Comments on: Warner's new next-gen DVD discs will go both ways

Warner is announcing dual-format HD-DVD/Blu-ray discs at CES

[flywithsean]

Sony better hope

Sony better bet the farm that Blu-Ray wins because if it doesn't it makes the PS3 an even more overpriced system than it already is.
I am also feeling like Sony is forcing Blu Ray down the consumers throat, and I don't like that at all.

[sarlacc54]

Dual formats...

Your last statement... "All I can say is that the whole thing is stupid and I don't plan on buying either format any time soon, especially when I can easily click on a pull-down menu in my Netflix account and rent whatever movies are available in HD-DVD or Blu-ray." seems a little silly. You wouldn't grab an HD-DVD or Blu-ray from the Netflix selection unless you owned either one of the players would you?

[rewyllys]

What are Total HD's technical specs?

I'll reserve judgment on Total HD till I learn what its technical specifications are. I strongly favor the highest possible quality; and, having lived through the Betamax disaster, I'm going to buy Blu-Ray products whenever possible. A dual-format player could well be on my shopping list within a month or two, to take care of the occasional "must-have" movie that's not available in Blu-Ray.

[jbaviera]

It's ALL a load of crap

If any of the manufactures can assure me that the audio and video tracks will stay in sync throughout the movie being played, I might think about it. I have as yet to watch a movie on the current DVD format without having to pause the video every 30- 45 minumtes to get it back in sync. Four different manufactures of players, and I have the same problem with EVERY movie I try to watch. Think I'll stick with VHS>

[jtg61]

Another format to regain control

I still haven't seen a compelling reason to upgrade to either of these two formats. Let?s get down to the real reason why these new formats were released. Pirating and copy protection! The movie companies have lost control of current DVD technology. End users can pretty much do as they please which is eating away at profits. The only way to regain control is to make huge HD data files so they can?t easily be transferred, using a new scheme of copy protection, with discs where blank media is prohibitively expensive. That?s what this is all about. The disc distribution format is going the way of the CD and the dodo bird. With the increasing pervasiveness of broadband, the internet download model is viable for movies. Sorry movie companies, I?m not playing and I hope most consumers reject it too. This should go the way of the Laserdisc and RCA?s SelectaVision, into the trash heap of failed formats.

[johnjana]

One more example...

The failed SACD or DVD-A fiasco! Another format war that was to put money in RIAA and hardware coffers. Idle machines sit everywhere. The public is tired of DRM and the inflated costs to the consumer. Check out past price-fixing investigations of record companies and their failure to provide fair royalties to all but the most popular artists.

[hameiri]

Freedom, freedom, freedom....freedom.

I'm not exactly sure why people get so freaked when there is a format war. I get freaked whenever the companies get together and agree about anything. It's usually not in our best interests.

Yes, freedom means conflict and personal responsibility for our choices. There is always a price. I say let's have the war, and one of the weapons might be dumping DRM. Wouldn't you go with the format that did?

I'm betting on Blu-Ray, because more capacity is always better in the future. I am worried about their DRM stance though.

[make_or_break]

Pointless, if more manufacturers follow LG's path

A dual-purpose hi-def drive seems more fluid and versatile to this consumer than packing both HD formats on a single disc. 'Sides, one has to really wonder what sort of premium Warner (and the rest of the MPAA, if they follow suit) will want for this sort of content 'flexibility'.