Two Sony Reps at Best Buys on Paramount and Universal

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Oddiophile

Hundreds of articles have been written all threw 2007, in newspapers, magazines and all over the internet about the Blu-Ray HD DVD war being a stalemate, No end insight, The war will continue for a long time, ETC.

A lot of these articles were written in November/December of '07, and what happened? On one cold January Friday Warner Brothers dropped the bomb and changed everything. Point is nobody knows, and things could change at any minuet. Retailers seem to be slowly phasing out HD DVD in-favor of Blu-Ray. Toshiba can say all they want about no giving up, If retailers stop selling the product, there is no product and Toshiba has to throw in the towel.

Apparently that is already happening from the many posts here over the last week or so.

[STI Jaguar]

Originally Posted by simpspin

said Paramount is stuck in HD DVD's camp till the end of the year.

If true, they are the biggest suckers in the industry.

[HeavyHitter]

If what those reps are saying is true, then Paramount and Universal have what's coming to them to be so ****ing stupid to be so locked into HD DUD. They will look even more ridiculous by the Nielson and sales numbers as that thin piece of pie gets even thinner. lol

[martinstraka8282]

Originally Posted by OokieSpookie

It is odd how people will say that this is impossible and laugh but the same people will turn around and go ape over some off hand remark by Penton or someone even after Bill Hunt, Penton and everyone else has done their best to cushion everyone that it could be a long wait.

Yah I agree with you. I think we will all be waiting a LOT longer than everyone is hoping for, which is why instead of trying to sell my A2 on Ebay for some cash, I will just hold onto it and keep it for HD DVD rentals like I have been to this point. I just cant watch regular old DVD anymore. Maybe in the end when Blu Ray has all the studios, I will smash my HD player with a sledgehammer and put the video on youtube.

[mystiksuicide]

Sadly it's true. All these reps are hired by third party companies and are given a fact sheet to learn and repeat. Once you asked them any question not covered in they're facts sheets they are clueless.

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by SolidusSnake00Z

hdddddvds

Heh. I've always found it amusing that a five-letter acronym has three d's. I think that may be a big reason why even though in theory "HD DVD" should be a perfect name for the high-def successor to DVD, "Blu-ray Disc" just sounds a lot better.

Also, having a space in the middle of your acronym is kind of weird. But then HDDVD would be even worse, wouldn't it?

A hyphen was probably the way to do. If they'd been smart about it, "HD-DVD" might have had a chance. But HD DVD? Never.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by TheRealBob

Heh. I've always found it amusing that a five-letter acronym has three d's. I think that may be a big reason why even though in theory "HD DVD" should be a perfect name for the high-def successor to DVD, "Blu-ray Disc" just sounds a lot better.

Also, having a space in the middle of your acronym is kind of weird. But then HDDVD would be even worse, wouldn't it?

A hyphen was probably the way to do. If they'd been smart about it, "HD-DVD" might have had a chance. But HD DVD? Never.

I think I understand the (think tank) thinking behind using High Def (HD) and DVD as the selling disk format player. For the (Green to HD) DVD public back then, it advertises a DVD player and High Def player all in one. Woo Hoo.

But the lame ass part of identifying the format as HD "DVD" in of it's self is misleading. These are High Def players and Software (at least as High Def as DUD can be) and not DVD players. A High Def DVD? No such thing. The acronym "HD DVD" is lame and lame to type. I prefere DUD. "Dead Upon Delivery". Kind of like DOA. Dead on arrival.

[NovaKane]

These demo guys are probably just repeating the water cooler gossip.

Don't get me wrong, there is a chance that they might be right, but it would be based more on luck than actual insight to what's happening behind the scenes.

[davidPS3]

I keep saying and will continue to say, until we hear official word from a CEO or on that level from either of these studios, no one will believe anything or should not believe anything. Come on, we hear so much out there, it's getting or should I say it is old news.

[NovaKane]

Originally Posted by davidPS3

I keep saying and will continue to say, until we hear official word from a CEO or on that level from either of these studios, no one will believe anything or should not believe anything. Come on, we hear so much out there, it's getting or should I say it is old news.

I agree completely, but everybody LOVES to speculate!

That's why the pre-game show to the Superbowl is like 15 hours long!

[danielpwnz]

Originally Posted by RV4BLU

I'm confused. What's the difference?

The HD-A30 is an HD-DVD player. The BD30 is a Panasonic Blu-ray player.

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by simpspin

The Reason: There's a very binding contract that holds Universal to Toshiba and they can't get out of it without Toshiba signing off, otherwise Universal would get into serious trouble.

Worse trouble than not being able to sell Blu-ray discs throughout 2008?

These are commercial companies, and are going to be making difficult business decisions about how to proceed.

Contracts are made of paper, not cast iron.

Nick

[blix01]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

As far as reliable insider information goes, I trust Penton and MaxPower. Those reps at the store are usually privy to that type of information.

I haven't seen either of them give us any indication on when Para/Uni will switch. If you've seen something they've recently posted that contradicts the OP's post, then please link.

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by blix01

I haven't seen either of them give us any indication on when Para/Uni will switch. If you've seen something they've recently posted that contradicts the OP's post, then please link.

You say that as though you think the OP's story is credible. Seriously, does anyone believe that for Universal & Paramount:

the earliest we'll see offical Blu Rays will be between Christmas '08 and March '09.

There will not be a HD DVD market by Q3 2008 (Ok, thanks to online retailers it is possible that HD DVD clings to a <5% market share). If Universal & Paramount don't release on Blu-ray this year they, effectively, take no part in the HDM market atall.

Don't let the HD DVD FUD brigade fool you. Behind the scenes things are moving fast and a total resolution will be announced soon.

Insiders will not hint at the date for Universal and Paramount to switch anymore than they hinted at the date for Warner to make their announcement.

Just a few days before the WB announcement Bill Hunt said:

Could Warner decide go exclusive to one of these high-def formats? Yes, it's absolutely possible. In fact, we think it WILL happen sooner or later in 2008.

Sooner or later? That just about covers the entire year! of course, we didn't have to wait too long, did we?

[blix01]

Originally Posted by Fozziwig

You say that as though you think the OP's story is credible. Seriously, does anyone believe that for Universal & Paramount:

The prediction is as credible as any of the other "I heard at bestbuy" stories. No more, no less. Just because its a predication that you might not like, doesn't make it less credible.

What intregues me is that this rumor comes from people wearing Sony nametags (whether they're contractors or not), and they gave pretty specific info. If they were just clueless flunkies I would have expected "I dont know" or just blank stares from the OP's questions. But the response was rather specific. Unless you are doubting the truthfulness of the OP's post, which I don't think you are.

Its just a rumor, so w/e. Blu's gonna win even if there might still be bumps in the road.

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by blix01

The prediction is as credible as any of the other "I heard at bestbuy" stories. No more, no less. Just because its a predication that you might not like, doesn't make it less credible.

It's not so much about my not liking it. It simply does not make sense. Even in just a few days we have seen the market for HD DVD collapse (players and movies). Now it's possible there might be a slight recovery (with the sell-off of cheap Toshiba upconverters etc.) but after that then what?

Obviously you feel that it's credible that the remaining red studios will stick with HD DVD for the rest of 2008 and I respect your opinion. It's just that I don't agree with it atall. The idea that 2 major studios would not want to start making serious HDM money by backing Blu-ray ASAP is preposterous - that's in my opinion of course.

[blix01]

Originally Posted by Fozziwig

Obviously you feel that it's credible that the remaining red studios will stick with HD DVD for the rest of 2008 and I respect your opinion.

wait. A clarification is in order. Just because I don't dismiss the rumor outright doesn't mean I believe its true. Honestly, I don't think its accurate but it doesn't conflict with our insider info, so the possibility is still there. That's the only point I was trying to make.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PeechCobblerPie

Not 100%, but I dont think sony sends their "towel boys" for these things. They ARE specialists and probably know more than you working there and all.

They're not friggin' specialists at all.
Give me 10 seconds with them and let's see how special they are.

[cory]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

They're not friggin' specialists at all.
Give me 10 seconds with them and let's see how special they are.

I woud have to agree I have run into some fools that were reps

[pbnbcr]

i don't know if you can trust third party reps, but a cashier near the electronics department at a local walmart told me that I shouldn't even buy Blu-Rays because they only play in HDDVD players and that HDDVDs play in all DVD players...