Onkyo retracting HD-DVD exclusive support

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

Folks, Onkyo won't be the last CE manufacturer to come to their senses. Just look at the numbers in favour of Blu-ray for sales, studio support and CE support. If they are thinking of putting out a combo player, all they need to do is look at the abysmal LG sales numbers to help them make the right decision. Blu-ray or the highway folks. Combos are for HD DVD supporters who are struggling to come to terms with having chosen the wrong format.

Bingo.

[Greenmatiz2]

The problem isn't combo players. It's the price they're asking for those combo players.

Let's be reasonable.

When we see combo players dip below $300, everyone will be buying them.

Not expecting it for a loooong time.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Greenmatiz2

The problem isn't combo players. It's the price they're asking for those combo players.

Let's be reasonable.

The whole thing is very unreasonable.

[Greenmatiz2]

Competition will help lower player prices on both ends, if it hasn't already. I see nothing wrong with that.

I also see nothing wrong with dual-format players, so long as they are priced below the $300 price level. Until then, I'm not buying one. After that point, however, I and a lot of other people would consider them.

This thread is along the same illogical lines as the Total-HD thread (disks that are Blu-ray on one side and HD-DVD on another) -- some responses in both threads make little sense, from a mass-consumer viewpoint. If Total HD disks were priced the same as single-format disks, then the consumer can only benefit (fat chance at this point, though).

If I owned a dual-format player, I'd prefer to buy the BR version (if all audio content were the same) because BR is more scratch-resistant. If both formats stay alive, there are going to be those disks I can't get as BR, and visa-versa.

I'm swinging in my opinions these days... rather than see one format "win the war", I'd rather see BR with a comfortable lead, but HD-DVD hold on just enough to keep Sony from gaining a monopoly and keeping prices high.

If dual-format players become cheap, then consumers have little to worry about. Companies seeking to set up a MS Windows-style domination of a format would have something to worry about.

I assume that angle is where a lot of this odd logic flows from.

[Shin-Ra]

The sooner Blu-ray wins outright the sooner we get ALL studios targetting the same quality Disney has reached with Pirates of the Caribbean - or better.

Sony have too many powerful challengers on the Blu-ray side to monopolise disk or player sales. I can't believe you're suggesting that.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Greenmatiz2

Competition will help lower player prices on both ends, if it hasn't already. I see nothing wrong with that.

I also see nothing wrong with dual-format players, so long as they are priced below the $300 price level. Until then, I'm not buying one. After that point, however, I and a lot of other people would consider them.

This thread is along the same illogical lines as the Total-HD thread (disks that are Blu-ray on one side and HD-DVD on another) -- some responses in both threads make little sense, from a mass-consumer viewpoint. If Total HD disks were priced the same as single-format disks, then the consumer can only benefit (fat chance at this point, though).

The THD thread where something like 230 people are voting no to those abominations to the 30 yes votes? That thread?

I think the arguments on our side have been perfectly logical...the facts just aren't to your liking or advantage so this is the only kind of response you can come up with, in frustration.

If I owned a dual-format player, I'd prefer to buy the BR version (if all audio content were the same) because BR is more scratch-resistant. If both formats stay alive, there are going to be those disks I can't get as BR, and visa-versa.

I'm swinging in my opinions these days... rather than see one format "win the war", I'd rather see BR with a comfortable lead, but HD-DVD hold on just enough to keep Sony from gaining a monopoly and keeping prices high.

Looks like you've fallen for some of the FUD.

How in the world is Sony ever going to have any monopoly with Blu-Ray? Look at all the big dogs in the BDA, many of them arch rivals of Sony. You think any of them are going to allow that to happen? Yet again is this lie and misconception that everything is all on Sony. Panasonic and JVC's parent company and Apple (among others) also had a rather large key in BD's inception. There's just too many big and powerful companies that want it to succeed.

You need to get your facts straight.

If dual-format players become cheap, then consumers have little to worry about. Companies seeking to set up a MS Windows-style domination of a format would have something to worry about.

I assume that angle is where a lot of this odd logic flows from.

Anything less than total victory for one format is terrible for the industry and for all of us. The best format, Blu-Ray, deserves to be the winner and if it weren't for Microsoft pumping in money for this corpse warming they've been doing for several months now...all of this would be moot. Who can honestly deny these facts?

There is no real competiton. It's a fraud. Look at the sales figures. Look at the support. Do the math. This whole thing is one of the largest shams to ever happen in the world of consumer electronics and you can thank Microsoft and Toshiba for that.

Who wants a repeat of SACD vs. DVD-A except maybe on a bigger scale? That's essentially the end result of this hippie love dual format talk leads to whether people want to see past their own noses or not.

All your scenario leads to is people staying firmly latched on to DVD, consumer confusion and apathy, and failure all the way around for HD adoption.

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

Folks, Onkyo won't be the last CE manufacturer to come to their senses. Just look at the numbers in favour of Blu-ray for sales, studio support and CE support. If they are thinking of putting out a combo player, all they need to do is look at the abysmal LG sales numbers to help them make the right decision. Blu-ray or the highway folks. Combos are for HD DVD supporters who are struggling to come to terms with having chosen the wrong format.

Bingo +2

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by Greenmatiz2

Competition will help lower player prices on both ends, if it hasn't already. I see nothing wrong with that.

I also see nothing wrong with dual-format players, so long as they are priced below the $300 price level. Until then, I'm not buying one. After that point, however, I and a lot of other people would consider them.

This thread is along the same illogical lines as the Total-HD thread (disks that are Blu-ray on one side and HD-DVD on another) -- some responses in both threads make little sense, from a mass-consumer viewpoint. If Total HD disks were priced the same as single-format disks, then the consumer can only benefit (fat chance at this point, though).

If I owned a dual-format player, I'd prefer to buy the BR version (if all audio content were the same) because BR is more scratch-resistant. If both formats stay alive, there are going to be those disks I can't get as BR, and visa-versa.

I'm swinging in my opinions these days... rather than see one format "win the war", I'd rather see BR with a comfortable lead, but HD-DVD hold on just enough to keep Sony from gaining a monopoly and keeping prices high.

If dual-format players become cheap, then consumers have little to worry about. Companies seeking to set up a MS Windows-style domination of a format would have something to worry about.

I assume that angle is where a lot of this odd logic flows from.

Your entire argument is illogical. You will never have a dual format anything, be it a player or a disc that can be produced as inexpensively as a single format. Therefore, combo players make no sense, TotalHD makes no sense, because you will always be paying for something extra that you may not want. DualDiscs always cost more than standard redbook CDs, They cost more than CD+DVD combination packs even. Heck, even hybrid SACDs cost more than single layer SACDs. Universal DVD players still to this day cost more than non-universal DVD players, and don't sell anywhere near as well. You can mention the inexpensive Oppo players all you want, but they aren't selling like the $70 non-universal players at Wal-Mart and CostCo.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Greenmatiz2

Competition will help lower player prices on both ends, if it hasn't already. I see nothing wrong with that.

I also see nothing wrong with dual-format players, so long as they are priced below the $300 price level. Until then, I'm not buying one. After that point, however, I and a lot of other people would consider them.

This thread is along the same illogical lines as the Total-HD thread (disks that are Blu-ray on one side and HD-DVD on another) -- some responses in both threads make little sense, from a mass-consumer viewpoint. If Total HD disks were priced the same as single-format disks, then the consumer can only benefit (fat chance at this point, though).

If I owned a dual-format player, I'd prefer to buy the BR version (if all audio content were the same) because BR is more scratch-resistant. If both formats stay alive, there are going to be those disks I can't get as BR, and visa-versa.

I'm swinging in my opinions these days... rather than see one format "win the war", I'd rather see BR with a comfortable lead, but HD-DVD hold on just enough to keep Sony from gaining a monopoly and keeping prices high.

If dual-format players become cheap, then consumers have little to worry about. Companies seeking to set up a MS Windows-style domination of a format would have something to worry about.

I assume that angle is where a lot of this odd logic flows from.

I enjoy reading your intelligent posts. Some things you say I agree with others I do not. This format war is causing prices of both HD-DVD players and BLU-RAY players to fall a lot faster then they normal would. It’s true if BLU-RAY was the only format that it would take longer for prices to fall. BLU-RAY would have followed natural price reduction similar to what the DVD format did. Now since there is a format war it is causing prices to fall faster.
Let me state my position. I am a movie collector first and a BLU-RAY fan second. The reason I am 100% behind the BLU-RAY format is because it is technically the best quality format. I do not currently own any HD-DVD products since at this time I am 100% in the BLU-RAY camp. That being said this format war is hard on me and others that are movie collectors. There are many movies that Universal Studios has released in the HD-DVD format that I would love to own. The only reason I do not own a combo player is because no one makes a combo player that works correctly yet. The LG combo player is not a fully functional HD-DVD player. Yes if Universal Studios decides to stay exclusive to the HD-DVD format there is a market for combo players. If Universal Studios would release on BLU-RAY I would then decide to upgrade 6 DVD players with 6 BLU-RAY players. Then I could stock one movie inventory when buying new releases. I have been limiting my movie purchases right now since I do not want to have to stock movies on both DVD and BLU-RAY. Some people have large families and people complain when they can not play the BLU-RAY disc in the DVD player.
Now when combo players are around $500 then this would be an attractive solution for me. I could purchase 6 combo players and stock BLU-RAY movies and Universal Studios HD-DVD discs and be able to play them in the same machine. There is no way I am going to purchase both a HD-DVD player and a BLU-RAY player for every room in the house. Unless Universal Studios starts releasing in BLU-RAY soon combo players will be a common item in late 2008 with LG, Samsung and other companies.
Now when it comes to the Total-HD disc concept I plan on not purchasing any of these discs. I do not want a BLU-RAY on one side and a HD-DVD disc on the other. I hope that most consumers that own either BLU-RAY or HD-DVD players will boycott the Total-HD disc. Since the Total-HD disc is a universal disc boycotting it well not hurt either format. If consumers want both formats to coexist then they should only support combo players and not Total-HD universal discs. Total-HD discs are bad idea especially in a world where combo players might become the norm.