Toshiba needs a "purple player"

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

... there would be no chance whatsoever to recoup the cost of this player if Toshiba did this, their target audience is only a couple hundred thousand people, most of which would not buy this device.

Anyone have actual numbers? There is no way HD DVD trailed blu-ray 2:1 in sales with only a few hundred thousand players. PS3 owners alone beat that figure ratio.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by tron3

Anyone have actual numbers? There is no way HD DVD trailed blu-ray 2:1 in sales with only a few hundred thousand players. PS3 owners alone beat that figure ratio.

My point wasn't that HD DVD only sold a few hundred thousand players, it was that only a fraction of those who bought HD DVD players would even consider buying a combo player, and that only a fraction of those actually would.

In that sense saying only a couple hundred thousand are targets was being generous, most of those who owned one have moved on and wouldn't even consider this.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

My point wasn't that HD DVD only sold a few hundred thousand players, it was that only a fraction of those who bought HD DVD players would even consider buying a combo player, and that only a fraction of those actually would.

In that sense saying only a couple hundred thousand are targets was being generous, most of those who owned one have moved on and wouldn't even consider this.

If the numbers are truly THAT low, I can see the point. But I site the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A home computer of the late 70's and early 80's. When Black October happened in 1983 support for the computer was dropped. Being an owner of the machine (and still am) this was shocking and sad news.

However, there were a few million machines floating out there. TI never would release the actual number. The after market support from third party vendors created more software and hardware than even TI could have created as the sole manufacturer. TI never allowed that when they still made and sold the machines. The market thrived for years afterwards. People still loved their machines. Was only a couple of years ago I bought a new adaptor cable on ebay to connect via RCA yellow composite video and white audio connectors. No such thing existed 25 years ago.

It sounds like I am trying to give HD DVD a new leg to stand on, but I am not. The after market sales of used and unopened HD DVD media will be stimulated. Forbidden Planet sold on HD DVD and is probably the only way to see it in high def until the blu-ray comes along. Red-only releases may actually stimulate interest.

[Blaumann]

I would be very surprised if they bring out a dual format machine. In some recent interview some Toshiba exec even said something like they've moved on, HD DVD is a thing of the past and they'll focus on Blu going forward.

The HD DVD market is really small and it would probably add a lot of unneeded cost to the product.

I was a strong HD DVD supporter as well. Many of those who decided to really hang onto the format picked up as many spare players as they think they need. I decided i just need an HD DVD drive for my pc as a backup.

And most have also adopted Blu-ray one way or another. So they already have a Blu player and don't need to instantly buy any further hardware. Like i have two HD DVD players and three Blu-ray players by now.

It would be a nice gesture. But i think they should simply focus on bringing a competitive BD player to the market.

[Hep]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

My point wasn't that HD DVD only sold a few hundred thousand players, it was that only a fraction of those who bought HD DVD players would even consider buying a combo player, and that only a fraction of those actually would.

Toshiba's loyalty to their customers aside, I think the reasoning outlined above is why a combo player will not happen; it likely won't make good business sense. That, and it seems Toshiba is trying for a fresh start, a clean break from past ugliness. Delivering a combo player out of the gate may not send the message they're looking for, that they're moving forward and not dwelling on what was.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Sure, they should throw in a VHS player while they're at it.

HD-DVD has been dead for 1.5 years. Time to move on....

[X400]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

Sure, they should throw in a VHS player while they're at it.

HD-DVD has been dead for 1.5 years. Time to move on....

its already been touched on but whatever throwin in my 2cents

i wouldnt be surprised if Toshiba made a vhs/blu-ray combo player

dvd didnt surpass vhs all that long ago, and i still know a tonne of people who still record their soaps to their vhs (including my mom but i think ive finally upgraded her to using a dvd-recorder.... now to try and get her to switch to a dvr)

and there's undoubtedly tens of millions of people who still use a vhs player for something

hddvd on the other hand i can't imagine that ever happening

if Toshiba did release something like that i and many others would probably razz them about trying to bring back their failure (and i doubt toshiba seemingly being traditional japanese would do that...)

but aside from razzing them i would admire them for thinking of their early supporters they would really have to market it as a "thanks to our supporters" release but i just don't see that happening

[Elandyll]

Why would Toshiba price itself out of the mass market by adding a costly HD DVD compatibility, when they have to compete with falling prices on the players market?

Between all the HD DVD owners who switched to BR exclusively, and those who would find hard to justify the extra cash to have a dual features player (vs buying a cheap one on ebay or another place), it would make no sense whatsoever from an economical perspective.


Don't count on it.