Why no Blu-ray/DVD combo discs?

[blu2]

Originally Posted by Digital Filmmaker

I refuse to pay twice as much for something that I will only use half of. Any "combo" disc will contain a side that few or none of us would ever use. Plus, you never get the luxury of full-face artwork, just the little ribbon of microtype that you need an eyeloop to be able to read, just like DVD-18's.

Like others have already stated, a lack of a Blu-ray/DVD combo disc is a goodthing.

Keep the formats separate.

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.

[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)

[Anthony P]

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.)

before anyone takes this the wrong way, there people that have borrowed over 20 of my BDs and I don't know how many DVDs I lost to people borrowing but not returning them.

But what is the issue, either they can buy themselves a BD player and borrow from you or it is their tough luck. As for your GF friend, if you rented the DVD and liked it, what would your GF had done? Just tell her friend about it and then she can go out and rent it.

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.

no, as long as
a) it does not add to my cost
b) it does not create issues



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.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by BigJay

Ugh, thanks for the try all.....

I understand the superiority of HD, it was just a question.

I can't hook up a Blu-ray player in the car and my portable DVD player refuses to play Blu....

Was just looking for an answer

I think it's a good question and idea too. Sure, the Blu-ray version will obviously look far better, but my wife and 10 year old son don't really care. A combo disc can be played in DVD players in cars, hotel rooms, and in my son's cheap DVD player in his bedroom.

It's a very good question that shouldn't be so easily dismissed.

Is there a technical limitation that prevents dual Blu-ray discs, or is it economic? I would think even paying the two necessary licenses would be made up when you eliminate the duplicate packaging, manufacturing, and distribution costs.

[Rike255]

I thought combo discs wouldn't work with BD because of how close to the surface the data had to be for blu-Ray. No idea why that made it not work but that's the reasoning I heard.

But from what I've heard HD DVD never really got it right either. I'd be more for studios packaging a DVD as well as Blu copy of a movie if anything. But again that'd be a terrible idea from a studios perspective.

[bhampton]

I already bought enough DVDs.

I would rather by only HD stuff now.

Sadly,.. the extras on many Blu Rays are still SD. That's ok though,.. I rarely watch the extras.

-Brian

[pflieger]

Originally Posted by Rike255

I thought combo discs wouldn't work with BD because of how close to the surface the data had to be for blu-Ray. No idea why that made it not work but that's the reasoning I heard.

But from what I've heard HD DVD never really got it right either. I'd be more for studios packaging a DVD as well as Blu copy of a movie if anything. But again that'd be a terrible idea from a studios perspective.

I heard it was because the DVD forum wouldn't allow a DVD to be on the back of a Blu-Ray disc or maybe it was technical difficulties for Blu-Ray.

And the HD DVD combos only had problems at the very beginning, corrections in production and a firmware update seemed to solved the problem.

I'm not trying to promote HD DVD here but I think if everyone knows the truth whatever it is we would be better off for it.

[Anthony P]

Is there a technical limitation that prevents dual Blu-ray discs, or is it economic?

both and neither. Like with HD DVD combos and DVD-18 the manufacturing cost becomes so high that it does not make sence. With the HD DVD combos they tried charging 5$ extra to offset the replication cost difference and there was a lot of negative feedback

I would think even paying the two necessary licenses would be made up when you eliminate the duplicate packaging, manufacturing, and distribution costs.

there are a few issues with that

1) there is not enough replication to eliminate DVD only (a top movie can sell 10M in the first week, I don't think there have been 10M movie BDs sold so far)

2) Studios charge more for BD then DVD, a combo would need to be more then a BD, do you think the person that was going to spend 20$ for the DVD (or even 30$ for the BD) will be willing to spend 35$ if he does not see an advantage to it? Look at how many people with BD players think movies are too expensive, imagine the person going to buy the movie he wants thinking DVD cost X and then ends up having to pay X+15)

3) even though there is a cost in having more SKU's in most instances it is easily recuperated, after all if the cost was that high there would not be so many films that would come out with dul packaging (i.e. single disk and dual disk....)

[Anthony P]

heard it was because the DVD forum wouldn't allow a DVD to be on the back of a Blu-Ray disc or maybe it was technical difficulties for Blu-Ray.

no

And the HD DVD combos only had problems at the very beginning, corrections in production and a firmware update seemed to solved the problem.

no, they did increase QA and reject many more disks, so it has become less of a problem at the consumer level, but there are still cases and issues

I think if everyone knows the truth whatever it is we would be better off for it.

I agree

[Zixxer]

a couple hd-dud movies made use of the dvd/hd-dud combo. i hear they ended it cause consumers couldnt tell the difference, lol. that's what happens when you buy a $99 player, suckers.

[Horhay]

I wouldn't want to sacrifice quality just to satisfy that few percentage of people that want combo discs, plus look at all the problems the DUDs have with combo discs.

[Minimejer05]

I first wanted that...but i absouletely hate those flip discs... they really ruin it for me. So pass on the combo discs.