Universal Getting positive feedback on 'Double sided Discs'

[jw]

Looks like they are a keeper!
bad news as it seems most here hate them
Link

Reaction to Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s new Blu-ray Disc and DVD “flipper” discs has been mostly positive.

The studio premiered the technology with the Jan. 19 releases of The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, giving consumers a Blu-ray version on one side and DVD on the other.

DVDTalk’s review of The Bourne Identity rated it “Highly Recommended.” DVDTown.com gave it high marks. DVDFile.com praised the results, writing, “There was a feeling of trepidation with these ‘flipper’ discs as to their ease of use, but we found no difficulty playing all three films with lovely, intended Blu-ray clarity.”

Adam Gregorich, administrator for the Home Theater Forum, tested the discs on 18 different players, including slot-loading players, and said both sides of the discs worked fine on every one.

“I’m glad to see another studio give consumers more value for their money,” Gregorich said. “Flipper discs, combo packages, however it’s delivered, it’s good to give consumers both the Blu-ray and DVD.”

Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com, said he heard of isolated problems with returns to some retailers, but hasn’t had readers complain to him. “That bodes very well, because I’m usually the first guy everyone with such problems e-mails,” Hunt said.

Universal hasn’t announced plans for more such releases using the technology, though the studio is enjoying the positive press.

“With any new product such as the dual-format ‘Bourne’ flipper discs, consumers naturally want to know that they are getting the utmost value for their purchase,” said Lea Porteneuve, SVP of communications and publicity for Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “Since the discs’ introduction, we’ve seen confidence in the market steadily build as consumers discover that the discs clearly deliver on the promise of unmatched quality, flexibility and convenience, all in one package.”

Not everyone has warmed up to the flipper discs.

“The Disney model of Blu-ray plus a separate DVD and digital copy is a much better solution,” said Tyler Pruitt, editor of FormatWarCentral.com. “Who wants their kids ruining their Blu-ray/DVD flipper discs in the car?”

The IGN.com review of The Bourne Supremacy poked fun at the concept: “Universal is apparently the only outfit that still thinks the flipper is a good idea — what is this, 1997? Can we only purchase these at a Media Play?”

Some Home Theater Forum members worried over the price (SRP for the discs is $29.98), the lack of written data and artwork on the discs (information is printed on the inside ring of the disc) and that the discs would be easily scuffed and scratched.

“We have some members who just hate the concept, and I don’t think anything will change their minds,” Gregorich said.

[wormraper]

eh, most people here hate it being that 99% of us are anal retentive anomalies who are the not the target market anymore (target market is more mainstream). Just like people seem to hate flipper dvd's which still sell well

[Batman1980]

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit, that's horrible! Just wait till those people who bought them accidentally stick them blu side up into a DVD player. Or scratch up the DVD side and then the movie is worthless to them if they don't have a blu player. Not to mention the whole idea of putting two technologies on the same disc is just bad.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

Looks like I won't be selling the extra dvds from Universal anymore.

[Beast]

While I'm not a huge fan of double sided discs, I can see the appeal to the industry.

[Rik1138]

Unless they are going to get rid of the DVDs all together (and I mean, like next week) and just sell BD/DVD flippers, I don't see the point. If you are buying a BD, you have a Blu-ray player, you don't even _want_ the DVD anymore. If you do have a use for the DVD, it's most likely in some other location, so you want that disc to be separate...

I guess if all the bonus content was SD and it was going to be a DVD anyway, and they put that on the DVD side and the movie on the BD side, that might make a little sense... But just a DVD copy of the film? I would want to be able to separate that from the BD (like let the kids have it in their room, loan out to people that don't have a BD player, etc...)

I wonder if they are actually concerned about the percentage of people that would buy a BD and give/sell the DVD to someone else (thus causing them to loose a potential DVD sale...).

[Snake Plissken]

the studios and the garden-variety consumer are both cheap and they are both giving and receiving the impression of value.

I would be interested to see if there were any studies showing if the sales rates of flipper HD-DVDs were increased over the pure HD-DVD disks (like say Army of Darkness) when the consumer was presented with both options.

[jjbsn5192]

Originally Posted by wolverine1980

i just threw up in my mouth a little bit, that's horrible! Just wait till those people who bought them accidentally stick them blu side up into a dvd player. Or scratch up the dvd side and then the movie is worthless to them if they don't have a blu player. Not to mention the whole idea of putting two technologies on the same disc is just bad.

i agree!

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by jjbsn5192

i agree!

me too and I'm done. This is another hopeless, pointless arguement on this site to go along with DNR debates.
There have been good points on both camps and yet both sides seem to completely ignore some of the better examples given opposing their views.
As I pointed out very early in this thread, I was concerned about these discs possibly having freezing problems later on-- it seemed like a legit cocern but I was attacked every which way (as usual) and of course supported as well
days later the same points are made with no result...

I'm just gonna stick with talking about movies from now on...

[42041]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

As I pointed out very early in this thread, I was concerned about these discs possibly having freezing problems later on-- it seemed like a legit cocern but I was attacked every which way (as usual) and of course supported as well:

It's a very legitimate concern but I think some people are so angry over this for whatever reason that they will take every report of flipper malfunction as evidence that the technology is flawed... never mind that every single day there are people posting about how some regular disc isn't playing.

[solott55]

Originally Posted by wormraper

eh, most people here hate it being that 99% of us are anal retentive anomalies who are the not the target market anymore (target market is more mainstream). Just like people seem to hate flipper dvd's which still sell well

Exactly! Fanatics such as us (though I consider myself to be on the low end of the scale) expect the market to pander to us, and with a loud collective-voice it does happen SOMEtimes, but the reality is that the money is in the mass-market and that's what the product will follow.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com, said he heard of isolated problems with returns to some retailers, but hasn’t had readers complain to him. “That bodes very well, because I’m usually the first guy everyone with such problems e-mails,” Hunt said.

That's probably because most of his readers didn't buy them in the first place.

[McGarnigal]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

That's probably because most of his readers didn't buy them in the first place.

[AKORIS]

wonderful news

[Brad1963]

maybe this is why they have been slow in announcing Catalog titles for 2010. They are waiting to see the numbers for the flippers.

[Chiyo_chichi]

[Mr. Cinema]

I bought all of them and had 0 problems during playback. They provided the exact same 1080p picture and DTS HD audio that the version with artwork on top of the disc would have provided.

I expect we'll see more catalogs released as combo discs.

[tacomaprime]

Lame. I hate those things. Hated them when they did it for hd-dvd's and still do. I want artwork on my disc face.

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by Chiyo_chichi

Btw, absolutely love this repsonse

[Clark Kent]

The article by Chris Tribbey at Home Media magazine might as well have been written by a public relations flack in the Universal home video department. The selective quoting of Adam Gregorich, an admin for HTF, a site that basically has been a toady of Universal's executives for over a decade now, means absolutely nothing to me.

I would hope educated and informed readers see through these marketing tactics, that Universal is hoping to create the impression these flipper combos have been well-received.

The best way to abort this abomination as a consumer is simply refuse to buy them. Right now, it is very simple to implement. Just avoid buying the individual Bourne discs.