Format War - HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray - *Its Over...Toshiba Swings White Flag*

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[quote name='orimental']So you can now buy an HD-A3 + BD-P1400 for less than the new Samsung Combo Player.[/quote]

If you shop around, you can actually get the HD-A35 plus the BD-P1400 for less than the BD-UP5000 costs. That'd net you the top-notch SD upscaling that the combo player does, as well as bitstreaming for both formats.
 
[quote name='geko29']No, EE is best described as halos. To give yourself an idea of what you're looking for, put an image on the screen of something with a lot of edge transitions (suspension bridges are awesome with all the cables), and then crank up the "sharpness" control on your set. The edges will grow "whiskers" and then a complete whitish shadow-like halo around the objects.

Don't forget to turn the sharpness back down to 0 after doing this though. :)[/quote]

Then what would cause the Motion Blur, was I just seeing things or is it something else? Either way, I don't want to take that much time to figure out EE. :)

Anyways, thats an awesome price on the Samsung Player.
 
Hell, the HD-A30 is $249 at Amazon, and the HD-A3 $199 (but, strangely, the in-stock HD-A2 is $299) - so b/w those and the Samsung, you can go dual format for $500/$550.

I have a question about the 360 Add-on: is it USB powered, or does it have a separate power source from the 360?
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Hell, the HD-A30 is $249 at Amazon, and the HD-A3 $199 (but, strangely, the in-stock HD-A2 is $299) - so b/w those and the Samsung, you can go dual format for $500/$550.

I have a question about the 360 Add-on: is it USB powered, or does it have a separate power source from the 360?[/QUOTE]



separate power supply
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Hell, the HD-A30 is $249 at Amazon, and the HD-A3 $199 (but, strangely, the in-stock HD-A2 is $299) - so b/w those and the Samsung, you can go dual format for $500/$550.

I have a question about the 360 Add-on: is it USB powered, or does it have a separate power source from the 360?[/QUOTE]

I don't have the add-on, but according to Walmart.com, it has its own power source with the supplied AC adapter.
 
[quote name='dallow']Motion blur is caused by your display isn't it?
Are you using an LCD?[/quote]

yeah, but it's the only movie I have ever noticed something like this before.
 
BTW, to those people looking for Rescue Dawn on Blu-ray at netflix, it is now available, but it listed as a "Very long wait" along with cast away.
 
[quote name='H.Cornerstone']BTW, to those people looking for Rescue Dawn on Blu-ray at netflix, it is now available, but it listed as a "Very long wait" along with cast away.[/QUOTE]


Its listed as now for me.
 
Warner already turned down incentives from HDG that allegedly made Paramount blush, so I don't think either side is going to buy them out. I think the winning side has to be able to best make their case.

That said, Warner has said they want the format war to end, and the best way to do that is for them to go BD exclusive. Going with HD will prolong things significantly.
 
[quote name='doctorfaustus']Wow, so I guess it's over. Sigh, now I need to add another HD player to my entertainment system. Dammit all to hell.[/quote]Get a PS3, I'm sure eventually you'll find something you'll enjoy playing.
 
[quote name='dallow']Get a PS3, I'm sure eventually you'll find something you'll enjoy playing.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but plunking down 399 on something that might have a few exclusives that might someday appeal to me is not a smart move. I'm just going to wait for sub $200 player. Nuts to blu ray for now.
 
No sources =/= a financial research analyst. It's unclear as to how credible of a source he is (not that I expect him to have insider knowledge, but more whether he's a respected analyst, or a Michael Pachter "see what sticks to the wall" type).

So, no insider sources or credible information, but there are sources.

To parse words.
 
[quote name='dallow']She will Linkin. ;)

Here's a New York Times article about Warner going Blu.

Though it's really just rehash of what we've read already.[/quote]

I'm taking everything in with a grain of salt at the moment untill we hear official word. Though if this was to happen, I may drop from the HDM for a while. I'll still buy whatever scraps I find on HD DVD but I won't go neutral for about another year or so. I may just rent digital HD movies from XBOX Live Marketplace.

God I really hope warner doesn't take the blue pill.
 
[quote name='dallow']Start now and take advantage of all the BOGO sales.
Quite an end of year treat for BD fans.[/quote]

This quote:
Warners has signaled that its choice will be determined by which marketer can sell more DVDs this holiday season.
Click to expand...

Is why I think that there have been soo many BOGO's for Blu-Ray these past few weeks which is why it sucks that Toshiba didn't take that statement to heart but with them saving money on not doing BOGO's they may have enlarged their incentive pot for Warner drop Blu-Ray...I really doubt we'll hear anything till CES but at this point the anticipation is killing me.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']This quote:


Is why I think that there have been soo many BOGO's for Blu-Ray these past few weeks which is why it sucks that Toshiba didn't take that statement to heart but with them saving money on not doing BOGO's they may have enlarged their incentive pot for Warner drop Blu-Ray...I really doubt we'll hear anything till CES but at this point the anticipation is killing me.[/QUOTE]

I don't know what to make out of all these bogo sales. Are they being used to increase their numbers to counter the rise in HD DVD players?

What's gonna happen to the 90,000 stand-alone units that consumers bought recently? I guess in the long run such numbers are insignificant.
 
[quote name='doctorfaustus']I don't know what to make out of all these bogo sales. Are they being used to increase their numbers to counter the rise in HD DVD players?

What's gonna happen to the 90,000 stand-alone units that consumers bought recently? I guess in the long run such numbers are insignificant.[/quote]Yes, it helps run up numbers.
Though it doesn't need them to win the week (except Transformers week).

It works two-fold, shows a demand for BD in consumers to studios.
And 2nd, introduces the format to more people as they're more inclined to jump in and try out this HD format.
 
I think Warner's going to Blu-Ray. And it's probably because of the PS3. When comparing 300 BR to 300 HDVD sales, BR sales were higher. And people who have a PS3 are buying Blu-Ray movies. Shocking, but true.

Plus, I believe the comment made by the head of Sony Europe a month ago was a little ominous. I believe he said they'd have to rely on more than just their merits from now on. I take that as a chance they'll buy Warner Bros. off the same way Microsoft did with Universal.

I don't know what will happen, but after the whole Universal thing everyone said it was back up in the air again, and it's still been drifting back towards Blu-Ray again.
 
If Warner goes Blu, I will buy a Blu Ray player. Simple as that. Warner going blu = format war over, because Universal and Paramount aren't big enough buy themselves to keep HD DVD afloat
 
All the numbers these companies are talking are U.S. numbers when it comes to sales. So...are movie companies looking at just U.S. numbers or worldwide numbers?

Yeah...that's probably a retarded question, but looking at the stuff PR pumps out, you'd want to know too.
 
[quote name='KingBroly']All the numbers these companies are talking are U.S. numbers when it comes to sales. So...are movie companies looking at just U.S. numbers or worldwide numbers?

Yeah...that's probably a retarded question, but looking at the stuff PR pumps out, you'd want to know too.[/QUOTE]

Blu-ray dominates more overseas than it does here.
 
If the war was over and Blu-Ray won, it would still suck for Sony since they sacrificed the PS3 for Blu-Ray, then again, had PS3 not had Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray would have lost. So in the end, which will make more money for Sony: PS3 or Blu-Ray movies?

As PS3 currently stands at the bottom in 3rd place, I don't see it ever reaching such a success as it did with the PS2 or the PS1. As many others have said, its the GameCube of this generation.
 
[quote name='anomynous']If Warner goes Blu, I will buy a Blu Ray player. Simple as that. Warner going blu = format war over, because Universal and Paramount aren't big enough buy themselves to keep HD DVD afloat[/QUOTE]

Paramount, sure, but Universal is still a huge studio, and not to be discounted.

I'm not suggesting that the end of the format war is in WB's hands, because it is (and them choosing a side is far more bloody likely than Universal suddenly going BD-exclusive - which is only a tad more likely than Linkin buying a PS3 ;)). But Universal is huge, and Paramount has clout in the industry as well. I think Toshiba made a huge misstep in getting them, and only them, to be exclusive (irrespective of size, their HDM releases don't warrant focusing on them - it'd be like trying to woo 20th Century Fox :lol:).

[quote name='LinkinPrime']Is why I think that there have been soo many BOGO's for Blu-Ray these past few weeks which is why it sucks that Toshiba didn't take that statement to heart but with them saving money on not doing BOGO's they may have enlarged their incentive pot for Warner drop Blu-Ray...I really doubt we'll hear anything till CES but at this point the anticipation is killing me.[/QUOTE]

What's interesting is seeing that the only BOGO titles last week were Warner, and this week, you can mix n' match Warner and Sony titles (which is good news for Casino Royale fans). The question that is begged to be asked, though, is why didn't Warner titles on HD DVD get BOGO'ed as well?
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']

As PS3 currently stands at the bottom in 3rd place, I don't see it ever reaching such a success as it did with the PS2 or the PS1. As many others have said, its the GameCube of this generation.[/QUOTE]


Its way too early to call that. Blu-ray winning is a huge plus for the PS3. Its already got second place in the bag in Japan. Calling it the gamecube of this generation is totally off base. PS3 is selling just as well as the 360 did its first year, and with alot more competition (which we have talked about 1000 times, and its odd you bring it up in a non gaming thread).
 
[quote name='mykevermin']What's interesting is seeing that the only BOGO titles last week were Warner, and this week, you can mix n' match Warner and Sony titles (which is good news for Casino Royale fans). The question that is begged to be asked, though, is why didn't Warner titles on HD DVD get BOGO'ed as well?[/quote]
I've thought about that as well...here's the way I see it, with a BOGO, someone has to pay for the free movie right? Well its not going to be Amazon, Best Buy, Frys, J&R, or any other retailer that's offering it. This has to come higher up from Sony. I think that Sony makes agreements with the studios and says "we are planing X amount of BOGO's within the next X weeks, we'll buy one of your movies for every movie sold so you will not take the hit or see a reduction in your sales"...If this is true, than Toshiba would have had to do the same with its backed studios and obviously didn't.

[quote name='rodeojones903']Its way too early to call that. Blu-ray winning is a huge plus for the PS3. Its already got second place in the bag in Japan. Calling it the gamecube of this generation is totally off base. PS3 is selling just as well as the 360 did its first year, and with alot more competition (which we have talked about 1000 times, and its odd you bring it up in a non gaming thread).[/quote]

Though its only been a year, its obvious to everyone that its not selling as hot as the PS2 did. To call it the GameCube of this generation is premature, but it seems that way at the moment. I know that this is a non gaming related thread, but its still on topic. Blu-Ray is a major part of PS3.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I've thought about that as well...here's the way I see it, with a BOGO, someone has to pay for the free movie right? Well its not going to be Amazon, Best Buy, Frys, J&R, or any other retailer that's offering it. This has to come higher up from Sony. I think that Sony makes agreements with the studios and says "we are planing X amount of BOGO's within the next X weeks, we'll buy one of your movies for every movie sold so you will not take the hit or see a reduction in your sales"...If this is true, than Toshiba would have had to do the same with its backed studios and obviously didn't.[/QUOTE]

Toshiba/MS spent that money on Transformers.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']If the war was over and Blu-Ray won, it would still suck for Sony since they sacrificed the PS3 for Blu-Ray, then again, had PS3 not had Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray would have lost. So in the end, which will make more money for Sony: PS3 or Blu-Ray movies?

As PS3 currently stands at the bottom in 3rd place, I don't see it ever reaching such a success as it did with the PS2 or the PS1. As many others have said, its the GameCube of this generation.[/QUOTE]

It was evident quite some time ago that nothing could match the PS2 this time around. I imagine that Sony getting a significant cut of every video disc sold will more than cover for what the PS3 won't bring them this time around.

It wasn't long ago that Sony's *only* profitable arm was its games division. Using the PS3 to push BD wasn't the greatest idea, but it is showing to be one that will pay off in the long run. Just not, perhaps, in the games arena.

I can't help but wonder if people have held off on buying the PS3 because of the cost involved in buying into a "maybe" video player. Once (not if) BD becomes the hidef format of choice in the perception of consumers, then, would people who were uncommitted towards the PS3 decide they want it for the value it offers?
 
So how does "Meet The Robinsons" blu-ray picture compare to an upconverted viewing of the standard DVD?


The missus is interested if its worth dumping the regular Disney animation releases when they appear on blu-ray.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']What's interesting is seeing that the only BOGO titles last week were Warner, and this week, you can mix n' match Warner and Sony titles (which is good news for Casino Royale fans). The question that is begged to be asked, though, is why didn't Warner titles on HD DVD get BOGO'ed as well?[/quote]
Conspiracy theorists would say either: A) Warner is going Blu, and is starting to promote the format; or B) Warner is going red, and is clearing the channel of their Blu-Ray titles before making an announcement. But I think it's a whole lot simpler than either of those. Like others have said, Sony pays for a BOGO, Sony gets a BOGO. Toshiba doesn't pay, Toshiba doesn't get. Warner's not giving anybody any freebies because they don't have to. They know they're the prettiest girl at the dance and they ain't gotta do shit to have the boys lining up.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I've thought about that as well...here's the way I see it, with a BOGO, someone has to pay for the free movie right? Well its not going to be Amazon, Best Buy, Frys, J&R, or any other retailer that's offering it. This has to come higher up from Sony. I think that Sony makes agreements with the studios and says "we are planing X amount of BOGO's within the next X weeks, we'll buy one of your movies for every movie sold so you will not take the hit or see a reduction in your sales"...If this is true, than Toshiba would have had to do the same with its backed studios and obviously didn't.[/QUOTE]

Pretty much. The only possible explanations are:
1) WB's made their mind up (;))
2) Sony's subsidizing the BOGO for Warner

Of course, #2 is far more likely, considering how the only fact we all know for damn sure is that Warner has a sharp eye towards this holiday season, and wouldn't want to jeopardize their results by skewing the data with support for one format. Them BOGOs are, as demonstrated, money far better spent than with the Paramount/Dreamworks deal.

I have my hopes high, for sure, but I'd be a damned fool if I thought we'd hear anything before CES 2008.
 
[quote name='geko29']Warner's not giving anybody any freebies because they don't have to. They know they're the prettiest girl at the dance and they ain't gotta do shit to have the boys lining up.[/QUOTE]

heh. A top-notch analogy.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']I don't see it ever reaching such a success as it did with the PS2 or the PS1. As many others have said, its the GameCube of this generation.[/QUOTE]

I think that was expected for quite a while. I'm pretty sure the PS3 could've done everything right, and still would have not been able to match the PS2s success, simply because the competition is much more fierce this time around. With this generation being quite a bit different than lasts, I'm not sure calling it the "Gamecube" of this generation would be entirely accurate either.

So, does this mean HD-DVD is the Gamecube of the format war? Last time I checked, both were being outsold 2:1 by the competition in the U.S. The only difference is, the PS3 is performing better in all other countries, which helps offset its poor U.S. performance, whereas HD-DVD does not have that luxury.
 
[quote name='terribledeli']So how does "Meet The Robinsons" blu-ray picture compare to an upconverted viewing of the standard DVD?


The missus is interested if its worth dumping the regular Disney animation releases when they appear on blu-ray.[/QUOTE]

I am not sure about the comparison part because I only bought the blu-ray, but the picture quality is superb (like most Disney releases).
 
they only had to blow an insane lead they had in console sales to win the HD movie war

but i guess it might work out if the Ps3 becomes #1 movie player for hi def and then they move more games as a result

just seems like such a huge risk
 
[quote name='rodeojones903']http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/10/analyst-ps3-will-catch-up-to-wii-by-2011/

Another analyst that says the PS3 will not only surpass the 360, but eventually catch the wii.

The original source.
http://economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10251308
[/quote] Are these the same dumbass analysts who regularly miss the weekly, monthly and annual sales numbers--often by a factor of 2--or different dumbass analysists?

Your second point is entirely correct, however. With great risk comes great reward. Or great loss.
 
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