The format war is great!

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by stephenj

Does anyone think we'd have gotten that great BOGO deal of this past week had it not been Transformers/HD-DVD week?

Heck no!

Competition is a great thing ...

Some say we need germs in order to strengthen our immune system. HD-DVD was a band-aid and is now a barrier to progress. As for sales, that is why we have laws against price-fixing.

[docjan_uk]

The format war has led to better quality transfers, a rush to improve functionality and cheaper players/media.

So long as one format wins in a year or so and all the studios put material onto the winner, I don't care if the successor (BD ) becomes as big as DVD.
The only danger is that it turns into a niche format, though I don't think there's too much of a chance of that happening.

[monkyman]

OK, i'll be the one to say it....SCREW Toshiba and HD-DVD, it would be a better place if they never existed.

Whew, glad I got that off my chest.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by docjan_uk

The format war has led to better quality transfers, a rush to improve functionality and cheaper players/media.

So long as one format wins in a year or so and all the studios put material onto the winner, I don't care if the successor (BD ) becomes as big as DVD.
The only danger is that it turns into a niche format, though I don't think there's too much of a chance of that happening.

I see what you are saying. However, it wasn't the format war that drove down the price of DVD players and increased functionality/features in those players. It was manufacturers competing against each other under one unified format. The presence of HD-DVD prevents this because everyone else is waiting for a winner. Mass adoption in hardware will lead to a decrease in price for software.

[cartier]

Originally Posted by mdm1699

Some say we need germs in order to strengthen our immune system.

This is true. Looks like someone has some knowledge of biology.

Originally Posted by mdm1699

I see what you are saying. However, it wasn't the format war that drove down the price of DVD players and increased functionality/features in those players. It was manufacturers competing against each other under one unified format. The presence of HD-DVD prevents this because everyone else is waiting for a winner. Mass adoption in hardware will lead to a decrease in price for software.

Looks like someone has at least some knowledge of economics too. I wish more people understood this and did not attribute the format war for lowering prices. It seams many fail to understand that if it was not for the format war there would be a much larger market for HD content and greater competition among manufacturers to produce better players and drive prices lower.

[so n so]

competition = lower prices

pluses & minuses to the war...

[MotionBlurr]

I remember the DVD players costing $200-300 several years ago. They were made of quality materials. My 1st Sony player was for $300. It was big and heavy and it wasn't even progressive scan but it was made of quality materials. Even the remote was a nice joystick style remote with nice buttons.

But competition made companies bring the price down so they started using cheaper materials. Even the new Sony DVD players look flimsy. I am surprised the remotes even come with batteries now.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by so n so

competition = lower prices

pluses & minuses to the war...

STOOOPPP IT. Sorry. They are not in business to lose money. Toshiba is losing money on it's players, which is why no one else is making them. However, they have a vested interest in the format, which is why no one else is making them.

Blu-ray players are expensive because their manufacturers don't want to lose money on their products. However, larger market drives down the price of components and consequently players. It annoys me to explain that.

[bkbluray]

The format war is creating tons of "fence-sitters" who aren't willing to make a decision for Blu or DUD because one of them will go out eventually.

Until Blu wins the war (aka Warner goes Blu-exclusive) there won't be a mass adoption.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by cartier

This is true. Looks like someone has some knowledge of biology.



Looks like someone has at least some knowledge of economics too. I wish more people understood this and did not attribute the format war for lowering prices. It seams many fail to understand that if it was not for the format war there would be a much larger market for HD content and greater competition among manufacturers to produce better players and drive prices lower.

They probably believe Toshiba is turning a profit from its players. One single cheap watered down 1080i player @ $200, HD-A2. Darn thing isn't even reliable at that price point.