If I buy an HD-DVD player, will I be prolonging the format war?

[Blu Tiger]

I have a PS3, and I am a blu-ray supporter. I wish there was only one HD format, but since there are two with no clear winner in sight, I feel like I should pick up an HD-DVD player for the things that I can't get on blu-ray (like the Heroes show). If I do this though, will I be prolonging the format war? Can both formats exist and thrive now that dual format players are available, or can there be only one?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have a PS3, and I am a blu-ray supporter. I wish there was only one HD format, but since there are two with no clear winner in sight, I feel like I should pick up an HD-DVD player for the things that I can't get on blu-ray (like the Heroes show). If I do this though, will I be prolonging the format war?

Unfortunately, yes.

Can both formats exist and thrive now that dual format players are available, or can there be only one?

They can coexist, but then it essentially means an SACD vs. DVD-A type situation.

Do what's right for you.

There can and SHOULD be/should have been only one.

[Rup_Muk]

My $0.02:

Bottom line: If both formats survive: neither will "thrive".

The "true" front of the battle is HD vs. SD. Given the relative inefficacy of affordable upconverting DVD players, it is inevitable that HD will have its day in the sun (especially with adoption of HD TV sets and HD programming). Early adoption of one of the two currently available HD formats will allow the full resources of HD to be brought into the HD v. SD war.

Therefore, IMO, buying into both formats is probably a mistake.

Again, that's my $0.02.

Rup.

[coolmilo]

I don't think both formats can coexist in the long term. There is a good chance that both formats will negate each other the longer they are two competing in the market place.

Look at what has happened to DVD-A and SACD. Because of that battle both formats are almost out of business now or at least considered irrelevant except to the most extreme audiophiles.

Think about the huge cost to the movie studios who release both Blu-ray and HD DVD versions of movies. It would be much more cost effective if there was just one HD format.

Bottom line, pick a format and stick to it. Be smart and stick with Blu-ray.

[Eve6insideandout]

Well lets just say thousands of people think like you. I should buy an HD player for those discs not on blu-ray. Then they all go out and buy those players and soon enough HD-DVD is still thriving. What do you think. The longer HD-DVD can stay in there, the more this is just going to move along and the majority is going to invest in neither. Whenever you have a thought of buying an HD-DVD player go and try to convice someone to buy blu-ray, buy a blu-ray disc, or write a forum about blu-ray. This way your your helping end the format war in two ways. If you can do this soon enough those movies you want will be on blu-ray and you will be saying thank god I didn't waste $300, now I can buy a whole bunch of movies!

[The Don]

I was tempted to scoop up the HD-DVD add-on when I had my 360....REAL TEMPTED....Batman Begins and 2 or 3 other movies maybe...

but then I realized that Batman begins will be on BD at some point...and I really don't want to shoot myself in the foot by purchasing..another..HD player

stick with BD...even the companies that manufacture BD players dwarf the reliability in the HD-DVD players...

who?...Toshiba?..RCA?...LG?...I hate LG..

[HDAddicts]

Originally Posted by coolmilo

I don't think both formats can coexist in the long term. There is a good chance that both formats will negate each other the longer they are two competing in the market place.

Look at what has happened to DVD-A and SACD. Because of that battle both formats are almost out of business now or at least considered irrelevant except to the most extreme audiophiles.

Think about the huge cost to the movie studios who release both Blu-ray and HD DVD versions of movies. It would be much more cost effective if there was just one HD format.

Bottom line, pick a format and stick to it. Be smart and stick with Blu-ray.

When I look at these 2 formats, I can't help but also look at the video game industry. There has always been multi formats, with millions of people buying one, and millions for the other. Each format has exclusive games, and alot of multi-platform games. Is it possible for 2 HD movie formats to exist?? Not likely, but really why couldn't it happen?? Just a thought.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by HDAddicts

When I look at these 2 formats, I can't help but also look at the video game industry. There has always been multi formats, with millions of people buying one, and millions for the other. Each format has exclusive games, and alot of multi-platform games. Is it possible for 2 HD movie formats to exist?? Not likely, but really why couldn't it happen?? Just a thought.

yuup...I have always looked at this like the videogame industry...

I really hope this format war ends fast or it could start a trend of format wars every time it's time to upgrade....and then we'd have to get more than one player to see the movies we want...

[JTK]

Originally Posted by The Don

yuup...I have always looked at this like the videogame industry...

I really hope this format war ends fast or it could start a trend of format wars every time it's time to upgrade....and then we'd have to get more than one player to see the movies we want...

It's a completely different kind of market and environment than the videogame industry. This is not a great analogy and frame of reference to work off of.

Look, I think everyone shares the same "impatience."

What tempers me on the whole thing is simple: I don't want to help MS keep this market split up and that's what happens with every HD-DVD product that's bought.

I'm angry enough at them and their disgusting FUD practices and lies that the anger easily tempers any impatience I may have otherwise.

Some of you may want to do a little more research on some of this and see how you end up feeling at the end of it all.

YMMV.

[HDAddicts]

Originally Posted by The Don

yuup...I have always looked at this like the videogame industry...

I really hope this format war ends fast or it could start a trend of format wars every time it's time to upgrade....and then we'd have to get more than one player to see the movies we want...

I know what you mean. Now we have a supposed Samsung Dual Format player (has it been confirmed?). Aren't they a major Blu supporter, now possibly dual? They either want to cash in on whatever lifespan HDDVD has, or they know something we don't.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by HDAddicts

I know what you mean. Now we have a supposed Samsung Dual Format player (has it been confirmed?). Aren't they a major Blu supporter, now possibly dual? They either want to cash in on whatever lifespan HDDVD has, or they know something we don't.

They want to cash in. It's an experiment piece and it's a nice life raft thrown out to "HD-DVD only" supporters.

Samsung and LG are both very large companies making big bucks in a lot of different and successful ventures. They both can throw out something like this at relatively low cost and low risk.

Even if it's a dud like LG's dual format player is right now? Meh, it doesn't hurt them that much.

[Blu Tiger]

I've read that Samsung WILL be producing "dual format" players, and they may even produce HD-DVD only players at some point too. An odd decision since they were only blu-ray supporters before, and since blu-ray is outselling HD-DVD now. Hmmmm.

[Camulus]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have a PS3, and I am a blu-ray supporter. I wish there was only one HD format, but since there are two with no clear winner in sight, I feel like I should pick up an HD-DVD player for the things that I can't get on blu-ray (like the Heroes show). If I do this though, will I be prolonging the format war? Can both formats exist and thrive now that dual format players are available, or can there be only one?

I too have thought the same. Once I found out Heroes was coming to HD-DVD, I almost went out and bought an HD player. The reason I picked BD was 3 reasons. Studio support, capacity and PS3. Universal is shooting themselves in the foot by staying exclusive to HD-DVD. Once HD-DVD has been defeated and Universal is forced to start releasing on Blu-ray, I plan to boycott their releases. I realize I will miss out on some great titles, but they brought it on themselves. If they were to aleast release on both formats, they would see HD-DVD was a mistake all along.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I've read that Samsung WILL be producing "dual format" players, and they may even produce HD-DVD only players at some point too. An odd decision since they were only blu-ray supporters before, and since blu-ray is outselling HD-DVD now. Hmmmm.

I don't know if I'm allowed to reveal my source, but: I know from as rock solid a source as you could ever hope for that Samsung will absolutely NOT be making ANY "HD-DVD only" players.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have a PS3, and I am a blu-ray supporter. I wish there was only one HD format, but since there are two with no clear winner in sight, I feel like I should pick up an HD-DVD player for the things that I can't get on blu-ray (like the Heroes show). If I do this though, will I be prolonging the format war?

Yes

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I wish there was only one HD format

Then buy only one format.




And one studio's output among serveral, is not worth it to screw high definition adoption at home. We could have people not buying into High Definition for years waiting for one format to win and keep with the 15-25 releases per month for months turning into years till high definition fizzles out. Which is exactly what people fueling these discussions/format wrangling want.

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by JTK

I don't know if I'm allowed to reveal my source, but: I know from as rock solid a source as you could ever hope for that Samsung will absolutely NOT be making ANY "HD-DVD only" players.

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be making any Blu-ray only players either. I won't be buying Samsung anything again until this format war is over.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by sltmag

Unfortunately, they don't seem to be making any Blu-ray only players either. I won't be buying Samsung anything again until this format war is over.

I'm avoiding and boycotting any company that supports prolonging this format war in any way, shape, or form.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have a PS3, and I am a blu-ray supporter. I wish there was only one HD format, but since there are two with no clear winner in sight, I feel like I should pick up an HD-DVD player for the things that I can't get on blu-ray (like the Heroes show). If I do this though, will I be prolonging the format war? Can both formats exist and thrive now that dual format players are available, or can there be only one?

The only major reason some people are interested in HD-DVD players or combo players is because of Universal Studios HDTV movies are available only in HD-DVD format.
95% of Hollywood’s major studios are behind BLU-RAY and most of the consumer electronics manufactories are also.
.

Things BLU-RAY owners can do to make sure HD-DVD does not coexist

• One might want to decide to not purchase any Universal Studios products on HD-DVD or DVD. This option is not for everyone since they make some good interesting movies.
• Instead of purchasing a HD-DVD player or a combo player in order to play Universal Studios HDTV movies, one might want to consider purchasing the standard DVD version of Universal Studios new releases. Every BLU-RAY player will play standard DVD’s and in order to send Universal Studios a message perhaps for the next year or two BLU-RAY owners might want to just rent or purchase Universal Studios movies on standard DVD and never buy any HD-DVD products.
• Right now the only combo player on the market is the LG unit which does not work correctly with HD-DVD discs and some people have had trouble playing BLU-RAY discs on the LG also. When and if a flood of working combo players arrives on the market then both formats will coexist. This format war is so stupid since the only major studio not supporting BLU-RAY is Universal Studios.

Personally for me I do not own any HD-DVD products. I prefer the BLU-RAY format wins because it is better technology. Even if Microsoft and Toshiba would have developed the BLU-RAY instead of the HD-DVD format I still would prefer BLU-RAY. As a movie collector I want the best quality format to win this format war. At the same time if Universal Studios forces consumers to purchase combo players since they remain HD-DVD exclusive then I maybe in a year or two I might end up upgrading all my DVD players to a combo player that plays both HDTV formats. I sure am not going to upgrade all my DVD players with two separate HDTV formats for every TV room.

[Shadowself]

Originally Posted by kiddtigger

I have a PS3, and I am a blu-ray supporter. I wish there was only one HD format, but since there are two with no clear winner in sight, I feel like I should pick up an HD-DVD player for the things that I can't get on blu-ray (like the Heroes show). If I do this though, will I be prolonging the format war?

YES.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by JTK

It's a completely different kind of market and environment than the videogame industry. This is not a great analogy and frame of reference to work off of.

Look, I think everyone shares the same "impatience."

What tempers me on the whole thing is simple: I don't want to help MS keep this market split up and that's what happens with every HD-DVD product that's bought.

I'm angry enough at them and their disgusting FUD practices and lies that the anger easily tempers any impatience I may have otherwise.

Some of you may want to do a little more research on some of this and see how you end up feeling at the end of it all.

YMMV.

this is alot like the videogame industry.....different market, different environment...but it's headed down the same road...

when DVD came out...it was the sole dominant change from VHS...

we have gone from DVD to BD/HD-DVD at the same time...

with Samsung putting out a dual player...this is only making everyone more complacent with the dual formats...

and people likely will buy it...it seems they don't even want one true format...they apparently have some sort of marketing angle to encourage HD-DVD and BD to co-exist...