So the high-def format war is over and I don't care
Do you remember earlier this week when I told you that step one of ending the high-def format war relied on Sony's ability to get Warner on its side? Luckily for us, it happened (and yes, I'll take the credit for it).
Is this the most significant development of the entire high-def format war? Sure. But now that we know Warner is backing Sony, I can't imagine Toshiba is feeling good about itself. Not only did it cancel the big HD DVD party here at CES, but we have yet to hear any true official response. If you ask me, the company is in crisis mode right now and desperately trying to justify itself to Paramount.
And while all this is going on, I can't help but not care.
So why couldn't I care less about what happens from here on out? It's simple really -- the writing is on the wall. At this point, it's as if we're watching The Godfather backwards. Let's face it, now that Sony controls roughly 80 percent of the DVD market, there isn't the slightest chance that HD DVD can turn things around. Suffice it to say, HD DVD is doomed.
Knowing this, why would anyone care? If you own a Toshiba player, do your best to sell it back. If you can't, open it up and play with the insides -- you never know what kind of fun you can have in there.
And if you haven't taken the plunge yet because you thought the war would last longer, it's time to make a move. Is a Blu-ray player worth your $600 right now? Probably not. But give it about a month and then we'll see what kind of value you're getting for that hard-earned money. Chances are, you'll be quite happy with the selection.
But I digress. The high-def format war has finally entered the last stretch and HD DVD has fallen into a hole that it will never emerge from.
Let us take a moment of silence as the format enters the pantheon of past losers (can you say Betamax?) and lives out the rest of its days on life support. It's been nice knowing you, HD DVD. You died too young.
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.
The public opinion is influenced by CNET editor comments. If editorials are biased, then consumers will get lost - as it seems right now.
- SM
This is just stupid. Prices are NOT going to drop on players because of this announcement. In fact, THE DAY OF the announcement sonystyle.com RAISED the price of their BDP-S300 $50. The only reason prices of Blu-Ray players had dropped was because of the competion the Toshiba players gave them. Now that Sony feels there is no competition, they jack the prices back up.
The only reason Blu-Ray has been trying to impliment profile 1.1 into their machines is because the $99 Toshiba players have always been able to do things the $600 Sony machines are still incapable of.
Competiton is good. It has been the source of innovation and progression in this war. It has been the source of agressive pricing. I fear now that prices will stay high for a very, very long time.
"If you own a Toshiba player, do your best to sell it back. If you can't, open it up and play with the insides -- you never know what kind of fun you can have in there."
Why would I try to sell back my Toshiba? It still plays all the HD-DVDs I own and rent. It still looks terrific. It still sounds amazing. It still upconverts my standard-def DVDs beautifully. I'll still be able to purchase and all those HD-DVDs from e-bay for $5 a piece because of everyone who's trying to ditch their collections.
No thanks, I think I'll keep my Toshiba and enjoy the amazing investment I got for only $99. And in 5 years when Blu-Ray players have dropped that low, I'll pick one of those up.
Next, the marvelous thing about my A20 is it's upconversion quality. Yes, HD is the ticket but when you compare paying $29 v. $15 for an SD DVD, on a long term basis, it is not hard to learn to love the bomb (that being a SD version).
Next, next, am I going to run out and buy a BR. Hell no! There is no way I am going to go spend $400 to $700 for another proprietary system. Until BR can upconconvert as well as HD-DVD, provide a high quality player at a reasonable price AND bring the price of movies down to be somewhat competitive with SD I'll stay put.
Lastly, the thrill of an HiDef movie is valid but at what cost? When John Q Public can buy two blockbuster movies for the price of one BR or HD-DVD for that matter, loan to the neighbor for them to see how can any corporation expect for their viewing format to take over by storm.
Lastly, lastly, we will not see HD-DVD die tomorrow. We will not see BR take over the DVD movie business. Whatever happens will take a bit of time to occur. But BR will not become the end all be all for the DVD movie business. I'll beat this dead horse again, until the cost of an HD movie is affordable for the masses HD DVD movie technology will remain a niche market for the likes of you and me.
49Merc
Post Script:
To show you that I speak from experience I've owned phonographs with $145+ stylus, a Quadraphonic system, an extremely high quality component grade 8-track player , studio grade cassette players, eary Bose 501's, a $1200 VCR circa 1979, Super VHS VCR, SACD players and now I'm on my third HD-DVD player. So you see I'm a true dyed in the wool AV geek
- by coopspop January 6, 2008 3:48 PM PST
- As one who lived the Beta-VHS wars, I get a kick out of the false loyalties and inane excuses from the guys who backed the loser here.
- Reply to this comment
-
(6 Comments)You backed the wrong horse, you moved too quickly and you got stung. Live with it.
The smart money waited until it at least looked as if there was going to be a winner in the new format wars. Guess you poor souls weren't too smart...but you'll hang in there, and invent reasons to justify that bunch of money you prematurely blew on a crippled nag.
You may keep that HD player right there in your rack, and continue to play those High Def discs you payed more hard earned cash for...until you get sick of watching the Simpson's movie the 40th time. Sure it has fantastic sound and a dynamite picture, but the truth of the matter is this, when you want to watch new HD movies, you are going to have to move that turkey to make room for your new BR player that you can buy for a lot less....'cause this time you will wait.
Then it is either going to end up on Ebay in a year or so, or it's going to be a $600 doorstop,
next to Dad's beta.
Dad acted too quickly, and it looks like you didn't learn a damn thing. Except how to make excuses.