Bu-ray edging ahead

NathanE · 26 Jan 2007 at 11:24

Mr_Sukebe said:
???
Not sure what you mean by that, care to expand. If you're saying that they're more expensive that HD-DVDs, then you're wrong. Check my online retailers and they have very similar pricing.

Look at history. Every format or storage medium Sony has EVER brought to market has had stupidly high prices. Anyone that wants to manufacture Blu-ray media (like say, Verbatim or whoever) will have to buy a license from Sony and they'll have to pass this cost on to the consumer.

HD-DVD pricing will (or would?

God I hope not...) be totally different as it's not governed by just one big media mogul like Sony.

All HD media pricing at the moment is irrelevant because it's a market still in the early adopters phase.

The cost of the drives/players/whatever really isn't an issue for me - as it's just a setup cost. The media is a reoccuring/running cost and that's what I'm worried about.

mmj_uk · 26 Jan 2007 at 11:27

dannyjo22 said:
Its the least secure that will win from the customer not the most secure. People want to buy spiderman 3 off the market for a fiver not a store for £25

But why would a film studio release their film on an unsecure format when there is a more secure option available?

dannyjo22 · 26 Jan 2007 at 13:05

mmj_uk said:
But why would a film studio release their film on an unsecure format when there is a more secure option available?

Why did game makers back the psone when just about everyone I've ever met had games they bought for about £3 each. Its what made the psone the console to have.

I'm willing to be the majority of users on here would use the easiest to rip format. I agree it's not in the studios interests but people will still buy, rip and then resell so the sales figures still look good.

divine` · 26 Jan 2007 at 13:11

mmj_uk said:
But why would a film studio release their film on an unsecure format when there is a more secure option available?

Because even if people want to rip the films, they'll invariably be buying bucket loads of blank media to put it on after they download it or whatever, which I should imagine still holds royalty payments...

Mr_Sukebe · 26 Jan 2007 at 13:12

NathanE said:
Look at history. Every format or storage medium Sony has EVER brought to market has had stupidly high prices. Anyone that wants to manufacture Blu-ray media (like say, Verbatim or whoever) will have to buy a license from Sony and they'll have to pass this cost on to the consumer.

HD-DVD pricing will (or would? God I hope not...) be totally different as it's not governed by just one big media mogul like Sony.

All HD media pricing at the moment is irrelevant because it's a market still in the early adopters phase.

The cost of the drives/players/whatever really isn't an issue for me - as it's just a setup cost. The media is a reoccuring/running cost and that's what I'm worried about.

Should we include CD in your Sony slagging off? Bearing in mind they developed it with Philips. I can't help but think that CD now costs peanuts, though clearly we're over 20 years on...

As for HD-DVD costing less. Maybe it does cost less to produce, but the simple fact is that the prices for disks when comparing HD and BD are VERY similar. Just go check any of the key online retailers selling both formats.

With regards to future costs, we'll simply never know until we get there.

Johnnytoxic · 26 Jan 2007 at 13:25

Damn universal could just end this if they supported bluray. They have announced 100 titles this year.

This is gonna be longer than I thought.

NathanE · 26 Jan 2007 at 13:53

Mr_Sukebe said:
Should we include CD in your Sony slagging off? Bearing in mind they developed it with Philips. I can't help but think that CD now costs peanuts, though clearly we're over 20 years on...

As for HD-DVD costing less. Maybe it does cost less to produce, but the simple fact is that the prices for disks when comparing HD and BD are VERY similar. Just go check any of the key online retailers selling both formats.

With regards to future costs, we'll simply never know until we get there.

I'm not slagging anybody off, that's a bit harsh mate :confused:

I'm just being realistic!

I'm sure once (and if) Blu-ray becomes mass market (and by this I mean the same place where DVD is today) Sony would loosen their grip on the format but until that time I'm almost certain history will repeat itself. That is a big unknown though as it's something Sony hasn't done before.

Pug · 26 Jan 2007 at 14:38

this site may help settle arguments:

http://www.hdgamedb.com/amazon/history.aspx?TYPE=25&SPAN=14

Energize · 26 Jan 2007 at 16:01

NathanE said:
Look at history. Every format or storage medium Sony has EVER brought to market has had stupidly high prices.

3.5" Floppy disks didn't, neither did cds.

Secret_Window · 26 Jan 2007 at 16:27

Question is: Is blu-ray worth the extra cost over the cheaper hd-dvd drives and players?

Maybe, when the PS3 is out, there won't be that question hanging over our heads, due to it being cheaper than the rest of the blu-ray players but for now... :confused:

FrankJH · 26 Jan 2007 at 17:26

Secret_Window said:
Question is: Is blu-ray worth the extra cost over the cheaper hd-dvd drives and players?

Maybe, when the PS3 is out, there won't be that question hanging over our heads, due to it being cheaper than the rest of the blu-ray players but for now...

So you are hinging the format war on two to three months - and remember we are the last region where PS3 is to be released, everywhere else its already available!!

Remember also that blu-ray internal recording drives for a pc are already available, and for the same kind of price that stand alone playback hd-dvd decks are bought for - so as usual you pay your money and take your choice.

To my mind the added storage space will be required in the near future, but only if access / read speeds can be increased (which undoubtedly they will be) - more relevant to the ps3 rather than a drive you can relatively easily replace in a pc.

Secret_Window · 26 Jan 2007 at 17:45

The HP external HD-DVD drive is cheaper than any blu-ray drive for the pc. Plus you have the xbox 360 HD-DVD, and although we are the last region, I'm sure this region will impact the sales of either HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

FrankJH · 26 Jan 2007 at 17:53

Secret_Window said:
The HP external HD-DVD drive is cheaper than any blu-ray drive for the pc. Plus you have the xbox 360 HD-DVD, and although we are the last region, I'm sure this region will impact the sales of either HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

The price difference on OCUK is £60, and comparing a writeable drive(BR/BD) to playback only(HD-DVD) not to mention internal drive you dont require external power source and can replace your cd\ dvd writer whereas your external hd-dvd cant.

When there are more writing drives on the market this will shrink further.

As quoted above blu-ray software is already outselling hd-dvd and as BR was the last the market, what do you expect to reverse this trend?

Raider · 26 Jan 2007 at 19:03

Even if Blu-Ray eventually wins (unlikely imo), I think it was undeniabley good that HD-DVD was there to battle it.

If it wasn't for HD-DVD then I have no doubt that Blu-Ray would be pumping out sub-standard MPEG2 transfers for just about everything. It was only because HD-DVD showcased superior picture quality with VC-1 that Blu-Ray had to raise its game..

Secret_Window · 26 Jan 2007 at 22:59

Hey listen frank, as far as writing is concerned that's something else. But let me tell you something, I am not saying that Blu-ray is crap, all I am saying is, is that it's just expensive for what it is, in plain simple DVD playback terms. I am just (for format argument sake) saying that blu-ray is expensive (for example the samsung BD-P1000) when you can get cheaper alternatives.

cheets64 · 27 Jan 2007 at 04:44

DVD players in asda for £9.

How on earth can you see blu-ray dvds being £9 in 6-7 years time.

FrankJH · 27 Jan 2007 at 05:15

Secret_Window said:
Hey listen frank, as far as writing is concerned that's something else. But let me tell you something, I am not saying that Blu-ray is crap, all I am saying is, is that it's just expensive for what it is, in plain simple DVD playback terms. I am just (for format argument sake) saying that blu-ray is expensive (for example the samsung BD-P1000) when you can get cheaper alternatives.

There are already cheaper and better alternatives so you are sorta completely irrelevant

As for pricing in 10 years time, we wont know until we get there. Why shouldnt it be any different to CD and be as cheap as chips by then?

Magic_x_uk · 27 Jan 2007 at 09:20

hi, i am not "up" on HD nor Blue Ray, nor much else at moment. I tend to leave knowing certain things untill i am in a position to buy something.

I was in the local Panasonic shop the other day and they had a 60" plasma on the wall showing the same film. Divided into 3 one normal, one HD and one Blue Ray and to be honest, I couldnt tell the difference. Especially when the salesman told me the blue ray player is a £1000. wow.

Anyhow, my question is this. My present TV (A CRT 28" JVC) does the job and I shall buy a flat screen and increase my knowledge when that TV dies.

BUT....

THE PS3 will that play BLUE RAY and HD discs then. As if it does, surely that would be the best option to buy price wise as it will also be a games console and god knows what ?? Some info on that would be nice

thanks

Von Luck · 27 Jan 2007 at 10:21

I can't see the outcome being decided by early adopters. Games consoles and studio support are the killers here.

While early adopters with a real interest in the topic may be willing to buy the add-on HD-DVD drive for the 360, I can't see your average man on the street forking out for it. I think the PS3's integrated BR support will drive far more sales.

Add to that the likelihood that there will be more titles available for BR, I just can't see HD-DVD winning this one, regardless of how much weight the name carries.

I've no interest in either side winning - I don't use games consoles and I'm going to sit back and wait for it to be decided.

Rava Benitez · 27 Jan 2007 at 10:24

Magic_x_uk said:
hi, i am not "up" on HD nor Blue Ray, nor much else at moment. I tend to leave knowing certain things untill i am in a position to buy something.

I was in the local Panasonic shop the other day and they had a 60" plasma on the wall showing the same film. Divided into 3 one normal, one HD and one Blue Ray and to be honest, I couldnt tell the difference. Especially when the salesman told me the blue ray player is a £1000. wow.

Anyhow, my question is this. My present TV (A CRT 28" JVC) does the job and I shall buy a flat screen and increase my knowledge when that TV dies.

BUT....

THE PS3 will that play BLUE RAY and HD discs then. As if it does, surely that would be the best option to buy price wise as it will also be a games console and god knows what ?? Some info on that would be nice

thanks

Ok since you're not up Im not going to be mean about that last statement.

No the PS3 only supports Blu Ray as its the Sony format.

When that TV dies you'll likely have little choice than to by a flat screen, CRT is dying out. Besides you'll want HD and 1080p will be commonplace on new sets by the end of the year.

So yes by a flat screen when you buy your new tv, and no the PS3 does not support HDDVD.

Bu-ray edging ahead

Man of Honour