Comments on: Report suggests Blu-ray/HD DVD war will end in peaceful co-existence

A U.K.-based analyst firm, Screen Digest, has issued a report saying that the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray war is destined to not have a winner--it's going to end in a stalemate. But that's not necessarily the end of the world, the report suggests.

[brandonh33]

Stop comparing to UMD!

First of all UMD was never supposed to get big, ya sony would have liked that but even they knew its future, its only for the psp! Some people can be so unaware of what is going on around them, just because they bought HD-DVD, Blu-ray sucks. I am sick of it. Look people Blu-ray beats HD-DVD by a huge margin in specs. There is no spec that is better about HD-DVD. The only thing that is better about HD-DVD is that it is a few hundred dollars cheeper because it isnt as good technology and they left out an HDMI port so the player only puts out 1080I. "But its cheep, thats all that matters." That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. If you dont have enough money to spend an extra $150 to get a true "next-gen" player with 1080p honestly, you shouldnt be buying an HD player, you shouldnt even have HD, you should be paying your bills and getting out of debt like a responsible adult.

[lil-yankee]

Well said, that is hands down the truth.

The problem really is that some people think that being a smart shopper is getting the cheapest prices you can, and that is true but at least make sure they are the same things. Blue-Ray is very different from HD-DVD in about all aspects, sure they both play videos but is not the same. 1080p out of and HD-DVD is not the same as 1080i out of a Blue-Ray disc thats where the price difference is at. The technology developed for Blue-Ray is years ahead of is competitor that tops at only 30 gigs of storage while blue-ray has top at 200gigs and 500 theoretically. It should be clear enough to know that something better could be done in this extra space that Blue-Ray has, that could not be done in the 30gigs of HD-DVD. The point is, yeah the Blue-Ray cost more but its also true that it looks better, sounds better which is what you are paying for and also has more features given its extra space. You don't have that kind of money? so forget about flat screens and hd you belong to rear projectors and maybe betamax, but dont be waining about cost just because you can't afford it. Blue-Ray is not more expensive because they want every penny you have, its simply better. Consider the amount of money that sony losses when it makes a ps3 just to make it more affordable unlike apple that sells iphones that cost them 250 for 600us and them try to tell the production cost decrease c$%p, please be smart and choose wisely.

[bigbrigand]

I hope you are making a joke about HD-DVD buyers

I have an HD-DVD player, and I am very pleased with the quality of its output in 1080p. I do have a HDMI port, and it really looks great on my ridiculously oversized LCD television. The only people losing out in the HD vs BD battle are consumers. Personally I would not have bought a player, but the money for my Toshiba HD player was a gift. I'm neither rich nor poor, but I can tell you that I won't blow my money to purchase movies unless I've taken care of all of my other expenses.
And, cheap does matter to many consumers. The problem is that most people now BELIEVE that they deserve the newest, best, most expensive things to be had. But, most people have not been taught that they can have those things if they have the resources to do so without going into debt.

[brandonh33]

Not again!

Hard rock guru is possibly the biggest moron on cnet. Nintendo DS never got off. Everyone knows that the ds is old news, and it is just embarrasing to anyone who brings it up as a great high selling portable gaming device. Also, I tend to not trust people who post things like ****. This just proves my theory that they are some 14 year old freak who thinks whatever they have is better then whatever else. I am sick of these little kids invading cnet.

[ZENMARC]

Keep an Eye on HD-VMD

Yes. Another format! The set-top player will cost $150, and it will play standard DVDs as well as the new HD-VMD format. As long as they can score the content this would be an easy transition for general consumers.

[brandonh33]

Thank you cnet mods!

Thanks to the mod on this blog, one of Hard Rock Guru's crude immature statments was removed from the comments. Thank you cnet for respecting your viewers.

[skitter.rusty]

Blu-Ray sure to win!

Here, in Australia, I have seen HD-DVD's for sale but really, i have not seen any HD-DVD Players, not in Cataloges or even advertised anywhere. When I opened up the JB-HIFI (DVD, Music and electronics shop) Catalog the other day BLU RAY was everywhere. All I ever saw was: THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY, BLU-RAY. 1080p Compatible, Blu-ray ready!!!!

Seriosly, I didn't even know HD-DVD Even existed util about 2 months ago. Blu-ray has had advertisements on TV too.

Sony got out there early on the battlefield woth the PS3 and is a sure winner. Even if it is a tie there is the LG Super-Blu. (it's been advertised on CNET TV Enough)

[natejohnstone]

Do only the super-rich deserver HD???

I just read a post that quoted one of my posts, saying:

""But its cheep, thats all that matters." That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. If you don't have enough money to spend an extra $150 to get a true "next-gen" player with 1080p honestly, you shouldnt be buying an HD player, you shouldn't even have HD"

Wow, that is a terribly offensive and prejudiced statement! So HD is only for those with a lot of money, and those of us who are trying to be responsible and not spend money where we don't have to "shouldn't even have HD." Well maybe I want an HD player and want to give that extra $150 to the poor? I guess I don't really deserve HD in that case. So what I'm hearing is that BluRay is the only "true nex-gen" system and is reserved for elitists with a ton of money...I find that hard to believe, sir.

No matter what a few ivory-tower-dwellers might think, for MOST AMERICANS the number on the price tag of an item is the primary issue.
If a high-def player went on sale for $99 THEY'D SELL 1 MILLION OF THEM THIS WEEK!!!!!

Fact: nearly 80% of HDTVs in people's homes are 1080i and not 1080p (source--Engadget). So why should we spend an extra $150 or more for a player that puts out extra capacity that we can't even utilize? Ridiculous. For snobs who refuse to recognize 1080i as "real HD," fine, go enjoy your soft cheeses and your 2 friends. But don't tell the majority of HDTV owners that we "shouldn't even have HD."

[brandonh33]

Did you not get my point?

Ok im not really sure if you got my point or not, so i will restate it. I am talking to these people who dont have almost any money in savings, and put their $2000 tv on their credit card because they dont have that much to buy one. This is the problem with the newer generations. If they want they buy. The majority of them learn no responsability with money, when they grow up all of those who didnt get money smart will end up in debt getting audited and having the repo man visit their apartment every day. You dont have to be "super rich" to have HD, but if $150 is going to put a major dent in your checking account, you should not have an hdtv, you should be saving money so that in the future when you are more secure you can purchase one. And hd-dvd is not going to be able to keep up with technology and new tv's with their $300 players. For just an extra $150 you get better definition that will keep up with the future much longer, and more future disk space. So for an extra hundred or two, you are extending the life of your players compatibility so to say with next-gen. Not a bad deal in the long run. That reminds me, another problems with the new generations, they dont think in the long run.

[natejohnstone]

You missed my point...

Yes, movies come from studios. In fact, the movies and tv shows available to buy and rent is likely the biggest factor in determining if people will by a player. Yes, studio support is theoretically important. But here's what you're not getting--BluRay still has the same number of movies as HDDVD (less come October).

HOW MUCH STUFF is available is what matters here to the majority of consumers. BluRay can tout "more support" until it's...blue in the face. But it means exactly NOTHING in reality. The FACT is that there are the same number of movies available, and the same number of movies planned for release in the future (at this point).

The only real advantage that BR has is Sony and Disney exclusivity (at this point), though HDDVD has Paramount exclusivity as well. Beyond that, "studio support" amounts to exactly jack squat.

[gary85739]

I understand that there is a DVD player available

that plays both HD & BR...

since this "beta vs vhs" type war is going on again and again, the play that does both formats would seem to be what I need.

[natejohnstone]

Only 1000 problems with that idea

That combo player is a great idea, but it's also $1000. If you have money to burn and want 1 device instead of 2, go for it! Otherwise, get a standalone HD DVD player and a PS3 and you'll save money and have a "free" video game system.

[Tom Pilcher]

Both formats - one player

The LG SuperBlu plays both BluRay and HD-DVD formats, as well as upconverting regular DVDs to at least 1080i when connected via HDMI cable...it currently sells for about $800, but I'm sure that will come down by Christmas.

I Believe there is also one available from Samsung, too.

[C433Z]

Cheaper Combo Players End War

I think that eventually the combo HD players will become cheap enough that none of this will matter.

[jckburton]

Note to BrandonH33

BrandonH33- Sir your comments are crude and show a complete utter lack of knowledge. I guess you have fallen to the hype machine of 1080P. I mean really how much info do you think your obviously superior eye can decode to your inferior little brain? Do you realize that unless you have a HUGE screen or sit WAY to close to your set you won't be able to tell the difference between the two outputs? I'm sure you can also tell the difference between $500 a meter speaker wire vs. noname brand 12 or 18 guage Radio Shack special. No--I'm not some HD-DVD fanboy as I don't own it or Blu-Ray (both nice formats IMO with equally interesting weaknesses) but 1080P is certainly not a weak or strong point for either. BTW- HD-DVD does come with HDMI just like Blu-Ray.

[brandonh33]

Your a little angry for not being an hd fanboy.

The models that I am talking about for hd-dvd players are the $300 everyone is buying. Those do not have 1080I. And your statement about 1080p, is sort of true. If you have a 32 in tv you cant tell the difference. I can tell the difference however on a 42 in. from 10-15 feet away. And obviously on my 60in. But I do see your point for the definition if your hdtv is a smaller model. And no I cannot tell the difference in 18 guage wire from the overpriced others.

[gernblan]

The problem as I see it is...

... the fact that DVDs ARE "good enough". Also, the higher capacity discs aren't even actually needed-- a regular 8.5GB DVD would easily hold a high-def movie IF ENCODED IN MPEG4 or H.264.

Who wants to re-buy their library anyway? Just so that the MPAA can be nice and happy with all of us sheep locked into their DRM-infested world?

No thanks, to BOTH formats.

I absolutely refuse to support either one. NOT until they stop treating me like a criminal.

If I want to rip my movies to play on my own personal portable device, that's my right. I can do whatever I want with what I buy as long as I do not sell it or share it. Them telling me I cannot be trusted to do even THAT... well, they can go to heck.

[fatty420]

wow hear is everyones answer

real easy everyone know how HD-DVD has disc's that play hd on 1 side & reg. on the other side. he is the answer & I know it can be done I have a friend who works for a disc maker & he has seen it. ready PUT HD-DVD ON 1 SIDE & BLURAY ON THE OTHER SIDE. tosiba & sony u owe me 2.8 million now just email I will give u my bank number thanks