Combo discs are killing HD DVD - Blu-ray Forum

kaliraver · 09-14-2007, 10:23 PM

I fount this very interesting article by hidefdigest.com regarding the failure of HD-DVD combo discs and how they are killing that format. Its a great read and hope this will open some poeple that are on the fence to go HD-DVD and also just to shut up the HD-DVD zealots. HD-DVD zealots always talk about the high yield about 50GB BD discs their combo discs are way more problematic and actually inconvenience the customer with defective discs.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...Went_Wrong/894

MatrixS2000 · 09-14-2007, 10:40 PM

Ah the problem that HD DVD wants to hide under the carpet...

Check out all the re-issues that WB is doing because of this disc type...

HDTV1080P · 09-14-2007, 10:41 PM

Yes the article is a excellent read.. There are all kinds of technical problems with HD-DVD and combo discs. What I do not like about combo discs is that some people that purchase them do not own a HD-DVD player at all. The great thing about BLU-RAY is that every BLU-RAY disc requires a HDTV BLU-RAY player or HDTV combo player to play the movie on. The combo discs only require a 480I DVD player so that you do not know how many people buying combo’s are playing the discs on standard DVD players only. Combo discs inflate the numbers for the HD-DVD format, cost more, and are currently less reliable.

spam.curitiba · 09-14-2007, 10:43 PM

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

akadkins · 09-14-2007, 11:02 PM

I know that everyone is against me on this one, but I still like the idea of having DVD on the other side as an option. Reason is, I only buy Blu-Ray format discs now, no DVD. Problem is that I can't watch those DVDs on my laptop or portable player. Since I don't see portable Blu-Ray coming at a reasonable price for a couple of years, this is a problem.

Much as I'd like to see a Pixar flick like cars on Blu-Ray, if I buy it then my kids can't wake it with them in the car or anything else along those lines. It becomes a home-theater only option.

ground chuck · 09-14-2007, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Yes the article is a excellent read.. There are all kinds of technical problems with HD-DVD and combo discs. What I do not like about combo discs is that some people that purchase them do not own a HD-DVD player at all. The great thing about BLU-RAY is that every BLU-RAY disc requires a HDTV BLU-RAY player or HDTV combo player to play the movie on. The combo discs only require a 480I DVD player so that you do not know how many people buying combo’s are playing the discs on standard DVD players only. Combo discs inflate the numbers for the HD-DVD format, cost more, and are currently less reliable.

created to confuse the ignorant consumer into buying their product.

Quinthoopachiefy · 09-14-2007, 11:04 PM

What I don't understand is all the main new releases our on endcaps and gondolas in stores like bestbuy target circuit city, so consumers don't ever even get to looking at the HDDVD combo discs. They will just buy them on regular dvd. So if they are trying to get a trojan horse into homes they're not. Most of the HDDud fanboys don't give a shit about the combo disc, they are pissed off at the fact they have to pay more than the blu ray version. Good Article.

WickyWoo · 09-14-2007, 11:04 PM

When a HD zealot like Zyber feels that strongly, well, feel the burn

Chris Beveridge · 09-14-2007, 11:27 PM

WB's reissues aren't an issue in my mind. Where the problem comes in is how Universal did some of their releases; they didn't port the extras from the DVD side to the HD DVD side so when they strip the DVD side of the combo out, they lose the extras. WB I believe has always ported the extras over so that when they did resolicit without the combo (you know they would!) they wouldn't lose anything or have to rework anything.

vw mofo · 09-14-2007, 11:32 PM

I have 5 combo discs. Not a single one has ever once given me even a slight blip of playability issues. My issue with combo's is the damned price. However, I won't have to buy the movie again, so I guess in the long run it saves me a bit from having to buy the same title on SD for the car or my kid's DVD player.

dialog_gvf · 09-15-2007, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

WB's reissues aren't an issue in my mind. Where the problem comes in is how Universal did some of their releases; they didn't port the extras from the DVD side to the HD DVD side so when they strip the DVD side of the combo out, they lose the extras. WB I believe has always ported the extras over so that when they did resolicit without the combo (you know they would!) they wouldn't lose anything or have to rework anything.

And that brings up one of the REAL reason for combos. It isn't value added. It isn't a trojan horse. In my opinion the two main reasons are:

(1) It allows the studio to have DVD side extras without incuring any costs to deliver extras for HD (go to the DVD side for extras)

(2) It reduces the expensive return rate when a consumer confused by the whole HDTV/HD upscaling/HD DVD issue purchases the disc when they only can play DVD.

That the consumer gets to pay $5 extra for this "priviledge" is truelly outrageous. And that these discs fail for the consumer so often is deadly.

Gary

tron3 · 09-15-2007, 12:04 AM

SNIP "But what about all that marketing research claiming that people wouldn't mind paying extra to future-proof their movie collections? Frankly, what people say in a focus group isn't always how they act in real life..."

Exactly. The problem isn't just the extra cost. People know that there is a format war and are feeling HD-DVD/DVD combo is being forced down their throat and they have to pay for it! Why? No DVD only option. Even HD-DVD adopters are paying more for it.

So much for them being cheaper. No different than the more expensive triple layer 51GB disc they announced.

Snip: "So where does that leave us now? To whom do Combo discs currently appeal? Average movie buyers have continued to stick with the more affordable DVD-only option, a complete failure of the Trojan Horse plan. HD DVD buyers are upset that they're being forced to pay extra for a "feature" they will rarely (if ever) use. And those who support both HD DVD and Blu-ray would just as soon buy the Blu-ray that's $5 cheaper with the same quality and features. Combo discs put HD DVD in a no-win situation.

Worse than that, the damn discs don't even work half the time! "

09-14-2007, 10:23 PM	#1
kaliraver Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2007 Location:San Francisco Bay Blu-Ray SteelBooks™: (150+) Blu-ray collection:373 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:285	Combo discs are killing HD DVD I fount this very interesting article by hidefdigest.com regarding the failure of HD-DVD combo discs and how they are killing that format. Its a great read and hope this will open some poeple that are on the fence to go HD-DVD and also just to shut up the HD-DVD zealots. HD-DVD zealots always talk about the high yield about 50GB BD discs their combo discs are way more problematic and actually inconvenience the customer with defective discs. http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...Went_Wrong/894

09-15-2007, 12:04 AM	#12
tron3 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2004 Location:New Jersey Blu-ray reviews:3	SNIP "But what about all that marketing research claiming that people wouldn't mind paying extra to future-proof their movie collections? Frankly, what people say in a focus group isn't always how they act in real life..." Exactly. The problem isn't just the extra cost. People know that there is a format war and are feeling HD-DVD/DVD combo is being forced down their throat and they have to pay for it! Why? No DVD only option. Even HD-DVD adopters are paying more for it. So much for them being cheaper. No different than the more expensive triple layer 51GB disc they announced. Snip: "So where does that leave us now? To whom do Combo discs currently appeal? Average movie buyers have continued to stick with the more affordable DVD-only option, a complete failure of the Trojan Horse plan. HD DVD buyers are upset that they're being forced to pay extra for a "feature" they will rarely (if ever) use. And those who support both HD DVD and Blu-ray would just as soon buy the Blu-ray that's $5 cheaper with the same quality and features. Combo discs put HD DVD in a no-win situation. Worse than that, the damn discs don't even work half the time! " Last edited by tron3; 09-15-2007 at 12:06 AM.

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09-14-2007, 10:40 PM	#2
MatrixS2000 Power Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Toronto, Canada 4K collection:48 Blu-ray collection:305 Trading Score:6	Ah the problem that HD DVD wants to hide under the carpet... Check out all the re-issues that WB is doing because of this disc type...

09-14-2007, 10:41 PM	#3
HDTV1080P Blu-ray Champion Top contributor Member since:Jan 2007 Blu-ray reviews: 205	Yes the article is a excellent read.. There are all kinds of technical problems with HD-DVD and combo discs. What I do not like about combo discs is that some people that purchase them do not own a HD-DVD player at all. The great thing about BLU-RAY is that every BLU-RAY disc requires a HDTV BLU-RAY player or HDTV combo player to play the movie on. The combo discs only require a 480I DVD player so that you do not know how many people buying combo’s are playing the discs on standard DVD players only. Combo discs inflate the numbers for the HD-DVD format, cost more, and are currently less reliable.

09-14-2007, 10:43 PM	#4
spam.curitiba Expert Member Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:172 Blu-ray reviews:2	Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

09-14-2007, 11:02 PM	#5
akadkins Senior Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:San Diego, CA Blu-ray collection:2 Trading Score:2	I know that everyone is against me on this one, but I still like the idea of having DVD on the other side as an option. Reason is, I only buy Blu-Ray format discs now, no DVD. Problem is that I can't watch those DVDs on my laptop or portable player. Since I don't see portable Blu-Ray coming at a reasonable price for a couple of years, this is a problem. Much as I'd like to see a Pixar flick like cars on Blu-Ray, if I buy it then my kids can't wake it with them in the car or anything else along those lines. It becomes a home-theater only option.

09-14-2007, 11:04 PM	#7
Quinthoopachiefy Senior Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Vacaville, Ca Blu-ray collection:513 DVD collection:114 Digital collection:175 Blu-ray reviews:1	What I don't understand is all the main new releases our on endcaps and gondolas in stores like bestbuy target circuit city, so consumers don't ever even get to looking at the HDDVD combo discs. They will just buy them on regular dvd. So if they are trying to get a trojan horse into homes they're not. Most of the HDDud fanboys don't give a shit about the combo disc, they are pissed off at the fact they have to pay more than the blu ray version. Good Article.

09-14-2007, 11:04 PM	#8
WickyWoo Blu-ray Champion Member since:May 2007 Trading Score:2	When a HD zealot like Zyber feels that strongly, well, feel the burn

09-14-2007, 11:27 PM	#9
Chris Beveridge Moderator Member since:Sep 2006 Location:Hudson, MA Blu-ray reviews:3	WB's reissues aren't an issue in my mind. Where the problem comes in is how Universal did some of their releases; they didn't port the extras from the DVD side to the HD DVD side so when they strip the DVD side of the combo out, they lose the extras. WB I believe has always ported the extras over so that when they did resolicit without the combo (you know they would!) they wouldn't lose anything or have to rework anything.

09-14-2007, 11:32 PM	#10
vw mofo Active Member Member since:Aug 2007	I have 5 combo discs. Not a single one has ever once given me even a slight blip of playability issues. My issue with combo's is the damned price. However, I won't have to buy the movie again, so I guess in the long run it saves me a bit from having to buy the same title on SD for the car or my kid's DVD player.

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