Blu-ray has progressed more in 2 years than LaserDisc in a decade - Blu-ray Forum

Grubert · 11-04-2008, 01:38 PM

You probably have read that blog post on Yahoo where they said that Blu-ray was "the next LaserDisc," or in the words of the writer, an "oddball obscurity."

Well I don't have my own blog to rant on this, so you'll excuse me if I place my soapbox here.

For reference, LaserDisc launched (under the name Discovision) in 1978. Blu-ray launched in the US in June 2006.

Hardware penetration

In 1994 (16 years since inception), 1.6% of US households had a LaserDisc player (link).
In 2008 (2 years since inception), 1.7% of US households have a standalone Blu-ray player, and that's not counting PS3s (link)

Software penetration

In 1994, LaserDisc inception-to-date US software sales were 8.3 million (link).
By mid-2008, Blu-ray inception-to date US software sales were over 13 million: 5.7 million in 2006-2007 (link) and 7.37 million in Jan-Jun 2008 (link).

Hence, if hardware and software sales are considered, Blu-ray has already 'succeeded' more than LaserDisc ever did.

______________________

"During its prime, there was something very special about being a laserdisc collector. It was like belonging to an elite club of enthusiasts, each of which feeling that they were among the very few who actually cared about the presentation of movies on video. In my own town of Boston, there was once a store called LaserCraze which issued all of its purchases and rentals in plastic shopping bags with a distinctive orange spiral logo. If you walked down the streets and saw one of those bags you would know that someone else out there shared your feelings, even if you knew nothing else about that person."
-Joshua Zyber, LaserDisc forever

jasontkelley1746 · 11-04-2008, 01:43 PM

not a very hard accomplishment.

BACsader · 11-04-2008, 01:44 PM

But wait, isn't Blu-ray going under? iTunes is going to take over? =)

benricci · 11-04-2008, 02:25 PM

For a format that was around 20 years, that's pretty pathetic. I didn't realize how crappy the stats were on laserdisc sales.

Banjo · 11-04-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benricci

For a format that was around 20 years, that's pretty pathetic. I didn't realize how crappy the stats were on laserdisc sales.

It was always a niche format. But I don't believe Blu-ray Disc will become a niche format. It is definitely heading for the mainstream status. It's just a matter of time.

Beast · 11-04-2008, 04:59 PM

I don't care what anyone says. I still loved Laserdisc when it was around.

I still have my Star Wars Definative Collection and other titles.

FinalEvangelion · 11-04-2008, 02:33 PM

Thanks for the stats. It's very much appreciated to get some real facts without any spin.

It will definitely hit mainstream status in a while. Once recording capabilities are fully tapped outside of Japan (I live here and it's a huge market) and two of the three consoles (PS4 and Xbox 720) have it, the format will not go anywhere. Yes, I do think Xbox 720 will have a BD drive standard, whether it goes against MS ideals or not.

CrabbyAzz · 11-04-2008, 03:48 PM

I really don't think thats a valid comparison. It was very apparent that Laser disc was going to be a niche format within a year of it's release. People couldn't record on it and no one was interested in renting them. That's why it went nowhere. But delvelopers continued to support it similiar to mini disc and SACD.

andyman1970 · 11-04-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BACsader

But wait, isn't Blu-ray going under? iTunes is going to take over? =)

iTunes sucks. The quality of the music download is sub par, you can only burn a CD you purchased from them a certain # of times and not to mention that the quality of a burned CD isn't near as good as a CD you buy from the store. Much lossy audio quality and the movie and TV show downloads will have the same lack of quality. It's basically for cheapskates and computer geeks that want to sound cool. The only purpose I'd have for is to just buy one or two songs, but then again I could do without.

Chevypower · 11-04-2008, 04:51 PM

It's dumb to compare anything to LaserDisc now. I remember thinking when I had LaserDiscs, "when will they come out with something where you don't need to change sides?" The day they announced DVDs, I jumped for joy and sold all the Laserdiscs I had. I knew it would be a success, not just to LaserDisc, but to VHS also. Plus LaserDisc only ever had a niche market. I only ever remember buying LaserDiscs from specialty stores, not from mainstream stores. 15 years ago, each movie was double the price of what a Blu-ray movie costs today. I don't think Blu-ray is trying to get the (success?) that LaserDisc had, i think it's aiming for mainstream, and in that case it's got a great start - would have been better without Toshiba, but still has a ways to go.

StuntmanMike · 06-14-2011, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevypower

It's dumb to compare anything to LaserDisc now. I remember thinking when I had LaserDiscs, "when will they come out with something where you don't need to change sides?"

You do know they made dual side players right?

Pauliesr · 06-14-2011, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BACsader

But wait, isn't Blu-ray going under? iTunes is going to take over? =)

I heard HD-DVD was making a comeback...

jd213 · 11-05-2008, 11:52 AM

Heh, the thread title should probably be "Blu-ray has progressed more in 2 years than LaserDisc in 2 decades" (which more accurately reflects the lifespan of LD and creates a better synergy for the title). I know your data for LD only goes up to 1994, but trust me, it didn't start doing better than BD is after that

CrabbyAzz · 11-05-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd213

Heh, the thread title should probably be "Blu-ray has progressed more in 2 years than LaserDisc in 2 decades" (which more accurately reflects the lifespan of LD and creates a better synergy for the title). I know your data for LD only goes up to 1994, but trust me, it didn't start doing better than BD is after that

Yes, but it would be a pointless comparison.

dialog_gvf · 11-05-2008, 04:17 PM

LD was considerably more popular in Japan.

Football (soccer), F1 racing and the metric system are three examples of massive successes that America would look at as failures.

Gary

jd213 · 11-05-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrabbyAzz

Yes, but it would be a pointless comparison.

Why?

CrabbyAzz · 11-06-2008, 12:37 PM

Because LD was never a viable mass market device.

jd213 · 11-06-2008, 12:39 PM

So? People think the same thing about Blu-ray, and it's still doing better.

11-04-2008, 01:38 PM	#1
Grubert Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jan 2006 Blu-ray collection:573 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:2	Blu-ray has progressed more in 2 years than LaserDisc in a decade You probably have read that blog post on Yahoo where they said that Blu-ray was "the next LaserDisc," or in the words of the writer, an "oddball obscurity." Well I don't have my own blog to rant on this, so you'll excuse me if I place my soapbox here. For reference, LaserDisc launched (under the name Discovision) in 1978. Blu-ray launched in the US in June 2006. Hardware penetration In 1994 (16 years since inception), 1.6% of US households had a LaserDisc player (link). In 2008 (2 years since inception), 1.7% of US households have a standalone Blu-ray player, and that's not counting PS3s (link) Software penetration In 1994, LaserDisc inception-to-date US software sales were 8.3 million (link). By mid-2008, Blu-ray inception-to date US software sales were over 13 million: 5.7 million in 2006-2007 (link) and 7.37 million in Jan-Jun 2008 (link). Hence, if hardware and software sales are considered, Blu-ray has already 'succeeded' more than LaserDisc ever did. ______________________ "During its prime, there was something very special about being a laserdisc collector. It was like belonging to an elite club of enthusiasts, each of which feeling that they were among the very few who actually cared about the presentation of movies on video. In my own town of Boston, there was once a store called LaserCraze which issued all of its purchases and rentals in plastic shopping bags with a distinctive orange spiral logo. If you walked down the streets and saw one of those bags you would know that someone else out there shared your feelings, even if you knew nothing else about that person." -Joshua Zyber, LaserDisc forever Last edited by Grubert; 11-04-2008 at 03:15 PM. Reason: punctuation

11-04-2008, 02:33 PM	#7
FinalEvangelion Senior Member Member since:Nov 2008	Thanks for the stats. It's very much appreciated to get some real facts without any spin. It will definitely hit mainstream status in a while. Once recording capabilities are fully tapped outside of Japan (I live here and it's a huge market) and two of the three consoles (PS4 and Xbox 720) have it, the format will not go anywhere. Yes, I do think Xbox 720 will have a BD drive standard, whether it goes against MS ideals or not. Last edited by FinalEvangelion; 11-04-2008 at 02:36 PM.

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11-04-2008, 01:43 PM	#2
jasontkelley1746 Active Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:milwaukee Blu-ray collection:191	not a very hard accomplishment.

11-04-2008, 01:44 PM	#3
BACsader Expert Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Cooper City FL Home Theater Gallery:29 Blu-ray collection:72 Blu-ray reviews:9 Trading Score:1	But wait, isn't Blu-ray going under? iTunes is going to take over? =)

11-04-2008, 02:25 PM	#4
benricci Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	For a format that was around 20 years, that's pretty pathetic. I didn't realize how crappy the stats were on laserdisc sales.

11-04-2008, 04:59 PM	#6
Beast Blu-ray Champion Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray collection:376 Blu-ray reviews:3	I don't care what anyone says. I still loved Laserdisc when it was around. I still have my Star Wars Definative Collection and other titles.

11-04-2008, 03:48 PM	#8
CrabbyAzz Banned Member since:Sep 2008	I really don't think thats a valid comparison. It was very apparent that Laser disc was going to be a niche format within a year of it's release. People couldn't record on it and no one was interested in renting them. That's why it went nowhere. But delvelopers continued to support it similiar to mini disc and SACD.

11-04-2008, 04:51 PM	#10
Chevypower Special Member Member since:Feb 2008	It's dumb to compare anything to LaserDisc now. I remember thinking when I had LaserDiscs, "when will they come out with something where you don't need to change sides?" The day they announced DVDs, I jumped for joy and sold all the Laserdiscs I had. I knew it would be a success, not just to LaserDisc, but to VHS also. Plus LaserDisc only ever had a niche market. I only ever remember buying LaserDiscs from specialty stores, not from mainstream stores. 15 years ago, each movie was double the price of what a Blu-ray movie costs today. I don't think Blu-ray is trying to get the (success?) that LaserDisc had, i think it's aiming for mainstream, and in that case it's got a great start - would have been better without Toshiba, but still has a ways to go.

11-05-2008, 11:52 AM	#13
jd213 Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:less than 10 minutes from Akihabara	Heh, the thread title should probably be "Blu-ray has progressed more in 2 years than LaserDisc in 2 decades" (which more accurately reflects the lifespan of LD and creates a better synergy for the title). I know your data for LD only goes up to 1994, but trust me, it didn't start doing better than BD is after that

11-05-2008, 04:17 PM	#15
dialog_gvf Moderator Member since:Nov 2006 Location:Toronto Blu-ray collection:320	LD was considerably more popular in Japan. Football (soccer), F1 racing and the metric system are three examples of massive successes that America would look at as failures. Gary

11-06-2008, 12:37 PM	#17
CrabbyAzz Banned Member since:Sep 2008	Because LD was never a viable mass market device.

11-06-2008, 12:39 PM	#18
jd213 Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:less than 10 minutes from Akihabara	So? People think the same thing about Blu-ray, and it's still doing better.

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