Topic: Blu-Ray Outpaces HD-DVD in U.S.

[mistybear]

I thought that it would have been the other way around, but still early days I suppose. I certainly won't be buying either......


Blu-Ray Outpaces HD-DVD in U.S.
New Details from Home Media Research

Category: Storage

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 08/15/2007 | 10:33 AM ]

According to the recent research performed by Home Media Magazine, the movies on Blu-ray disks were selling twice as good in the first half of this as the movies on optical  HD DVD media, Reuters reports.

They claim that from January 1 through July 1, 2007 they sold about 1.6 million Blu-ray disks in the US only, using a Sony Corp-backed technology. HD DVD disks sales volumes over the same period of time reached only 795 thousand copies. HD-DVD was developed by Toshiba Corp and backed by Microsoft Corp and film studios such as Warner Bros.

Both formats were launched in spring of 2006. An estimated 3.7 million high-definition discs have been sold, including 2.2 million in Blu-ray and 1.5 million in HD-DVD through the end of July, according to Home Media.

At the same time the sales of Blu-ray disks are picking up outside the United States, too, namely in Singapore, Hong Kong and Eastern Europe. The demand for new-generation consumer DVD players is growing as well. However, HD DVD devices seem to be selling better. The thing is that the best value HD DVD player from Toshiba is currently available for about $300, while the most affordable Blu-ray solutions are offered for $500-$600.

The industry-wide standards war is reminiscent of the VHS and Betamax battle.

Blockbuster Inc, the largest U.S. provider of home movie entertainment, in June set out plans to line its shelves with Blu-ray DVDs, saying Blu-ray rentals were "significantly outpacing" HD-DVD rentals.

LINK

[Simon]

This is reminiscent of the old Betamax / VHS video format wars of the 80's.  I'm not sure if there will eventually be a 'winner' in this case, but I won't be buying either until one or other format comes down in price.

[mistybear]

I wonder if the popularity of Blu-Ray disks has anything to do with PS3. I could understand it if people were using the PS3 as a media centre.

[Sandra]

Apparently VHS won out over Betamax because the porn industry used it.
I read recently the reason that the porn industry had such an influence was because the revenue from their films is double that of the regular film industry 

So it looks like we will have to wait and see which format is the preferred choice for the porn industry then that will be the one that we all end up with.

[mistybear]

I can't imagine the porn industry worrying about quality, do you? 

I would think that what ever is cheapest, or am I being judgemental? 

[Sandra]

Well thats why VHS took off.
It was cheaper but the quality wasnt as good as Betamax, especially in the early days.

HD will be cheaper than Blu Ray so if I was a gambler I would say that HD will win out in the end.

[mistybear]

No pun intended.....

[sam]

but i cant see people being that eager to go out and buy things again...

[Simon]

That's right, Sam.  I replaced most of my videos with DVD versions, but I don't now intend to replace all my DVDs with HD or Blu-Ray, as that would be just ridiculous, and as formats seem to have a shorter shelf life these days, it won't be long before the next 'big thing' comes along, so HD and Blu-Ray will soon be out of date too.

[mistybear]

Perhaps just storing everything on hard drives.

[sam]

...which I have lots of things on...

[Reno]

Unless you have a big expensive TV and a fancy sound system hooked up the new formats won't do you any good. I'll stick to dvd. Most of my media watching is done on my 17" LCD so the HD quality deal doesn't really effect me.

I remember when dvds first came out. I was having an astronomy class in my hs' planetarium. Back then DVD players were fairly expensive. The teacher hooked one up to his digital projector and threw the projection up on the dome. I still remember thinking the quality was amazing. I mean even with it stretched out 4x6 feet on the dome ceiling the quality was great.

All i see is a new gimmick to get everyone to buy replacements for their old dvd collections.

[Simon]

All i see is a new gimmick to get everyone to buy replacements for their old dvd collections.

To a point, I agree, which is why I'm not buying into it at the moment.  I say 'at the moment', because I know myself, and I'm a sucker for purchasing new toys, so I have no doubt I will succumb in the end, but as I said before, it will have to come down in price first. 

That said, I think HD and Blu-Ray is more than just a gimmick.  The picture quality of HD DVDs such as BBC's Planet Earth, are astounding.  Even on large screen TVs, you feel you could walk into the screen, and just be there in the jungle, or underwater, or whatever.  It really is that outstanding, especially on a quality LCD or Plasma panel.

I have now gone half way, and ordered myself a new DVD player, which apparently upscales standard DVD images to "near HD quality".  I'm not sure how near to HD it actually gets, but I needed a new player anyway, so I feel that the purchase is justified, and it will hopefully be another step towards making the most of my recently bought "HD ready" plasma screen.

[Sandra]

  It really is that outstanding, especially on a quality LCD or Plasma panel.

Or on  HD CRT Simon, with as good a quality picture on SD broadcast or DVD as well as HD 

As you said HD for something like planet earth is amazing but I think that people will be disappointed that the average TV show and film wont really look as impressive.

[Simon]

I didn't know you could get an HD CRT, Sandra.    In fact, CRTs in general are getting a bit thin on the ground these days.