Integrators weigh in on the high-definition disc format battle and the next-generatio

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By Robert Archer
Filed in: News, Product News, Blu-ray/HD DVD

Comments (4), Ratings (0/5)

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09.12.2007 — Anger.

It’s the one word that can describe the collective opinion of custom installers regarding the current state of disc-based entertainment.

Recently, an informal CE Pro poll asked industry pros what format would win the so-called format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray. With more than 60 responses, installers picked Blu-ray by more than a two to one ratio.

Even so, in many cases, that didn’t mean respondents were happy with being caught in the middle of the formatting scrum.

The general consensus among installers was that through Sony’s leadership and Playstation 3 game console, along with the support of Disney’s family movies and Blockbuster’s distribution network, Blu-ray will prevail over Toshiba and its HD DVD format.

It’s worth noting, however, that almost half of the poll’s respondents suggested taking a “wait and see” approach or, at least, covering themselves by including LG’s BH100 universal Blu-ray/HD DVD player in their installations.

The following is a sampling of poll responses regarding the Blu-ray disc format versus the HD DVD format. These replies exemplify some of the prevalent opinions posted with regards to the topic.

HD DVD Easier to Implement
Frankly, the issue is that customers can’t even figure out all the crazy numbers that this industry is throwing at them, like 1080p, 1080i, HDMI and HDCP. We’ve done a great job of getting everyone good and confused to the point that HD DVD and Blu-ray is just one more thing to confuse them.

I hope that the HD DVD format wins and I think it will because it will be easier for manufacturers to implement. I don’t see the data size difference being much of an issue. For the clients, I don’t sell a Sony CX777ES. I tell them to buy 720p displays and upconverting DVD players.

To customers more interested in the convenience of DVD and movie management than the quality, I sell Escient Fireballs or Control4 or something like that.

As far as whether one or the other will win out—I don’t really care. But if the big factories and content owners want to get this thing into the sales pipeline, they better start getting on with it and land on one format.

We might find that even when that happens, consumers will take a while to buy into it. I also don’t think most people are getting the best picture out of their SD DVDs. Right now, I think more people are interested in iPhones than they are HD DVDs anyway.
Doug Swan, Electronic Escape LLC Melbourne, Fla.

Blu-ray is the More Advanced Format
I prefer Blu-ray simply because it is a more advanced format. It has greater capabilities than HD DVD and is further from the standard DVD format.

Yes, the battle has affected my business. Especially in the beginning, I was not recommending either format—especially not to price conscious clients unwilling to spend $500 on a player now only to have it become obsolete in a year (assuming one format wins and replaces standard DVDs).

Clients aren’t particularly asking for either format. They look to me for an answer, but I hope that Blu-ray wins the format war. I also do not believe they will both go the way of DVD-Audio and SACD.

HD quality DVD provides a benefit that is clear to almost everyone—superior picture. This was not true with DVD-Audio and SACD, where many could not clearly hear the difference in quality.
Ryan Salisbury, Acousticcreations San Diego, Calif.

Hybrid Players Winning the Format War
We are an LG dealer and have been specifying the BH100 for quite a while. So, I feel strongly both ways. When our clients ask, either way, we are confident in our answer. We LG dealers are definitely winning the format war.

I think that this format war actually gives the consumer something they really want this time. With SACD/DVD-Audio it was about sound quality and most people never experienced either format on a system where they could hear the difference.

Add to that the mad craziness of MP3, iPods and Napster and the greed of the record companies. This time, anyone can go into hundreds of local Best Buys and Circuit City stores and see the difference first hand.

They don’t need some one who knows what they are doing to demo the damn thing. It is just sitting there, showing off.
Loren Roetman, Ameniti Inc. Phoenix, Ariz.

Weigh in on the format war—leave your next-gen DVD plans in a comment!