Who else has stopped caring about the Blu-ray/HD DVD war?
The Blu-ray winner
(Credit: CNET Networks)Am I the only person who couldn't care any less about the HD DVD/Blu-ray war? For a while, I was captivated by the prospect of a Sony format winning the format war or the possibility of another Betamax debacle. At one point, I actually cared who won the format war and told everyone which format I believed would win.
But with Wednesday's news that cited figures showing Sony's Blu-ray format had outsold HD DVD by almost 2-to-1, I finally had enough.
Let's be honest with ourselves: at this point, who really cares which format is outselling the other? After each report of higher sales, the backers of the opposing format come out and proclaim their own dominance due to factors a and b. Once that's complete, the winning victor (in this case, Blu-ray) comes out and cites those sales figures just one more time.
Suffice it to say, I'm just plain tired of this war.
As everyone is too well aware, this high-def format war will go on for at least another two years. Regardless of where you stand, movie studios will continue to support whichever format they believe will bring in the most money without actually standing firm on one format or another.
In fact, I believe this market has become the most fickle we have seen in years. Next to the Internet, where people stop visiting Web sites at the drop of a hat, movie studios are quick to jump on either format's bandwagon as long as it can bring in acceptable revenue. Of course, if that much thought was given to high-quality movies, we would actually spend some time in the movie theater and these companies wouldn't need to worry about media. But alas, that's an argument for another day.
Over the past year, we have been inundated with news that purports the ascension of Blu-ray and the demise of HD DVD. And then, when Paramount threw its weight behind the HD DVD folks, that format was heralded as the successor to the DVD. And now, we have news that Blu-ray has outsold HD DVD.
When will it ever end?
The HD DVD winner
(Credit: CNET Networks)Allow me to just say it: worrying about the high-def format war is a waste of time. And to be quite honest, I don't see these formats being around much longer anyway--movie downloads will quickly supplant media as the chosen form of entertainment once our Internet access speeds increase.
But until then, we're left with nonsensical developments that so far have maintained the standstill and forced people like me to write about who will be the victor.
Well, I for one, will not have that discussion any longer. In fact, I will not discuss both Blu-ray and HD DVD in a piece, nor will I discuss who will win this war. If you want that, give both camps a call. I'm sure they will tell you everything you need to know.
I've succumbed to High-Def Format War Fatigue, and to be quite honest, I think most of the world has too. Eventually, one format will win and the other will lose. In the meantime, ignore the predictions and hyperbole, and get down to enjoying some movies.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
A pox on both their houses. :-)
I'm not going to buy an expensive piece of equipment only for it to be obsolete in a few months. So LONG LIVE the DVD format, because it certainly looks like its going to be driven that way if this keeps going on.
Blu-ray/HD DVD/LMNOP-XYZ... WHO CARES! If I buy another disc player it will play all or just DVD. Like most people who have a pulse, I have larger issues to deal with in my life.
Yes, you are. You are the only person who is not on the edge of their seat waiting for the next bit of news. The swarm of other journalists downplaying both formats is just a figment of your imagination.
Thank you, CNET, for this insightful piece of journalism.
</sarcasm>
HD DVD Player kit for 360 ($180)
King Kong (comes in box with player (maybe $25))
Two HD Movies 34.99 and under (I got Transformers and 300 ($65)
Heroes Season 1 ($100)
All items above i walked out with in my hands, plus you get 5 more free via a mail in rebate form (some will be crap, but there are a few good ones to pick from including full metal jacket (say 25 each, $125)
Total Value of $525 including tax.... You probably couldn?t buy all of these in DVD format for this price...
sure, it'd be nice if they keep making HD Dvd's, but at prices like this, i don't really care if they do or not... if i can squeeze a couple more good flicks it was well worth it...
- PR is getting old. Economics will win the war.
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by neal page
November 1, 2007 9:28 PM PDT
- Yes, we?re all weary of this format war for HD packaged media. Keep in mind, its still a PR game, one that ultimately will not be won by PR but by economics for the CONSUMER. I blogged about this topic back in June (http://www.inlethd.com/blog/?p=15), specifically on how the format war is hurting the consumer. Recent articles may be signaling the beginning of the end of this frustrating fray. Today I read on CNET that HD DVD breaks the $99 mark! http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9809165-7.html. That my friends, is the magic price threshold that sells product in volumes. Now increase the titles, and I?d say the end of the battle is in sight.
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