High Definition Market Update - Critical Time for HD Disc Formats

[Kristin Simard]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

The problem here is that in order to do this, distributers would have to open new factories. They wouldn't be able to use the existing because they are being used to press SD DVDs. There truthfully is not THAT MUCH demand for next gen discs.

You certainly have a point there, but ultimately the side with the larger catalog wins. Increased availability creates the demand.

[PaulGo]

One big advantage of Blu-ray disks is the scratch proof coating. Many parents with little children get many ruined (unplayable) disks. (My daughter stuck with VHS tapes for many years because of this.) An advertising campain comparing Blu-ray to standard DVD and HD-DVD showing the benefits of this coating would get a lot of people purchasing Blu-ray.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by SHayes

Maybe I didn't hear about it but what happened with the fifth element?

Some clowns at Sony simply burned the DVD version onto blu-ray. Maybe some cleaning, but essentially 480i crap.

If you look at the white peel off label when you buy the new one, it says "rmstr", or something like that to indicate it is remastered. Also has HD audio on the back, etc. I've never seen the complete movie before blu-ray and it "blu" me away! If you like sci-fi, this should go in your "must have" list.

[WickyWoo]

Some clowns at Sony simply burned the DVD version onto blu-ray. Maybe some cleaning, but essentially 480i crap

No, that's not true

They used the same highdef master they used for the Superbit DVD, and it was an encoding rush job, plain and simple.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

No, that's not true

They used the same highdef master they used for the Superbit DVD, and it was an encoding rush job, plain and simple.

Oops, my bad.

[Thundercrash07]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

• Player pricing, whilst falling rapidly, has not yet reached the point where it is attractive to the mass market.
From the perspective of software and hardware support, HD DVD has been trailing BD. However, its two main supporters, Toshiba and Microsoft, have been campaigning hard to bring other content owners and CE manufacturers on board.


• Chinese manufacturer Alco-Venturer has announced a $199 HD DVD player for Q4 this year.

Where's that cheap Funai-crap when you need it?