Universal's Kornblau wants format war to continue

[mike79]

Well, technically the PS3 would be the same price, and it seems movies are not getting any cheaper. Look at Spiderman 3, $50. But standalones are half of what they were and that happened quick, thanks to Hd-dvd players being so cheap. Other than that though this format war is stupid and making the average consumer wait until the format war is over. I just hope blu-ray wins because it is a better format.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

Since Universal is beyond stupid, a smart move would be for Warner and Paramount go exclusive BLU-RAY-that would end the war and fast.

Even just one of those would finish it. Preferably Paramount IMO, since they've been doing better than Warner as far as quality discs are concerned.

[Slapper]

Warner won't go Blu-ray exclusive until everyone supports Blu-ray. They have the patent on the new Total HD disc (one side has the HD-DVD the other side Blu-ray) and Warner wants to license that tech out to other studios to make more money. Going Blu-ray exclusive for them right now is pointless.

I agree that it would bring the war to a much quicker end if Warner did go Blu-exclusive, plus it would be nice to get some Blu-ray movies from them that aren't "dumbed-down" because they want to have one transfer that works on both platforms. They did give us an LPCM audio track on 300 though, so I guess I shouldn't b1tch too much.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Jeff®

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[JTK]

Originally Posted by Slapper

Warner won't go Blu-ray exclusive until everyone supports Blu-ray. They have the patent on the new Total HD disc (one side has the HD-DVD the other side Blu-ray) and Warner wants to license that tech out to other studios to make more money. Going Blu-ray exclusive for them right now is pointless.

I agree that it would bring the war to a much quicker end if Warner did go Blu-exclusive, plus it would be nice to get some Blu-ray movies from them that aren't "dumbed-down" because they want to have one transfer that works on both platforms. They did give us an LPCM audio track on 300 though, so I guess I shouldn't b1tch too much.

I view Warner as an HD-DVD supporter that just happens to throw afterthoughts Blu-Ray's way.

For me, between the two, Paramount dropping HD-DVD would be the more probable and expedient outcome to the whole thing and frankly again, they've just done a better job than Warner across the boards, for the most part.

[Branden]

up until now uni/ms/tosh have been a benefit for prices thru competition (yes, us too), but there is a point at which competition has done its job and it becomes more benefitial for consumers to have a unified format. that point has passed.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by JTK

For me, between the two, Paramount dropping HD-DVD would be the more probable and expedient outcome to the whole thing and frankly again, they've just done a better job than Warner across the boards, for the most part.

P's been lacking on Hi-Res Audio, but that is about to change. Other than that, their stuff has been much better than WBs and I agree with you above.

[dialog_gvf]

I'll be curious to see how the others studios, and retailers react to Kornblau. I expect no studios other than Warner, and no retailers at all, want the war to continue indefinitely.

Gary

[werewuf]

This war is not just about Universal, the company really driving it is Microsoft. I had a client recently who works for Microsoft and we had a discussion about Home Theater in general and we got on the subject of High Definition discs. I expressed my opinion that Blu-Ray would succeed and he said "Never underestimate Microsoft, they hate to lose and they will keep on fighting".
I do agree with Kornblau, though, that this is a very fragile situation, and if Universal did go neutral it would be over. The current reality is that as strong traditionally as Microsoft has been, they have been losing market share in other places. Apple recently has been making all kinds of in-roads in their sales and is poised for a lot more growth with the adoption of Intel chips recently for example. Their laptop sales are booming and the Imac is growing in market share as well, so Microsoft's strength is not impenetrable.
The strongest arguments are simply that there are too many supporters lined up on the Blu-Ray camp side, techno wise Blu-Ray is superior and as one video store sage said, "Blu-ray is sexier"

[w_tanoto]

what are they going to do when they lost the war? switching to blu-ray?? embarrasing!! I definitely want the war to continue, to determine the real winner (for me, it's BD).

FYI, I rarely buy and liked the Universal's release. Most of my favourite movies are from Walt Disney (Walt Disney, Miramax, Touchstone, etc), and 20th Century Fox

[JTK]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

what are they going to do when they lost the war? switching to blu-ray?? embarrasing!!

I definitely want the war to continue, to determine the real winner (for me, it's BD).

It's BD by any standard you can cite with concrete facts.

I don't see why anyone would want this war to continue, especially if they're a BD supporter.

[WickyWoo]

This war is not just about Universal, the company really driving it is Microsoft. I had a client recently who works for Microsoft and we had a discussion about Home Theater in general and we got on the subject of High Definition discs. I expressed my opinion that Blu-Ray would succeed and he said "Never underestimate Microsoft, they hate to lose and they will keep on fighting".

Uni is "just following orders" and a collaborator.

He's right that Microsoft will lock their jaws and go down swinging, but it's inevitable

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by JTK

It's BD by any standard you can cite with concrete facts.

I don't see why anyone would want this war to continue, especially if they're a BD supporter.

It's still BD for me. I have supported BD even since Walt Disney and HP announced support for it, and PS3 announced to include BD (I own all PS - 1, 2, 3, PSP). HP sort of ditched Blu-ray, which caused buying a new laptop difficult as hell (I want BD-RE drive, while HP has HD DVD).

So, I'm guessing that BD will be the champion in hollywood, while HD DVD will be in storing data, but recently, I realised that is impossible. HP (in UK) has only HD DVD-ROM, not HD DVD-R (which recently released in USA). I don't even know the point of including HD DVD-ROM (well, it's obviously not for storing data, but reading it), except for watching Universal movies only and some movies that can also be enjoyed via BD-player/drive and PS3.

BD is already the winner.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by werewuf

I do agree with Kornblau, though, that this is a very fragile situation, and if Universal did go neutral it would be over.

Most people agree. But, the vast majority don't want a war.

Seems the new HD DVD plan is to continue the war. That's it.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Uni is "just following orders" and a collaborator.

He's right that Microsoft will lock their jaws and go down swinging, but it's inevitable

Toshiba and Microsoft could give up on HD DVD and come back with something really cool for downloads.

Put a 1TB drive in a device that can download movies, and stream off a home media server.

Some think this is the real plan anyway, and that MS-Toshiba are just trying to confuse the market long enough to allow the concept to become workable.

Gary

[JTK]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

It's still BD for me. I have supported BD even since Walt Disney and HP announced support for it, and PS3 announced to include BD (I own all PS - 1, 2, 3, PSP). HP sort of ditched Blu-ray, which caused buying a new laptop difficult as hell (I want BD-RE drive, while HP has HD DVD).

So, I'm guessing that BD will be the champion in hollywood, while HD DVD will be in storing data, but recently, I realised that is impossible. HP (in UK) has only HD DVD-ROM, not HD DVD-R (which recently released in USA). I don't even know the point of including HD DVD-ROM (well, it's obviously not for storing data, but reading it), except for watching Universal movies only and some movies that can also be enjoyed via BD-player/drive and PS3.

BD is already the winner.

Agreed.

Incidentally...where is HP these days? For a while they were being touted as dual format supporters and such. Is that still true or are they all Blu now?

[MyXBR3isMygf]

Originally Posted by werewuf

This war is not just about Universal, the company really driving it is Microsoft. I had a client recently who works for Microsoft and we had a discussion about Home Theater in general and we got on the subject of High Definition discs. I expressed my opinion that Blu-Ray would succeed and he said "Never underestimate Microsoft, they hate to lose and they will keep on fighting".
I do agree with Kornblau, though, that this is a very fragile situation, and if Universal did go neutral it would be over. The current reality is that as strong traditionally as Microsoft has been, they have been losing market share in other places. Apple recently has been making all kinds of in-roads in their sales and is poised for a lot more growth with the adoption of Intel chips recently for example. Their laptop sales are booming and the Imac is growing in market share as well, so Microsoft's strength is not impenetrable.
The strongest arguments are simply that there are too many supporters lined up on the Blu-Ray camp side, techno wise Blu-Ray is superior and as one video store sage said, "Blu-ray is sexier"

I haven't seen anything to suggest MS cares in the slightest about HD-DVD. Every time they're questioned about the format as it relates to the 360 they say "well the 360 is primarily a gaming machine." Speaks volumes about what they really care about (games) and what they don't really care about (movies).

It seems almost definite that MS' support for HD-DVD was a knee-jerk reaction to Sony's push of bluray.

I'd love to see some concrete numbers about how much MS is doing for HD-DVD financially. The format's marketing presence is almost non-existent, as is its exclusive support. It really seems like MS is focused on recovering losses in their xbox division, and not pouring money into next gen dvd format.

[phil]

Well I suppose M$ would rather have users download movies then using HD DVD's right? I mean that's their own service. SO maybe it's in MS's best interest to see one of 2 things to occur.

1) The War to Continue, more people confused as to what to invest in will probably just download films (I thought at first NO ONE would use this service and that it was stupid but I have been proven wrong) I mean the number of movies and shows just keeps on increasing while I hear more and more people on xbox live are buying into it. I've purchased a few television shows like Blade on Spike because I don't have spike through my service provider, and the Animatrix just to see what it was about, and both were super cheap next to free.

2) Both Formats to Die.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by JTK

The only thing I'd disagree with you on is this: I can't see HD-DVD being the "storing data" champion since they're stuck at 30 GB discs or prototype 51's that have yet to see the light of day.

Meanwhile, for reasons I'm sure I don't need to elaborate on for you, you've got this BD infrastructure coming up with everything from HD camcorders (wow!), PC hardware, the games, the players, the studios, the CE companies, etc.

I see no infrastructure for HD-DVD at all.

I really think HD-DVD is just going to outright lose and end up being used for niche purposes or like people still use laserdisc even now. The people that bought into it will most likely keep it while they move on to BD if they haven't done so already.

I just said I think , but actually for storing data, I will opt for BD (because I'm BD maniac, and always avoid HD DVD). I think HD DVD because i read that lot of things are the same between HD DVD and DVD, and said to be cheaper.

I really need HP laptop with blu-ray. I've e-mailed the CEO and before you buy, and "threaten him" that I would switch to Sony if they don't release BD laptop when my current laptop broke down. No, actually I just want to know if BD laptop will be released soon, and if not, I'm considering VAIO. Seems that I'm on their blacklist now.

WOW, what a shoot. I'm still using LD (rarely). hahaha

[w_tanoto]

BTW, there is rumour that M$ plans to release BD add-on to XBOX360.. I don't know if this is true. I think M$'s support to HD DVD is not as strong as universal, and universal and toshiba is the only real supporter for hd dvd. just my opinion