Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD Forum

[Deane Johnson]

I've only been a member of this forum for a couple of weeks or so. I found a similar forum for HD-DVD, seemingly under the same ownership given the same look they both have.

My question has to do with the difference in forum activity and size. The Blu-Ray forum currently has over 2000 members while the HD-DVD forum has only about 120 members. Has the Blu-Ray forum been around longer or something?

[Dave]

Blu-ray just have more fans

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Deane Johnson

I've only been a member of this forum for a couple of weeks or so. I found a similar forum for HD-DVD, seemingly under the same ownership given the same look they both have.

My question has to do with the difference in forum activity and size. The Blu-Ray forum currently has over 2000 members while the HD-DVD forum has only about 120 members. Has the Blu-Ray forum been around longer or something?

1. The forums are NOT under the same "ownership".
2. The blu ray forum has been going for well over 3 years, the HD fourm I'm unsure.

This site is growing and picking up pace. I suspect it's not as simple as identifying one reason, but a number of reasons.

[Deciazulado]

Deane, maybe this thread may be of interest to your question: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=3035

[Deane Johnson]

Yes, that link did provide some interesting information. Thank you.

I was just curious as to the difference in the numbers, now I know. I have to agree with a poster in the other thread, there are a bunch of HD-DVD fans that are posting everywhere to make the momentum look greater. They sort of remind me of guys choosing sports teams and cheering their every accomplishment.

I'm sensing, after following a number of forums, that Blu-Ray almost has to be the winner in the end. That's only a gut feel, not based on any scientific analysis. If Sony would stop operating like a dysfunctional family and get moving, it might be over quickly.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Deane Johnson

Yes, that link did provide some interesting information. Thank you.

I was just curious as to the difference in the numbers, now I know. I have to agree with a poster in the other thread, there are a bunch of HD-DVD fans that are posting everywhere to make the momentum look greater. They sort of remind me of guys choosing sports teams and cheering their every accomplishment.

I'm sensing, after following a number of forums, that Blu-Ray almost has to be the winner in the end. That's only a gut feel, not based on any scientific analysis. If Sony would stop operating like a dysfunctional family and get moving, it might be over quickly.

Agreed 100 percent.

By the way, I never did get a chance yet to say: Welcome to the forum!

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by Deane Johnson

I'm sensing, after following a number of forums, that Blu-Ray almost has to be the winner in the end. That's only a gut feel, not based on any scientific analysis.

you don't have to be a scientist...a stroll into any Best Buy and you'll find a dedicated Blu Ray Encap by Sony, on the opposite end of hometheatre dept. you'll also find another Dedicated Endcap for Blu Ray by Samsung, The there is the PS3 endcap Highlighting Blu-Ray disc & movie ability...and in stores with MagHiFi, The Panasonic and Pioneer Blu Ray Players showcased in the experience rooms. And -zero- representation of any Standalone HDDVD player. The only HDDVD you'll find in BB is the movie section, and the HDDVD add on for the 360 which may or may not even be out on the shelf (my store you have to ask for it we don't have it out at all).

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

you don't have to be a scientist...a stroll into any Best Buy and you'll find a dedicated Blu Ray Encap by Sony, on the opposite end of hometheatre dept. you'll also find another Dedicated Endcap for Blu Ray by Samsung, The there is the PS3 endcap Highlighting Blu-Ray disc & movie ability...and in stores with MagHiFi, The Panasonic and Pioneer Blu Ray Players showcased in the experience rooms. And -zero- representation of any Standalone HDDVD player. The only HDDVD you'll find in BB is the movie section, and the HDDVD add on for the 360 which may or may not even be out on the shelf (my store you have to ask for it we don't have it out at all).

But I thought Best Buy was part of a conspiracy to cover up and destroy HD-DVD on BD's behalf?

[Blue]

Originally Posted by JTK

But I thought Best Buy was part of a conspiracy to cover up and destroy HD-DVD on BD's behalf?

Nah just some of the knowledgeable staff that work there!!! Seriously I wish some of our stores had likes of Brian (and a few others). I'm sure they would give the customers the full facts and let them decide.

As for the theme of the rest of the thread, Blu Ray are aiming at the masses (sure the price tag doesn't fit there, Sammy ~AUS$1,600, Panasonic recommended retail more than AUS$2,700). It's to early to tell as there has apparently been a delay on the HD-DVD players until later in the month, but as the stores pushing blu ray sell Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, LG TV's, DVD players etc, I can't see Toshiba rolling in, as either they then need to get TV's into the sales stream (not an easy logistical move) or Demo a HD-DVD player on a TV by Sony! (or Panasonic etc) now that would be interesting. That leaves the specialty stores - where valves rule (still waiting for that valve DVD player) and the cheapest RCA lead costs $500 after being pounced upon by a salesman that was selling second hand cars last week. Not an environment that attracts (or would even be allowed to cross the doorway) the mass market, whom by the pricing structure the HD-DVD player would attract. Even so I would be surprised if the HD-DVD players are under AUS$1000. DVD players can be bought for AUS$30 (not much of a player, but a player for the masses).
So once you have the Blu Ray idea to the masses when the prices do start to crash, some time next year is my guess, well it will be game set and match.

[JTK]

^^ Agreed 100 percent.

I know I'm probably a broken record at this point, but I really feel like if current trends continue "as is" and BD continues the obvious ascent we're seeing and HD-DVD just is kind of plodding along in its little Toshiba-MS fantasy world...6-12 months is what I give this whole thing, at least as far as anything that matters, like Universal only supporting HD-DVD for example.

It's just that simple. They blink an eye even one time and in that instant, BD has 100 percent studio support, end of story.

But the counterbalance is: Universal just isn't that important in the big picture. They have nice movies, but they are far outweighed by the BD exclusive studios. When you throw in studios support both formats: 90 percent for BD right now vs. 40 percent for HD-DVD with only one major exclusive...that says it all.

Common sense and even the most elementary understanding of good business tells you this charade just can't last for too long, especially as far as stockholders are concerned.

[PurpleAardvark]

Well we can get a simple answer to this question from South Park. It is real easy answer 25% of Americans are retarded. Also HD DVD fanboys are just fallowing there "clues".

[Blue]

I'm getting a bad feeling where this thread is going to head. I know I'm one of the main contributors / offenders, I'm also aware that most of the HD fanboys here are rather quite for one reason or another (no need to stir them up). No one has crossed any line, but from experience someone will very soon and no I'm not thinking of anyone. So maybe unless you have something constructive about the initial question we slow the thread down. It's not locked...yet.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

you don't have to be a scientist...a stroll into any Best Buy and you'll find a dedicated Blu Ray Encap by Sony, on the opposite end of hometheatre dept. you'll also find another Dedicated Endcap for Blu Ray by Samsung, The there is the PS3 endcap Highlighting Blu-Ray disc & movie ability...and in stores with MagHiFi, The Panasonic and Pioneer Blu Ray Players showcased in the experience rooms. And -zero- representation of any Standalone HDDVD player. The only HDDVD you'll find in BB is the movie section, and the HDDVD add on for the 360 which may or may not even be out on the shelf (my store you have to ask for it we don't have it out at all).

Alas, there's the rub.

Best Buy (a business wanting to make profits, and have nice margins on what they sell) isn't pushing HD DVD: IT IS A CONSPIRACY AGAINST US!

BDA (CE's wanting to generate margin, and not race prices to inprofitability) aren't supporting HD DVD: IT IS A CONSPIRACY AGAINST US!

BB and BDA companies wanting to make money isn't anti-consumer. I thought that was the free market system, which has worked so well. But, it sure isn't made out this way.

"Evil BB"
"Evil Sony"
"HD viewers of the world unite!"

If businesses don't make money, they go out of business. While short term being handed something on the cheap is great for the consumer, if it doesn't provide a fundemental basis for the long-term business, it will be a failure.

Toshiba has gained a lot of zealots with their pricing. But, they have lost the interest of CE, and retailers.

Now, I'm not saying BD doesn't have its zealots. But, frequently it is this very CE support and the realization of what it means to retailing that is the fundemental basis for many of the BD zealot's support. The BD zealots point to someone selling the BD format, while HD DVD must rely totally on grassroots and bullying tactics.

Geez, a "petition" site that is >50% anti-BD propaganda. Need I say more?

I'm curious how many people on this forum are here because they simply can't stand the war on AVS any longer?

Gary

[dialog_gvf]

I sure hope the war doesn't erupt on here. I think sanctuaries should be respected, by both sides.

At this point AVS is next to useless for learning anything, since trolls from both sides ruin nearly every thread.

Gary