Would you agree with this article

[DavePS3]

The true art in a war is in the strategy, the intricate movement of all the pieces that come together to reveal a brilliantly planned out battle. It’s a master’s insight that recognizes strengths and weaknesses on both sides with the ability to make things work in his favour. That translates to pretty much anything in life, especially business. But who is it that makes a competition a war? Well, those who don’t like competition, that’s who. Personally, I have no problem with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray co-existing on an equal playing field but they’re not. They’re both great formats but the confusion they and Hi-Definition in general create in the general public’s mind is unavoidable and the deeper consumers go, the more confusing it gets. This isn’t a simple ‘no-brainer’ choice like CDs were in the mid-80’s and it’s way past VHS v.s. Beta because there’s more uncertainty, double the options and triple the amount of armies, who have yet to decide which master to serve. We all need to look at things from the general public’s POV, to see why these two formats stagnate as a niche market.

Universal Studios backs HD-DVD only, while Blu-ray has 3 or 4 exclusive studios, including Disney so if you go with the path of least resistance, most people see more logic in Universal changing it’s policy. Some studios like Dreamworks aren’t producing anything in either format. But even if Universal does produce both formats or freakishly decides to forget HD-DVD, when the average consumer walks by the in-store racks and after asking what those discs are, finds out they need a new display and a new DVD player… they keep right on walking. It wont be until Francine’s 36” RCA television goes belly-up that she’d even consider an HD display and then, only if she’s socked away almost a grand for its replacement and a whole new expensive DVD player to match it. It amazes me that some manufacturers seem bewildered as to why so many people haven’t junked their present TV sets in favour of HD panels. It’s a matter of priorities and believe it or not, there remains a ton of people out there who just don’t pop TV time into their top 5 so what they have, works and it’s good enough for now— greenish screen and all. They can buy a $50.00 DVD player from Wal Mart, watch any title available and don’t give a rat’s arse about HD. Many of those who bought in early on plasma with Component and VGA inputs oddly enough, get bloody sick of having to upgrade every time technology changes—which now seems to occur every 4 months so they refuse to play the game any longer. Broadcast content providers, in an attempt to suckle the HD cash-cow teat, don’t reveal to unsuspecting consumers that 85% of what’s labeled as HD, is in fact just barely up-converted regular signals and digital’s not necessarily Hi-Def so 15% true HD just doesn’t justify the cost. People cancel the channels, dissuade friends and Hi-Def collateral damage begins to grow like a cancer.

Thus, an HD stigma is born and people pull away from the blow-back. They see the difference in a demo and like it but suddenly our favorite technology has surpassed and replaced the rapidly growing computer industry where what you bought last month is already obsolete. Consider just some of the buzz-word/phrase overload the average consumer has been bombarded with over the last few years: Progressive scan DVD players, Broadband, up-converting DVD players, STB’s 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p… Component then DVI. DVI then HDMI, HDMI then HDMI 1.3, HDCP, incompatibility, SACD, DVD & DTS Audio, down-conversion, movie downloads, firmware upgrades, media servers, DVD+, DVD-, MPEG 2-3&4, ED panels, HD panels, Plasma, LCD, rear projection, front projection, LCPM, digital, bitstream, virtual surround, THX, Dolby Pro-logic, Dolby Pro-Logic2... 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 9.1, multi-room, Cat-5, fiber optic, DivX, DTS, DTS-ES, DD-EX and now OLED, Blu-ray, BD+, HD-DVD… plummeting prices, rising bit rates etc. and everyone from siblings to pros to some part time kid at Blockbuster has an opinion that conflicts with what a person heard the day before. Consumers need facts not opinions but it’s hard when the facts change daily. It’s scary for most people so who can blame the poor consumer for just shutting down and waiting for the dust to settle? Who the Hell wants to get stuck with a dud? So, according to a few retailers, people have been buying $100.00 DVD players that have the ability to upscale rather than take a chance on the HD discs. Nielsen Video-Scan ratings, state Blu-ray sales have been surpassing HD-DVD numbers for a few months now, due largely in part to the PS3 so the scales are definitely tipping. What Universal does with that information remains in Ether although there are rumours of Universal execs checking out the Blu-ray authoring facilities. Adding to the confusion, are replication delays. Because the authoring of Blu & HD-DVD is so new, ‘check discs’ have to be approved and sometimes that can take quite a few tries to get colour etc. the way the studios want it. Some retailers despite having access to both hardware formats are unsure if they should stock both since even one doesn’t sell overly well. This shows instability to a contemplating consumer. Add the fact that movie rental stores are reluctant to bring in new formats that may not rent at all and the other end of the Catch-22, people not buying hardware because they don’t see the (higher priced) discs available in rental or some retail stores. Speaking of the PS3... X-Box 360 & PS3 owners buy HD discs weekly and with the recent European launch of the PS3, Blu-ray is indeed taking off. To the PS3 guys, the war is all but over and like true warriors, they revel in it. ‘Boxers are passionate about HD-DVD but PS3 dudes are vicious about Blu-ray’s defense. It’s been said that gamers can influence but not decide the outcome of the war by themselves but make no mistake, gamers are now a force to be reckoned with and because they’re one of the few demographics sticking their necks out in this battle, they may very well end up with the coagulant to stop the hemorrhaging. Side notes for the gamers: Microsoft has heard the cries and is now producing a black 360 Elite with HDMI but still has the outboard HD-DVD drive and the 1.80 PS3 firmware update, up-converts DVD’s & PS1/PS2 games. In any event, the real long term solution here, is that consumers need to have the decision made FOR them by an industry currently floundering in Quicksand.

Are Blu-ray and HD-DVD better than standard DVD? Hell yes and that becomes massively apparent on flat panels and projectors that look mediocre at best on standard discs running at 480p. The two HD formats (and Warner’s Total HD baking in the oven) look about 15% to 20% better than an SD title up-converted on a really good player (via HDMI). It’s clearly a better medium, no question and like any war, on any front, you want to back who you perceive to be the winner… where the odds are stacked in more favour of YOU being a winner. That’s just human nature. There’s really no art to it and there’s certainly no art whatsoever to this war or in trying to forecast who’s likely to be the winner. As for LG’s new combo player, it makes a lot of sense to some but detractors complain it does nothing to end the competition—but it’s not meant to. It’s purpose is to calm the masses from the frantic format indecision that plagues us. Hell, if I didn’t already have the PS3, I’d give that unit some serious consideration. The Future Shop salesmen say it sells well, but is the price of $1500.00 Canadian for that unit likely to come down to $300.00 before the formats settle? The consumer will decide which format survives if both don’t and so far, there’s just not enough front line troops to force this battle either way, in a more timely fashion. So, we’re stuck watching two young power-drunk Bushido swordsmen take tired swipes at each other, both hoping the other will fall out of sheer fatigue and the only art in THAT, is pretty damn subjective.

[clyon]

They need to learn the proper use of a paragraph.

No & NO & Yes. Their all over the place, more of a rant. Most people don't own a HDtv, about 28% of US households have a HDtv. Most people can not afford a 42+" HDtv, they get a tv & keep it until it dies. Some of us (me) upgrade every 5 years or less. There is also the generation gap, those of us the grow up with a mouse in one hand & a tv remote in the other

I am not quit sure what the point of the artical is, sales, pricing, hdddvd vs bluray (formate war)?

[Blu Tiger]

This article seems to be a bit old.

[rmatt]

I'll get back to you next week when I finish reading the article!