Universal to release "flipper combos" on Blu-ray

[PeterTHX]

Not to repeat myself but since this a new thread:

This is the email I sent Universal:

Hello:

I recently read Universal Studios, in a plan to expand compatibility, is going to release Blu-ray discs with a DVD side.

I believe it is a bad idea.

The Blu-ray format is a single bonded disc with protection coat, a lot more robust than DVD. This would compromise the design of Blu-ray and make the discs more prone to damage, errors in reading, and other issues. While disc art isn't a dealbreaker, it would be missed. More to the point though: potential compatibility issues would make me wary of purchasing Universal Home Video discs in this format.

It would also lead to a lot of problems on the average consumer, where people would accidentally put the Blu-ray side down on a DVD player. This would lead some people think the disc was defective and having to return/exchange the disc, which in turn costs Universal and the store chains money and time. Another issue is people putting the DVD side down on a Blu-ray player and believing the movie master to be poor, which hurts BD adoption and sales. Why upgrade if there's no quality difference?

My suggestion is to do what FOX, Paramount, and Disney is doing: including the DVD disc separately in the package. This would pretty much allay all the issues outlined above. If Universal wants to include Digital Copy, they can make use the DVD-14 format.

I've been in Home Entertainment now my entire adult life (over 20 years), been there for the birth of DVD and now Blu-ray. It's been my experience that formats like these cause more issues than they are worth in the long term over immediate cost savings. Thank you for your time and consideration.