Even If All Were Equal, Makes Sense to Go Blu

[sj001]

http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/blog_detail.php?id=147

Even If All Were Equal, Makes Sense to Go Blu
Joe Whip writes one of the most even-handed and level-headed blogs today over at TVPredictions.com -- "The Whip"-- comparing Blu-ray and HD DVD in which he concludes there are no major quality distinctions between the two formats. (Interestingly, that's the same conclusion that one of the top Warner execs has drawn as of Thursday, when I spoke to the exec.)
I'm sure both sides will quibble -- I would note that the Blu-ray 50 GB storage is more of an edge than he allows since the 51 GB TL HD DVD is not yet on the market or proven to be playable on current machines, and even when it does come to market, Blu-ray will follow with a 100 GB disc (a 200 GB BD disc has already been tested). He also suggests that both formats should be able to exist as do multiple videogame formats. That's seems intuitvely logical but home entertainment industry experts point out that the home video industry is a different demo and far larger ($24 billion, tens of thousands of titles) than the videogame market and that only one format can be successful in home video as has always been the case.
For the sake of making a point, let's agree that Joe's conclusion is accurate, that Blu-ray and HD DVD quality and technical capabilities are close enough to the same as to be nearly negligible.
My question: then why shouldn't Warner and the industry adopt Blu-ray since there is only 1 major studio that hasn't already manufactured Blu-ray titles (Universal) and only 1 major hardware manufacturer (Toshiba) that isn't already manufacturing Blu-ray players (as are Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Sharp, etc.)? And that doesn't even count all the Blu-ray computer drives and products already being manufactured by most of those same companies as well as Dell and others.
Wouldn't it be far easier and much quicker for 2 major companies to make the switch than at least 10 major companies and more than 170 overall?
In the meantime, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Holidays to All.

[Geech]

good point

[Petra_Kalbrain]

So let it be written... so let it be DONE ALREADY!

HAPPY BLU YEAR!

[MotionBlurr]

Good point but there is a Gorilla involved in all of this too.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by sj001

comparing Blu-ray and HD DVD in which he concludes there are no major quality distinctions between the two formats. (Interestingly, that's the same conclusion that one of the top Warner execs has drawn as of Thursday, when I spoke to the exec.)

Considering you encode for HD DVD, then port it over to Blu-ray, OF COURSE THERE ISN'T going to be a major quality distinction between the two formats. IT'S THE SAME ENCODE!!

~Alan