blu-ray. That, to me, is putting personal politics and squabbling before the future of home entertainment which - to me, at least - is wrong.

[aphex]

I'd only buy an hddvd player if hddvd started winning 5-1 and 1080p players were like less than 100 bucks.

so basically when hell freezes over.

[Kyot]

I will also not purchase a HD DVD Player no matter how cheap it is. Those cheap chinese models are most likely deadly anyways because everything else that is currently coming in from China has deadly amounts of lead in it.

I would like this war to be over after christmas because the people will only start buying Hi def material once the format war is over as they don't want to choose between the two, as most people dont know the difference.

I ran into an old friend on the train last week and I was telling him about Blu Ray , and he said that he thought HD DVD was better just because it had the HD in front of the DVD. I laughed, but then realized that the general public is misinformed and ignorant. Blu Rays advertising is increasing two fold currently, which is awesome, and so hopefuly its only a matter a time.

And honestly..$98 for a HD DVD Player...soon they ll be items in the 25 cent candy machines or a toy given away with a happy meal at Mcdonalds.

[bdrex28]

Someone going Neutral at this time is only perpetuating the war even longer.

It only does more harm than good in my opinion.

[Xerious]

Originally Posted by bdrex28

Someone going Neutral at this time is only perpetuating the war even longer.

It only does more harm than good in my opinion.

agreed. stick to your guns.

[johnnyd1]

Originally Posted by aphex

I'd only buy an hddvd player if hddvd started winning 5-1 and 1080p players were like less than 100 bucks.

so basically when hell freezes over.

[Xerious]

the HDDUDers are overtaking digg

http://www.digg.com/tech_news/Toshib...riday_Wal_Mart

people who root for shit make me sick.

[Cplhicks]

This is why I've been opposed to the neutrality thing for ages. There is no way 2 formats surviving will be good for the consumer. I don't either side should do neutrality (though obviously it benefits Blu-ray if HD-ers do). If you pick a side, you should stick to your guns until there is a winner. Supporting both sides only drags it out longer. Plus, as someone else said, there are some good movies on the HD side, but nothing I can't live without. Anyone who buys a cheap HD player now that is a Blu-supporter is only going to be helping the other side when it comes time to show Warner and others that they've suceeded.

[Razzy]

IMO, I wouldn't want to waste 98 bucks on a dying format...or 50 or even 25 bucks. I'd rather put that money towards some Blu ray movies.

[cawgijoe]

I'm finding that more people I talk to know the term "Blu-Ray" then HD-DVD even though they may not know much about either.

At first I though Blu-Ray was a stupid name and did not convey the meaning of the product. However, that supposition has now changed in my mind.

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by cawgijoe

I'm finding that more people I talk to know the term "Blu-Ray" then HD-DVD even though they may not know much about either.

At first I though Blu-Ray was a stupid name and did not convey the meaning of the product. However, that supposition has now changed in my mind.

Plus, saying "HD DVD" is just a plain pain in the ass.

[KidOmega123]

Originally Posted by TauRus

Personally, I am not even tempted by the cheap HD-DVD players, even if they start bundling them at no charge with a roll of toilet paper, I will stay not care - I do not need a component in my rack that has little to no value.

LMAO.......so true.

[DJeffries]

I am also a big film fan first and foremost. HD DVD is preferable over SD DVD. Blu-ray as we all know is better technology yet. However the technological advantage of Blu-ray over HD DVD is not the reason behind my exclusive support for it. A lesson I learned with Beta. Near full CE and studio support is needed in order for one of these formats to gain mass adoption. I believe Blu-ray to be the only HDM format in a position to accomplish this already having majority support in both areas. While support both would be beneficial to my hobby in the short term, the only thing that can come of it would be more division in content support thus delaying or even preventing main stream adoption. Most people will just stick to DVD and the best we end up with is SACD/DVD-Audio level support long term. I will not play a role in that happening no matter how cheap players get. I want my HDM.