Don't be a fair weather supporter

[actionhank]

Originally Posted by Ender

Sadly, Microsoft has more money than us.

Last year the American consumer was 70% of a 13 Trillion dollar economy (the largest in the world I might add). Not even Microsoft has that kind of money, not even Exxon, nobody, except the consumers.

The format war will still be decided by the consumer

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by BluDrew

So what? After I saw how incredible BD was I got a PS3, and being spoiled by high def I wanted to see as many of my favorite movies as possible. I refused to buy HD DVD believing that Blu-ray was the clear winner even though the temptation to pick up some HD DVD titles was there. Yesterday's announcement pushed me to scratch the itch, and just because I scratched the itch doesn't make me any less of a Blu-ray fan. I'm renting right now but I'm not going to stop with my plans to purchase quite a few Blu-ray titles in a few months. In fact, unless the HD is better for whatever reason I'm going to always pick up the Blu-ray version of a neutral title (I'd rather watch it with the PS3 than the PC anyway). I like to think of myself as somewhat pragmatic. I'm not going to make trivial posts here of fanboyistic silliness.

I am not going to judge or chastise your decision, but their are implications if you really want to see the end of this. Each purchase you make from Paramount only serves to make Paramount believe the decision they made was the right one. It really isn't. Your purchase supports the notion that a software company(who doesn't give a damn about video on disc) can sway a film studio with cash that interfere's with natural process of how Hollywood has been working since the 1930's. If you support this kind of action, then by all means, get a HD DVD player and buy as many movies as you like.

The bottom line is this, everyone(including Paramount and the Hollywood community) knows that blu-ray is going to win this battle in the long run. So whatever movies they release exclusively to HD DVD, will eventually come to blu-ray sometime in the future. I do not believe that Paramount would sign an open ended deal for $150 million to a format that has less than a quarter of the market penetration of another format. The agreement has caveats and time limitations, that you can bet on.

One of the main reasons corporations have some much control is because of the apathy of the people. We have become corporate sheeple because we want everything they feed us now, right this second, without delay, and we don't look at the bigger picture. Its all about me and mine. The reality is you and yours are eventually going to get it, and in the process you can make a point that would, on a small level, would help everyone bring some resolution to this whole war. I know you have the itch, but sometimes scratching can lead to a infection.

The thing I wonder is what happen to power to the people? Do we feel that we have no power to change events anymore? What ever happened to standing up for a principle, even if it meant that we had to sacrifice our selfishness to make a point? Have we gotten so selfish(and corporation know and play off of this) that we have given our power to change over to the enemy. What a crying shame.

Look at this as an appeal, not a lecture.

[blackpixels]

My decision to go blu was made long ago - I'd never waiver in that decision. One title or even a few will not disswade me from that decision. I only buy my BD's I don't even rent. I see it as just a minor hiccup in a heated debate, but persistence will prevail - everyone should remain on track and steadfast.

Remember the tortoise and hare....

[dobyblue]

My spirits are not dampened, merely strenthened.

I am VERY much looking forward to a bunch of those Fox titles and will reward them with my money for getting back in the game with such sick, sick, made for HD movies.

ID4? Hello!!
Die Hard movies? Hello!!

[tron3]

My spirit of enjoyment has gone from blu to black. I used to get home and want to pop in one of my blu-ray movies just to use the darn thing. Now, I lost the joy.

I always was a blu-ray supporter and wanted it to win. I always knew that HD-DVD would not go down without a fight. They had lots on their side. Familiar name, lower production cost, and a fair selection of movies from the initial supporters.

Even a train stops. This could be the signal of the movie studios slowly going to HD-DVD. Sure, lots of people said they will ONLY produce blu-ray, lots of people said they will ONLY carry blu-ray. Paramount once said they would support both. Watch those other guys.... money will make them change their mind.

They would drop the whole high def idea and go "Superbit" if they thought the consumer would swallow it. Companies hate customers as smart or smarter than they are. It's about bringing a perceived quality to market at the greatest profit. They could care less if the thing breaks out of warranty. "Buy another." That is what Sony told PS3 owners when their system burns out. NO REPAIR OPTION. That is what Apple told iPOD owners when the built-in recharageable battery would no longer charge. "Buy another." No replacement program. The iPHONE also has a soldered in battery. What do you think Apple will say when that battery is exhausted and the phone can't be used? "Buy another phone."

I'm all for loyalty to good electronics companies, but even the best of them are shady. No one sitting at those meetings has the guts to pipe up, "But the customers will get screwed." It's not about the stock holders and the company. Not the product living a long life, not about you, not about me. It's not about anything human or humane - it's about the money!

[Zyclone]

i was buying a HD DVD player before the paramount news anway so im not to phased and before you comment about that i don't tell you how to spend your money so please don't tell me how to spend mine .

but i still love blu and i have over 50 blus on my shelf and there is still a great amount of blu titles coming out so im not going to far from camp blu.

[mikesoba]

Both formats will not co-exist indefinitely. To those who say "wait out the 18 months", I would respond: HI def dvds will die in 18 months and everyone will go to lo def downloads (take a look at this same battle in the CD market for the scenario) if one or the other format hasn't bit the dust by then.

If one format does not prevail--and soon--neither will, in my opinion. As the consumers, we have a very large role in directing this decision. Make your choice now. Choosing both, in my opinion, is a choice to end the hi def format entirely.

[Coltboy]

I am very excited about the line up that fox is putting out. i love War movies and the two they are putting out are very good ones, the paramont shell is not enough to sink the battleship for me it is hurt but not sunk

[Coltboy]

Originally Posted by mikesoba

Both formats will not co-exist indefinitely. To those who say "wait out the 18 months", I would respond: HI def dvds will die in 18 months and everyone will go to lo def downloads (take a look at this same battle in the CD market for the scenario) if one or the other format hasn't bit the dust by then.

If one format does not prevail--and soon--neither will, in my opinion. As the consumers, we have a very large role in directing this decision. Make your choice now. Choosing both, in my opinion, is a choice to end the hi def format entirely.

I for one hate to download stuff, i am of the preferance that i would rather physically have the movie in my hand, guess i am old fashioned. i would respect people more if they just chose a side, even if i think they are wrong i woud still respect them for making a stand and chosing a side. just my opinion.

[Chris Gerhard]

I agree, don't be a fair weather supporter. Be Blu-ray exclusive or own both, it doesn't matter, these babies are cruising to tiny niche status so you might as well enjoy the brief run. What is coming after these two formats are put on the back burner because no profits can be made isn't clear. I love all of the popular and all of the niche status 5" shiny discs, DVD-A/SACD/DVD-V/Blu-ray/HD DVD/CD/HDCD and will continue to enjoy all of them. Why MP3, AAC, iPod, downloading and all of those other things I don't know about are gaining momentum, I won't likely ever understand. My collection of players to handle my collection of discs is massive, except for Blu-ray and HD DVD so I am likely one and done with those two. I only use them for the HD support and my DVD players handle everything else so I am hopeful I can keep both working for a long time. I do have an extended warranty on the Blu-ray player but no problems and no warranty remaining but no problems with the HD DVD player.

I hope everybody else supports only Blu-ray as my hope has always been that only Blu-ray survives and a single format finds a market that means the companies involved can thrive. Right now, there is zero chance that happens, but you guys do your best, I hope I am wrong. I am too old and seen too much over the last 35 years to believe there is any hope now. The people that say this isn't a repeat of SACD v DVD-A are the people that didn't love those two formats. I love all of the high quality niche status formats and I know Blu-ray v HD DVD is exactly the same. With an idiotic format war, the market remains happy with the existing very good format that friends and family own and will see all releases they want and doesn't cause any confusion. The two formats that work for the masses of course are CD and DVD. Nothing changes, unless one format can move forward alone. My idiotic dream that Blu-ray would carry the mantle for high quality audio, replacing SACD and DVD-A and high quality video was sure silly in retrospect.

If Warner bails on Blu-ray, a very tiny market will be evenly split. If Warner stays neutral, Blu-ray maintains a lead, but no knockout power. Both amount to nothing much in that case also, just one is slightly less of a nothing.

Chris

[E-Dogg]

Nothing will make make me buy and HD-DVD player. I will support only Blu.

[Chris Gerhard]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

Nothing will make make me buy and HD-DVD player. I will support only Blu.

You are going to miss out on some great HD, not what it could have been if only Blu-ray survived, but things are what they are. If things stay as they are, HD DVD will have about 35% of the good releases and I see no reason to believe anything else big can be accomplished by either side. Both will struggle to find a market and those that want to benefit with the combined selection may as well do so in my opinion.

Chris