Hey Everyone,

It's been a while since we last discussed this, so I thought I would ask those that are following this format war the million dollar question:

Who's winning??

I know it isn't settled yet, but with the release of the PS3 now solidly in the rear view mirror, there has to be some advancement in the battle lines one way or the other.

Well, other than a few days over the past month and a half, Blue-Ray sales have been kicking HD-DVD's arse in every category.

http://www.eproductwars.com/dvd/

BUT, it looks like both format sales are pretty dissappointing, overall. There's a chance that they'll both fail to ever become mainstream...

Also, here's a good source of information if you're really interested:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/tags/show/Disc_Sales

I'm doing my part, though. I've got 10 Blue-Ray movies, so far. Probably will pick up Rocky this weekend to make it 11.

Also important to note, is Sony has just released their cheapest Blue-Ray player. I know, it's still got a ways to go before it's as cheap as the $250 Toshiba HD-DVD, but a $500 stand-alone Blue-Ray player is a step in the right direction for the format. Plus, the PS3 will have a price cut this Fall as Sony's getting their blue-ray parts cheaper, now. I'd be surprised if there isn't a sub-$300 Blue-Ray player on the market this Christmas.

If Sony keeps by their policy - watch HD-DVD start to pull ahead.

Porn sells. Porn could well determine who wins. Porn will go to HD-DVD if Sony won't duplicate for them.

Wishful thinking by the HD-DVD camp.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/B...Def_Release/437

http://www.e-gear.com/story/story.bsp?var=story&sid=49178

But do you really need to see porno in 1080p? Do you really need to see every pimple or hair on that starlet's ass?

It will be interesting to see if Sony can indeed make this happen.

This was Toshiba's and the HD-DVD camp's argument all along - pricing is key (hello - Betamax/VHS???)

You can see the same thing with the PS3/Wii - the Wii is kicking the snot out of the PS3. Price matters to the mass market.

Walmart is talking a sub-$200 HD-DVD player. If they do that, and it's decent (doesn't have to be good, just decent), then it's over... As you point out, neither format is selling in anything close to mainstream numbers - so that means it's just crazy videophiles like you and me venturing in. If Wal-mart gets the prices down to mass market levels (under $200) Sony is screwed.

And those Blueray exclusives? That will change if there's a significant shift in sales volume. Same for the HD-DVD exclusives if it shifts to blue-ray. Follow the money...

Pricing was key during the Betamax vs VHS days because there was no alternative for home recording or on-demand movies. With DVR/Tivo/DVD-R/DVD/FIOS/Satelite/Home computer setups, consumer's are not rushing to what only adds higher clarity. And the leap from 480p to 1080p is not as profound as going from whatever was on HBO that night to Blockbuster DVD's. That's the real reason people aren't jumping onto either HD DVD or blu-ray bandwagon.

If I had to choose, blu-ray for it's capacity. But not for it's price cuz I'm not a trend setter or a bleeding edge technocrat. Give it another year or two, then the units should be pretty cheap.

This time last year, HD-DVD was in the lead. Now it's basically reversed.

http://www.eproductwars.com/dvd/

Which one is utlimately better? The tidbits I've heard seem to indicate that blu ray is better in theory, but in practice hd-dvd is just as good. One issue for me is that I do have a 1080p TV. I didn't really go that route for the resolution as much as I did for the technology I wanted and the better black performance, video processing, etc. that goes along with those sets over their 720p brothers, but now that I've got it I'd like to take advantage of that and get full 1080p fed through HDMI. That basically means blu ray, right?

If I get a quality player (not a cheap ass loss leader) for under $300 by this fall, I'm doing it. I'd buy now but I've already sunk enough into the TV and component theater system that I'm not sure my wife would be down with me dropping another $500-800. The problem is I hate being in this limbo of not being able to buy any new DVDs because I'll be upgrading to a new technology soon.

Bah...just plunk down the $1300 or so for the LG BH-100 and be done with it.

Good idea.

Do you want to send me the cash directly or would you rather send it via paypal?

I don't buy into that whole "adult movies will determine the winner" model.

It was certainly the case back when the format war was VHS vs. Beta, but that's because it was allowed an entire industry to enter the home for the first time. THAT was the draw.

Nowadays, between $10 DVDs, On Demand, free stuff on the internet, pay stuff on the internet, good old fashioned VHS - the market is already saturated for ways to get your rocks off at home.

Adding one more to the pile isn't going to swing things one way or the other.

People that think adult movies will determine the winner here are missing the real reason why it was a selling point for VHS.

Yeah, adult movies won't determine a winner. I think the only people that pay for that stuff anymore are a pretty small group of "hardcore" fans (no pun intended), and that's not a big enough market to sway the format wars.

Once the winds start to blow one way or the other, the adult market will follow. It won't be the other way around.

You're right. It won't matter, because Porn is on BOTH formats.

Vivid Video (they put out somewhere around 40% of all porn home videos) have selected Blue-Ray as their format of choice.

All the talk of Blue Ray not having porn came from the HD-DVD camp, and from 1 studio exec. that made the claim (incidently, HIS studio backs HD-DVD)...

In other words, it's all a bunch of BS crap.

So, no, porn isn't going to "win" the format war for either format, because it'll be available on BOTH.

As to which format is "better"? Here's the reasons why I think Blue-Ray will win the format war, over time:

1) PS3 gives it a sales edge.

2) ALL hollywood studios are putting out Blue-Ray movies, except Warner Bros. That's the only studio that's HD-DVD exclusive. Everybody else is either Blue-Ray exclusive, or dual format.

3) storage capacity for computers. Blue-Ray holds over 60% more than HD-DVD. If you're doing big backups, more storage space almost always wins. Look at the progression; data tapes to zip drives to CDs to DVDs. I know, there are others, but as far as removeable media goes, the one that gets used the most is almost always the one that has the most capacity. (Exception: DAMN YOU LS-120...!!!)

4) The major hardware & computer manufacturers, except Toshiba, back Blue-Ray or combo drives. Only Toshiba is putting out HD-DVD only. In that regard, it's like Sony of the 1970s. They refused to get on the VHS train, and push their own format alone. Good luck...

5) HD-DVD's ONLY real advantage is price. It's cheaper to produce a HD-DVD than a Blue-Ray. But here's the kicker: go to your local store, and look at the prices of the two. HD-DVD may be cheaper, but it's not the consumer that saves the money. Blue-Ray's and HD-DVD's cost the same at the retail store. So where's the motivation for HD-DVD, after you buy the player? None.

HD DVD is cheaper NOW.

You can get DVD/HD DVD combo disks NOW - no extra charge for HD DVD, and even if you don't have an HD DVD player, the disk will work with your current DVD player (I've gotten several of those from Netflix already - they are out there).

HD DVD disks are also reported to be more durable - that's minor in my mind.

Here's the deal - if Walmart floods the market with an under $200 market HD DVD player and DVD/HD DVD hybrid disks (i.e. all their DVD's become DVD/HD DVD hybrids) the PS3 "advantage" aint gonna mean shit.

Again, this is speculation and moot since neither format is shipping in anywhere close to mainstream volume. At $250, I don't mind rolling the dice with HD DVD. Netflix has more movies than I'll be able to keep up with for some time in HD DVD.

Even if Toshiba folds up the HD DVD tent tomorrow, my HD DVD player will work just fine tomorrow and into the future. Heck, the original star wars laserdisks work just fine - if you can find them and a working player

If it hadn't been for the 360, I wouldn't have an HDTV or an HD DVD - damn HD trojan horse

HD players may be cheaper, but their disks aren't. The average price on amazon is $40.60 on HD-DVD and $27.20 on blu-ray.

Doc, my point is, it's CHEAPER to make a HD-DVD. But if you look at a retail store, the HD-DVD prices are the SAME as Blue-Ray. The consumer won't see that the HD-DVD disk is any cheaper. So there's no draw to that at the store. Either format costs between $25 and $30 for a movie, though there are some bargains out there already; I just picked up King Arthur on Blue-Ray for $17.99 at Wally World.

Not to mention, the Blue-Ray camp has been advertising on TV like mad the past few months; I've never seen an advert. for HD-DVD.

That's not a bargain, dude - that's just a really shitty movie.

You're paying too much...

You can get 25GB Blu-Rays for $16.99 and 15GB HD-DVDs for $11.99 at Meritline.

Not the best ever, but I can sit and watch Kiera all day long...

Which player is cheaper?

HD-DVD players are.

Which digital music player is cheapest? An ipod or other?

Cheapness of the player doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it... If the media costs the same, the "cheaper" of the players only has that going for it. That's not enough to make it mainstream.

People that spend thousands on a TV & home stereo system don't give a rats difference between $250 for a bottom-of-the-line HD-DVD player vs. $500 for a Blue-Ray player. Price isn't going to be the driving factor for which one wins. But it could be a driving factor for which one doesn't win, as in, if price is the only thing going for HD-DVD (it is), good luck to 'em.

Let me give you an example:

I can buy a Yugo, or I can buy a Nissan. Both will get me to my location. Yugo is cheaper.

Guess which company doesn't exist anymore...

If cost is the driving factor, both formats will fail, because DVD's are cheaper than either.

*Stewie*

Hi five! anyone? anyone?

not her best movie though.

but oh so very hot

Out of stock! But not a bad price for an entry level HD-DVD. If it was me, I'd look for somthing that supports 1080p or HDMI 1.3.

Only 720p/1080i output...

Not a huge deal. Most people w/ HDTV's don't have 1080p, anyways. Jackarse floor salesmen have been selling HD TV's for years, now, telling everyone there's no reason to get 1080p, 'cause nothing supports it... Oops...