Why the extremely high price?

[smitty4ut]

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

[Slec]

It's still pretty early in this whole thing. price will drop. A good comparison on a new item is I am legend.
MSRP's
$24.99 regular movie (std DVD)
$29.99 for 2 disc extended edition (std DVD)
$34.99 Blu-ray

The MSRP isn't all that different. DVD has been around long enough to be offering $9.99 and even less for discs. Newer movies are actually in the same MSRP price range.

You'll be getting HD audio (anywhere from 5-7Mbps, vs on 448kbps or 640kbps on std dvd) as well as PiP and internet features (mostly in the future). If you have a HDTV you'll be taking full advantage of all those extra pixels it has to give a clear and crisp picture. Someone else on here can post the difference in bitrates for video as I don't know it off the top of my head... I think DVD peaks at 9Mbps and blu-ray in the 30's...

[Beta Man]

Audio and Video improvements require additional space..... just the way it is.... What "more" do you want on the disc? I don't care for the special features, and I don't expect theaters to start showing special features after the movies.....

The same 90 min. movie on VHS has the "same stuff" in it, but it's $0.99 on Half.com the DVD version is $4.99, and the Blu Ray might be $10 Prices will come down eventually, but you gotta remember the days when DVDs were first "the big thing" I remember getting mine in about 1996 or 1997 and just being BLOWN AWAY by the picture quality, and buying DVDs for $20-$25 was just fine!!!!

[blujacket]

Dvd was the same when it first came out. Cd's also. For what you get, Bluray is a great deal.

[smitty4ut]

Well I can get most dvd way below the msrp release day. Why doesn't bluray do the same.

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

You say you were a first gen DVD owner? My frist DVD player was 199$ so I got into it somewhat early myself.

Do you not remember DVD's were 29.99$ for years? How is Blu-ray more expensive than DVD when it first came out? It actually seems a little cheaper so far.. many of my Blu-ray's were 20$ or less.

And how is there not more on the disc? A dvd is typically no more than 7gb with extras. A Blu-ray is usually 4x+ more content on the disc. Due to higher resolution video it takes up more space. Your post doesn't make much sense. If it is worth 15$ more or not depends on you. It also depends on your tv and how much you like the movie. If I compare my Fifth Element DVD to Blu-ray it is night and day. The dvd looks like utter crap in comparison... plus it only costed me 13$ on Blu-ray lol.

[Xerious]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

- better picture
- better sound
- better experience
- better durability

a theater-like experience in home nix the

- annoying high school kids
- sticky floors
- overpriced concessions
- t3h d34dly AIDS needlz in teh chairs!!!1!!!

i think it's worth 15 bucks more

[MasterXeus]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

Welcome!

Being a first gen Dvd owner, do you remember the prices of DVDs when they first came out? They were price the same as Blu-rays are now, just give it time and the prices will start to drop.

[Brian Cash]

Blu rays are not that much more then reg dvds and your getting so much more. always check the hott deals forum and always order from amazon there are always sales for blurays most of mine i havent spent more then 20 dollars for except planet earth and die hard collection and i have over 100 so just keep a look out and be patient if u go to walmart and see one u want there for 35 bucks go on amazon and its prob only 20 with free shipping

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

What did you pay for DVDs at first?

Gary

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Xerious

- better picture
- better sound
- better experience
- better durability

a theater-like experience in home nix the

- annoying high school kids
- sticky floors
- overpriced concessions
- t3h d34dly AIDS needlz in teh chairs!!!1!!!

i think it's worth 15 bucks more

x50! But his points are valid. Besides, thats the price of being an early adopter.

[olds403]

My first generation dvd player cost me $300(pioneer dv-414) bought in 1998(still works). I remember dvd movies being $24-29 back then. I expect blu-rays to come down but it will take a while. That being said, you can find some good deals on bd's online. I recently got the first 4 harry potter bd's from columbia house for 11.23 each during a buy one/get one sale. You need to shop around for deals, I refuse to pay full msrp for discs.

[NutsAboutPS3]

When DVDs first came out in the UK, a typical release was perhaps £15.99 IIRC. If we add on inflation at 3% per year, an equivalent price now would be £21.49. In fact Blu-ray discs are typically only £17.99 or cheaper, so in real terms they are cheaper than DVDs were at the same point in the lifecycle.

[smitty4ut]

I would like to know where you all found these cheap first gen dvd players. Mine was a Mitsu and it cost $699. Also there was a much bigger difference in picture quality. Going from VHS to DVD was stunning. The difference in picture from an upscaled dvd and bluray is not the same. Bluray is better, just not the same leap. I do remember the cost of dvd's back then. Most of the one's I got were around the $20 mark. Now the bluray's are 29.99 to 34.99. Also before you bash me, most reviews say that there is not a huge difference between upscaled dvd's and bluray.

[scragham]

someone doesn't know about inflation, apparently.

what was the price of a DVD way back then in inflation-adjusted dollars?

[wallendo]

When you buy a movie, you are primarily paying for the movie, not the disc. The disk probably costs well less than a dollar. You pay more for blu-ray because the movie companies charge more for the higher quality. Recently, I have seen several cases where the widescreen DVD costs more than the Fullscreen DVD (and they cost the same to produce). The studios will always charge more for Blu-ray than DVD (just like DVD always costs more than VHS). You are paying for a higher quality product. Pricesd will come down, but DVD's will always be cheaper (unless/until the format dies out).

[jling71]

The blu-ray is a huge leap forward from dvd. both in picture and audio. A good blu-ray blows away a dvd. There is no comparison. Just like vhs to dvd. My first dvd player was $799 on sale. If you remember the first dvd's were aslo $30 dollars to skys the limit.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

When DVDs first came out, some players went for $700-$1000. Disc prices were as high as $35.00. As more and more people bought DVDs and players, the prices tumbled. That's always the way it works. We are still early in the product cycle.

[WickyWoo]

I was a first gen dvd owner. I waited on the new formats until there was a winner. I just don't understand why bluray disk are so expensive. There doesn't seem to be any more on the disk than the regular dvds. I know the picture is better, but not $15 better. They have all this space and what are they using it for.

If you were a first-gen DVD owner, then you'll realize the discs are priced exactly the same (about $5 more to account for inflation) as they were in 1997

[bumpylemon]

Originally Posted by smitty4ut

Well I can get most dvd way below the msrp release day. Why doesn't bluray do the same.

i only pay on average 13-17 dollars for my blu rays. hell no country for old men is 23 bucks on amazon...but amazon also just pricematched me o 4 other blu rays that dropped in price totally 9 dollars. so now 23 turns into 14 bucks. you just gotta look around most ive paid was 24 for crank.