Blu-ray's support of DVD

[jeremyr]

Being new to this Blu-ray thing, I was surprised to find out that Blu-ray players standards do not include requiring them to support DVD's. HDDVD players are required to play DVD's, however I don't think Blu-ray players are. I am concerned about this, as I have an enormous collection of DVD's, some of which I have no intent of replacing. Do you think manufacturers to reduce prices would stop supporting DVD?

[ckenisell]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

Being new to this Blu-ray thing, I was surprised to find out that Blu-ray players standards do not include requiring them to support DVD's. HDDVD players are required to play DVD's, however I don't think Blu-ray players are. I am concerned about this, as I have an enormous collection of DVD's, some of which I have no intent of replacing. Do you think manufacturers to reduce prices would stop supporting DVD?

I fully expect Blu-Ray manufactures to stop supporting DVD playback around the year 2080.

[clownface]

All Blu ray players play DVD's and upscale them to better resolution.

[Guinness7]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

Being new to this Blu-ray thing, I was surprised to find out that Blu-ray players standards do not include requiring them to support DVD's. HDDVD players are required to play DVD's, however I don't think Blu-ray players are. I am concerned about this, as I have an enormous collection of DVD's, some of which I have no intent of replacing. Do you think manufacturers to reduce prices would stop supporting DVD?

That might be true, but right now I do not think that they would do something like that becasue it would turn off a lot of people nit being able to play dvds in their new blu-ray player.

[CptGreedle]

If they ever release a player that does not handle DVDs, it will be only to lower the cost. It will also not sell well since I think DVDs will be around for 10 years even if they are not all new. Sure BD will take over eventually, but DVDs still work and people do not want to buy an entire new library. As long as their current BD player is backwards compatible and upconverts, people will keep their DVDs around.

[WickyWoo]

Even in the infintessimably unlikely time when they stopped supporting it. your DVD player isn't broken

[blu-ray fan002]

When do you think there will be more movies made to Blu-ray than standard DVDs?

[geekboy2000]

Originally Posted by blu-ray fan002

When do you think there will be more movies made to Blu-ray than standard DVDs?

Do I win a prize for being closest without going over? I'd say 7 years. That's to say, "When will the catalog of Blu-ray titles exceed that of standard DVDs"

[bootman]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

Being new to this Blu-ray thing, I was surprised to find out that Blu-ray players standards do not include requiring them to support DVD's. HDDVD players are required to play DVD's, however I don't think Blu-ray players are. I am concerned about this, as I have an enormous collection of DVD's, some of which I have no intent of replacing. Do you think manufacturers to reduce prices would stop supporting DVD?

Just where did you find this out?
I'm curious as to your "source".

[jeremyr]

Originally Posted by bootman

Just where did you find this out?
I'm curious as to your "source".

On the Wiki for Blu-ray. I was surprised by the following:

"While it is not compulsory for manufacturers; the Blu-ray Disc Association recommends that Blu-ray Disc drives should be capable of reading standard DVDs for backward compatibility. For instance, Samsung's first Blu-ray Disc drive can read CDs, regular DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs. All other Blu-ray Disc players released are also capable of DVD playback, though not all support CD playback. "


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc

[Firefox]

Even if that happens, you can always buy a $35 DVD player to play all your collections.

[bootman]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

On the Wiki for Blu-ray. I was surprised by the following:

"While it is not compulsory for manufacturers; the Blu-ray Disc Association recommends that Blu-ray Disc drives should be capable of reading standard DVDs for backward compatibility. For instance, Samsung's first Blu-ray Disc drive can read CDs, regular DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs. All other Blu-ray Disc players released are also capable of DVD playback, though not all support CD playback. "


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc

While "technically" true, what CE in their right mind would omit DVD playback?

For the record, there are NO Bluray players to date that cannot also play DVDs.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

And not that I doubt the validity of the claim, but come on, this is Wiki that we're getting the information from. That's not a real good sight to quote facts from...

[Edh63]

Reel to reel < 8 Track < cassette < DAT < CD < BD < BD+... and so on.

It's all in the natural progression of technology. Your collection of DVDs will be obsolete one day, just as every other format becomes obsolescence one day too. I've never figured out why anyone would want to collect movies. I personally watch the flick and could care less about seeing it again and again. That's just me though.

[richieb1971]

The OP is right, BD players do not have to carry compatibility for DVD.

But since BD is 1% of the market expect it to take some time for manufacturers to completely remove compatibility. I mean, you would need at least 40% of the market at the bare minimum.

Although BD is the AV enthusiasts choice, don't expect BD to be the most popular format at any given time. Even if in 7 years it over takes DVD, there will be new formats on the horizon before then which will be cheaper (probably inferior) but more cost effective for most consumers.

The reason manufacturers want a disc medium is to charge high prices, anyone who says these movies aren't being sold at over inflated prices needs their heads examined.

Most people would settle for $8 (£5) a movie for ownership, since its slightly more expensive than renting, but worth the extra pennies.

Anyway, off topic I am going.. So I am going..

[Toptube]

Originally Posted by clownface

All Blu ray players play DVD's and upscale them to better resolution.

not true. but there are only a couple that don't play DVD's. its probably to do with the laser differences and cutting costs. Because, all Blu-ray players have mpeg support, which is what dvds use.