Why no Blu-ray/DVD combo discs?

[BigJay]

I'm an owner of one Blu-ray player and there are four other DVD players in my home.

The Blu-ray player (PS3) is for my "home theater" set-up.

The one thing I find discouraging is the lack of Blu-ray / DVD combos.

HD-DVD (the obvious loser) has not all, but several titles available in the HD-DVD / DVD format.

Is there any reason that Blu-ray is not doing this? (Contractual, etc.)

I'd love the ability to enjoy pure and crisp HD on my main set, but sometimes the kids want to watch a movie (Cars, Ratatouille) on the "play room" set and I don't want to have to purchase two copies of the movie.

Are Blu-ray / DVD combos coming out in the future?

If you ask me, it would be a positive step for Blu-ray - hey, sure, you'll get the HD experience on one side of the disc, and the other will be perfect for trips in the mini-van or watching at Grandma's house over the holidays...

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I'm an owner of one Blu-ray player and there are four other DVD players in my home.

The Blu-ray player (PS3) is for my "home theater" set-up.

The one thing I find discouraging is the lack of Blu-ray / DVD combos.

HD-DVD (the obvious loser) has not all, but several titles available in the HD-DVD / DVD format.

Is there any reason that Blu-ray is not doing this? (Contractual, etc.)

I'd love the ability to enjoy pure and crisp HD on my main set, but sometimes the kids want to watch a movie (Cars, Ratatouille) on the "play room" set and I don't want to have to purchase two copies of the movie.

Are Blu-ray / DVD combos coming out in the future?

If you ask me, it would be a positive step for Blu-ray - hey, sure, you'll get the HD experience on one side of the disc, and the other will be perfect for trips in the mini-van or watching at Grandma's house over the holidays...

Thats an interesting idea, but BD will eventually replace DVDs. Its unlikely studios would create such a disk in the interest of double dipping (more profits) and to push the public twards total HD movie viewing.

[bajor27]

As much as I'd like them, considering all the issues with the HD-DVD combo discs - NO THANKS!!!

[Scripture]

Originally Posted by bajor27

As much as I'd like them, considering all the issues with the HD-DVD combo discs - NO THANKS!!!

Couldn't agree with you more. I absolutely ABHOR combo discs. If I wanted to buy a SD-DVD, then I would have done so separately. Not to mention the mark up on the pricing, for something that I don't even want.

Please, please, please BDA, do not implement combo discs!

[X-Ninja]

Originally Posted by bajor27

As much as I'd like them, considering all the issues with the HD-DVD combo discs - NO THANKS!!!

completely agreed.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by X-Ninja

completely agreed.

Why would you wanna watch a DVD if you have it on blu-ray anyway?

I'll never understand humans!

Examples: loaning a disc, or giving a disc to friends or family. Not everyone has a Blu Ray player.

(I based the above on a "real life" experience of watching a BD disc with my signficant other, who was so enamoured with the title that she wanted to loan to a friend who had no BD player.)

There's seems nothing wrong with the concept of a single disc that will play on any player, if technically possible and well executed. Whatever, we don't have them and they won't be coming.

Would anyone object if you buy HD content once, and are able to watch that content on any device of choice? e.g. BD Player, PC, PSP, IPOD, etc.

If we can buy BDs, and get SD or sub-SD content for other devices via some means (e.g. digital copy as some discs are starting to have) that is a somewhat reasonable alternative to combos.

[Anthony P]

Not that it matters much in the scheme of things, but combo discs don't necessarily mean flippers. I assume some people out there have SACD/CD combos for example which are not flippers. JVC's prototype BD/DVD combo were multi-layer discs, not flippers.

true but the issue with none flipers (and why JVC gave up) was that DVD players where not built to read through a data layer for BD that is at .1mm. The disks worked on many but not on all players. If I remeber there was something like a 20% issue (DVD players that could not read the DVD layers)

[miokti]

Cheaper Blu-ray players will be available before any kind of Blu/DVD combo discs, so you'll most likely have a 2nd Blu-ray player for your kids. Blu/DVD combo was never in the plan... i think. Don't get me wrong... Blu-ray players will only go down in price once once Blu-ray is widely adapted and the Blu CE's are competing against each other instead of teaming up against HD-DVD, but Blu/DVD combo is never gonna happen. So I think the only time your kids can watch your Blu movies is when you have more than one player in your house. Meanwhile, you are forced to spend quality time with your kids. that's not so bad... it's best to watch TV and movies with them anyway... you don't want them going around thinking rats can really cook... right?

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by miokti

Blu/DVD combo was never in the plan... i think.

According to the official Blu-ray Disc site, blu-raydisc.com, it was part of the plan:

Hybrid Disc (single-sided, triple-layer disc. Can hold 25 GB Blu-ray content and 8.5 GB standard def content all on one side of a disc). 50 GB Blu-ray and 8.5 GB hybrid disc currently in the works

Link: http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Section-1...s/4/Index.html

I think it's a nice idea if they can pull it off.

[buckshot]

originally i was all for bd combo discs. but later i realized i was and i bought another ps3 instead

[BigJay]

I don't think it's crazy - obviously DVD players are inexpensive now - they are in cars, you can pick up portables for a plane ride for under US $150 - I think it's a legitimate question.

Is there any particular reason that the Blu camp isn't putting out combo discs?

Let's face it- Blu is certainly the choice for HD viewing but I don't think (at least I'm not) we're ready for a total divorce from DVD at this point....

[buckshot]

well the combo discs are more expensive, they have higher failure rates, and will be pretty redundant in a few years. now if they sold a dvd along with the blu ray i would have been on board for that (although that would be a nightmare for studios), but combo discs are gross.

[GORT]

Why would you want a combo disc it failed for DUD and since I got my Blu Ray Player I hardly watch my SD Discs anymore

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I don't think it's crazy - obviously DVD players are inexpensive now - they are in cars, you can pick up portables for a plane ride for under US $150 - I think it's a legitimate question.

Is there any particular reason that the Blu camp isn't putting out combo discs?

Let's face it- Blu is certainly the choice for HD viewing but I don't think (at least I'm not) we're ready for a total divorce from DVD at this point....

I don't know why, after watching Blu, you would want to purchase DVDs? I was thinking about spending a little money on another Blu player. Did you purchase VHS after starting to buy DVDs? Did you want a VHS tape combo?

[BigJay]

No, it's just that we have a DVD player in the car, the downstairs setup doesn't have a Blu player and my portable DVD player (a must for airports / plane rides) doesn't play Blu discs.

I was just asking more of a "why" question as in "is this part of the BDA's deal" instead of "why would you want DVDs"?

[galz]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I don't know why, after watching Blu, you would want to purchase DVDs? I was thinking about spending a little money on another Blu player. Did you purchase VHS after starting to buy DVDs? Did you want a VHS tape combo?

There are alot of reasons to buy DVD's still. Many people have kids, and I buy them for mine all the time, would I want to give them a expensive BR disk? NO. Would I like to take HD media travelling with me? NO. Do I want a HD player in van? NO.

Those are legit reasons.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I don't think it's crazy - obviously DVD players are inexpensive now - they are in cars, you can pick up portables for a plane ride for under US $150 - I think it's a legitimate question.

Is there any particular reason that the Blu camp isn't putting out combo discs?

Let's face it- Blu is certainly the choice for HD viewing but I don't think (at least I'm not) we're ready for a total divorce from DVD at this point....

Very Few of us even bother buying DVDs anymore. HD TVs are quickly becoming the standard. Next year, all channels are supposed to be HD. Selling a HD movie player to go with these sets are a quick and easy sell to the public. If it isn't coming out on BD, its being released on HD DVD and we will wait until Paramount and Universal drop exclusive support to DUD. We know those movies will be on BD soon enough. As far as making a blu-ray/DVD disk, it just won't happen. DVD will be phased out in time and sales have already begun to drop.

[Prometheus59650]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

[COLOR="Navy"]Very Few of us even bother buying DVDs anymore. HD TVs are quickly becoming the standard. Next year, all channels are supposed to be HD.

Digital.

Not HD.

[Shaman]

I have been unable to watch a dvd since I brought home my first Blu-ray player; personally I am thankful that I don't have to pay premium price for a combo disc; I will wait till paramount comes to it's senses and for Universal to make the switch to Blu-ray.
Until then I will just have to be satisfied with Sony,Disney,MGM,Fox,Warner Blu-Ray releases!

[halamadrid]

Originally Posted by BigJay

I'm an owner of one Blu-ray player and there are four other DVD players in my home.

The Blu-ray player (PS3) is for my "home theater" set-up.

The one thing I find discouraging is the lack of Blu-ray / DVD combos.

HD-DVD (the obvious loser) has not all, but several titles available in the HD-DVD / DVD format.

Is there any reason that Blu-ray is not doing this? (Contractual, etc.)

I'd love the ability to enjoy pure and crisp HD on my main set, but sometimes the kids want to watch a movie (Cars, Ratatouille) on the "play room" set and I don't want to have to purchase two copies of the movie.

Are Blu-ray / DVD combos coming out in the future?

If you ask me, it would be a positive step for Blu-ray - hey, sure, you'll get the HD experience on one side of the disc, and the other will be perfect for trips in the mini-van or watching at Grandma's house over the holidays...

I think that what would be best is to have BDs come with a digital copy of the movie or code to allow you to download the movie in a portable format (PSP, iPod, etc.). It is something that is being done already with DVDs and would really be the best solution as most portables also have video outs to connect to a car system or in a hotel room for example. I know I'd pay a few extra bucks to have my blus come with that.