Blu-ray MIA at LG Dealers Show

[JTK]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...alers_Show/337

Blu-ray's hardware woes appeared to continue yesterday at LG's annual dealers show in Orlando, Florida, where a previously announced Blu-ray player for 2007 was nowhere to be found.

Addressing questions about the lack of Blu-ray products at the show, LG product development director Tim Alessi had this to say:

"We have heard and read about a lot of delays [of Blu-ray product releases]," he said. "We recognize the huge opportunity but we will provide an announcement when the time is right."

Alessi later clarified his earlier statement. "I didn't say we weren't going to have a [Blu-ray] player. I just said we aren't going to announce it today. We are going to continue to look at all aspects of the market to come up with the best solution."

The LG Vice President's comments come on the heels of two Blu-ray player release delays in the last two weeks -- Sony's BDP-S1 Blu-ray player and Pioneer's BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player.

And while neither Sony nor Pioneer specified a reason for the delay in releasing their players, as early as this past August there were unconfirmed reports that a shortage of blue laser diodes could result in shipment delays for new players. Sony pointed to this shortage as the reason it halved and delayed launch shipments of its Blu-ray powered PlayStation 3 game console.

Asked when LG might unveil plans for their first player, Alessi indicated optimism that they would have a solution by CES in January.

Anything to it?

I've pretty much written LG off for a while as a player in 2006, regardless of format.


I basically shrugged my shoulders at this.

[Chris Beveridge]

Originally Posted by JTK

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...alers_Show/337

Anything to it?

I've pretty much written LG off for a while as a player in 2006, regardless of format.

I basically shrugged my shoulders at this.

I wonder if this is what amillians was talking about at AVS earlier, in mentioning that it wouldn't be a Blu Christmas but probably a Blu Valentines.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

I wonder if this is what amillians was talking about at AVS earlier, in mentioning that it wouldn't be a Blu Christmas but probably a Blu Valentines.

Pretty viable at this rate.

[AV_Integrated]

Frankly it irks me to no end how LG has been throughout this whole thing. Initially they promised to be one of the earliest companies to deliver Blu-ray, then they started rumoring a dual format player, and now they are MIA and completely missing this holiday season.

LG really has no clue what they are doing it seems like. As a company, I would rate them a few steps below Samsung, so if they hope to have some sort of impact, I would hope that at CES we see them in full force with a Blu-ray player announced for 1Q07 that includes a sub $500 MSRP.

But, they really need to get their act together... their early promises and then complete inability to deliver... or even SHOW as of late is getting lame.

[phloyd]

I have heard a few interesting things from here and there.

It seems that the major cost in the players is the diode and optical stuff.

Shortages no doubt mean that some companies are being starved or shafted on price so the reluctance to release is understandable.

Anyways, as with all new things, this should pass...

I got my player so I don't really care too much

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by AV_Integrated

Frankly it irks me to no end how LG has been throughout this whole thing. Initially they promised to be one of the earliest companies to deliver Blu-ray, then they started rumoring a dual format player, and now they are MIA and completely missing this holiday season.

LG really has no clue what they are doing it seems like. As a company, I would rate them a few steps below Samsung, so if they hope to have some sort of impact, I would hope that at CES we see them in full force with a Blu-ray player announced for 1Q07 that includes a sub $500 MSRP.

But, they really need to get their act together... their early promises and then complete inability to deliver... or even SHOW as of late is getting lame.

I agree.

The interesting/ironic thing is this: if they do release an HD-DVD player after all this, how helpful is that going to really be to HD-DVD? I mean my biggest single complaint against HD-DVD is the lack of quality CE companies making players. LG is on par with Toshiba, perhaps only slightly better, in terms of quality reputation.

So, even if HD-DVD gets another manufacturer on board, if it is LG I don't think it helps too much. If it were Panasonic, or Denon that would be a different story.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

I agree.

The interesting/ironic thing is this: if they do release an HD-DVD player after all this, how helpful is that going to really be to HD-DVD? I mean my biggest single complaint against HD-DVD is the lack of quality CE companies making players. LG is on par with Toshiba, perhaps only slightly better, in terms of quality reputation.

So, even if HD-DVD gets another manufacturer on board, if it is LG I don't think it helps too much. If it were Panasonic, or Denon that would be a different story.

Exactly right.

I think everyone, for the most part, has written LG off for 2006, at least.

They have been a nonfactor for months except for being forum rumor fodder for switching formats practically every other week.

Samsung, LG, Toshiba...I view companies like that all in about the same vein: Second tier ( or less.)

[Deciazulado]

mmm those reading this thread might like to find something at the end of the rainbow

finding Le Gold

[phloyd]

It is weird that they are saying nothing in the US and demo'ing the box in the UK... very strange.

I still think the problem is that Sony has stolen all the blu laser diodes

[Josh]

Closing since they announced a player. Continue discussion there:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=3254