Sony sets price for Blu-ray Discs

Company's movie studios put a price tag on the new DVD format and give it a "free market" bundling strategy.

The story "Sony sets price for Blu-ray Discs" published February 8, 2006 at 5:14 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Earl Benser]

And what do we play them on????

nt

[tryoneon]

I agree

This limits the scope to blu ray products and it still didn't say how much a player would cost. After the initial offering I plan on waiting a good 3 yrs until buying anything whether it be Bluray or HDDVD. Sony can take their DRM and shove it.

[Earl Benser]

And what do we play them on????

nt

[tryoneon]

I agree

This limits the scope to blu ray products and it still didn't say how much a player would cost. After the initial offering I plan on waiting a good 3 yrs until buying anything whether it be Bluray or HDDVD. Sony can take their DRM and shove it.

[keyguy]

I would wait.

I am personally going to wait until the new format war is somewhat resolved. I don't want to be stuck with a 'betamax'. Besides, I hear that sony is using really bad copywrite protection that screws us out of our fair use rights. If that is how blu-ray is going to be, I will get a dvd-hd player instead.

[reedsr]

fair use

by definition your current DVD's screw you out of fair rights use as well but I don't haer you crying about that. Educate yourself alittle more before trying to spread FUD.

[keyguy]

I would wait.

I am personally going to wait until the new format war is somewhat resolved. I don't want to be stuck with a 'betamax'. Besides, I hear that sony is using really bad copywrite protection that screws us out of our fair use rights. If that is how blu-ray is going to be, I will get a dvd-hd player instead.

[reedsr]

fair use

by definition your current DVD's screw you out of fair rights use as well but I don't haer you crying about that. Educate yourself alittle more before trying to spread FUD.

[herkamur]

of videos and coasters

Oh, boy, a combo pack of a DVD and BluRay. I can watch the movie on the DVD and use the BluRay for a drink coaster while I watch.

Bah! I don't need either BluRay or HD-DVD.

[rkminc]

Blue-ray will fail

What's the point of spending $30+ on a movie when HDTV video-on-demand will be widespread? Comcast is currently offering new HDTV movies for $5 or thereabouts and Verizon will not be far behind. Everyone will be getting HDTV DVR's to take advantage of their new plasmas/lcds over the next couple of years. This option was not available when DVD's were released in 1997. DVD's will go the way of the CD, which went the way of the LP.

[herkamur]

of videos and coasters

Oh, boy, a combo pack of a DVD and BluRay. I can watch the movie on the DVD and use the BluRay for a drink coaster while I watch.

Bah! I don't need either BluRay or HD-DVD.

[rkminc]

Blue-ray will fail

What's the point of spending $30+ on a movie when HDTV video-on-demand will be widespread? Comcast is currently offering new HDTV movies for $5 or thereabouts and Verizon will not be far behind. Everyone will be getting HDTV DVR's to take advantage of their new plasmas/lcds over the next couple of years. This option was not available when DVD's were released in 1997. DVD's will go the way of the CD, which went the way of the LP.

Adoption

With all of this I only hope these 2 formats, the HD-DVD and BlueRay, don't get the same slow adoption as the 2 audio formats SA-CD and DVD-Audio.

I can't hardly remind those names.

At the end consumers will decide if it's worth the change.

By now I think both formats are not offering enough juice to make the change. You can get now 720p on a simple DVD and a good HDTV set. You also get good Audio in either Dolby Digital or DTS with their enhancements "ES" translate "more channels". "7.1"

Our living rooms are already filled with speakers and electronics and I don't know if we can free a little space for 2 more "formats".

Maybe as someone told in 2 or 3 year from now.

[speleofool]

Next-gen audio vs. Next-gen video

There are definitely some parallels, but I think HD-DVD / Blu-Ray might do a little better because the difference in quality is one you can see vs. one you can hear. I think a lot of people never understood the difference in quality between SACD/DVD-Audio and CD. Or maybe they just didn't care.

In some senses, I think Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are in for the same uphill battle. I agree that the new formats bring little to the table to justify the premium--just higher resolution, which only people with HDTVs can utilize anyway.

Cheers!
Speleo.

P.S. DVD resolution is never 720p--upscaling simply guesses at the content that is not there.

Adoption

With all of this I only hope these 2 formats, the HD-DVD and BlueRay, don't get the same slow adoption as the 2 audio formats SA-CD and DVD-Audio.

I can't hardly remind those names.

At the end consumers will decide if it's worth the change.

By now I think both formats are not offering enough juice to make the change. You can get now 720p on a simple DVD and a good HDTV set. You also get good Audio in either Dolby Digital or DTS with their enhancements "ES" translate "more channels". "7.1"

Our living rooms are already filled with speakers and electronics and I don't know if we can free a little space for 2 more "formats".

Maybe as someone told in 2 or 3 year from now.

[speleofool]

Next-gen audio vs. Next-gen video

There are definitely some parallels, but I think HD-DVD / Blu-Ray might do a little better because the difference in quality is one you can see vs. one you can hear. I think a lot of people never understood the difference in quality between SACD/DVD-Audio and CD. Or maybe they just didn't care.

In some senses, I think Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are in for the same uphill battle. I agree that the new formats bring little to the table to justify the premium--just higher resolution, which only people with HDTVs can utilize anyway.

Cheers!
Speleo.

P.S. DVD resolution is never 720p--upscaling simply guesses at the content that is not there.

[heystoopid]

Ah choices!

Choices, don't you love them!, so many formats so many different types of media to buy!

So , in the end all will be decided, on what computer users will buy within the next three years in the way of recordable optical storage devices!

Although, whilst terabyte holographic recording devices look promising, these large scale storage facilities, will give rise to very powerful computer driven home media centres! Thus only time will now tell, with all these conflicting formats, together with the required capital upgrade costs needed!

The only thing missing,from this mix, is the legal downloads of audio and visual media, which will have an undoubted impact on sales of all new opital media, in view of the simple fact that in '04 recod labels sold some 652 million audio cd's but in 'o5 the sales reached a paltry 602 million, but legitimate lossy legal mp3 leaped to approximately 350 million in the same 12 month period!

To me, at these wholesale prices indicated, they mean that this is SONY last gamble to survive as a viable entity in the new century! It's a do or die situation for them!

Great choices indeed, for the consumer to spend his or her hard earned cash surplus!

[heystoopid]

Ah choices!

Choices, don't you love them!, so many formats so many different types of media to buy!

So , in the end all will be decided, on what computer users will buy within the next three years in the way of recordable optical storage devices!

Although, whilst terabyte holographic recording devices look promising, these large scale storage facilities, will give rise to very powerful computer driven home media centres! Thus only time will now tell, with all these conflicting formats, together with the required capital upgrade costs needed!

The only thing missing,from this mix, is the legal downloads of audio and visual media, which will have an undoubted impact on sales of all new opital media, in view of the simple fact that in '04 recod labels sold some 652 million audio cd's but in 'o5 the sales reached a paltry 602 million, but legitimate lossy legal mp3 leaped to approximately 350 million in the same 12 month period!

To me, at these wholesale prices indicated, they mean that this is SONY last gamble to survive as a viable entity in the new century! It's a do or die situation for them!

Great choices indeed, for the consumer to spend his or her hard earned cash surplus!

[speleofool]

Storage and HD movies

If 50GB on one disc is incredible, look into holographic storage. It's a new technology, so not backward compatible with existing disc formats, but I don't think that will be quite as big a deal on computing platforms for archival purposes. 300GB holographic discs are expected out this year, and the technology will scale much further than Blu-Ray.

As for your theory on HD movies, I'm the person you're theorizing about: I have been following HD-DVD and Blu-Ray for the past 2 years, I already own a 60" HD monitor, and I will be replacing that with a projector & 110-120" screen. I am still *very* interested in HD movies, but I am completely underwhelmed with what HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are bringing to the table. As it stands today, I won't be buying either format and I'm crossing my fingers that someone else comes along and gets it right the next time around.

Cheers!
Speleo.

[speleofool]

Storage and HD movies

If 50GB on one disc is incredible, look into holographic storage. It's a new technology, so not backward compatible with existing disc formats, but I don't think that will be quite as big a deal on computing platforms for archival purposes. 300GB holographic discs are expected out this year, and the technology will scale much further than Blu-Ray.

As for your theory on HD movies, I'm the person you're theorizing about: I have been following HD-DVD and Blu-Ray for the past 2 years, I already own a 60" HD monitor, and I will be replacing that with a projector & 110-120" screen. I am still *very* interested in HD movies, but I am completely underwhelmed with what HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are bringing to the table. As it stands today, I won't be buying either format and I'm crossing my fingers that someone else comes along and gets it right the next time around.

Cheers!
Speleo.

[Philips]

"The premium is for a way better format"

"The premium is for a way better format..."

[Sarcasm On]
Uhm... What's wrong with CD with DivX???

After hearing that in Asia biggest hit among formats is VCD (yes, that's it - MPEG1 CDs), I hardly beleive that guy would sell bunch of his stuff.

Most people hardly feel difference between TV and DVD. Why would they want to premium to watch say movie with quality they cannot appreciate?

As professional, I can tell the difference beetwen TV/DVD/HD or filmed v. CGI'd content - but most other people they just try to enjoy the show... They don't care about "better format".

[someguy389]

Formats to match screens

VCD is popular in Asia because, at least at the time of it's adoption, it was the easiest to copy. Piracy is a massive, government sponsored force in China. More relevant to discussions of western adoption is that the quality doesn't matter that much when you're watching on a low end, small screen. I know I'm happy to watch a DivX encoded film on my 20 inch or pc monitor, but even DVD starts to look a little sketchy on the 80+ inch screen that results from my projector. I would wager that big screens don't sell nearly as well to space deprived, relatively low-income households in Asia.

The price of big, high quality sets is dropping rapidly making the difference between low quality formats and new HD formats more and more apparent. My jaw dropped the first time I saw a soccer game in HD on a 52inch screen and it's like night and day flipping back and forth between NBA games on TNT and TNT-HD.

[Philips]

"The premium is for a way better format"

"The premium is for a way better format..."

[Sarcasm On]
Uhm... What's wrong with CD with DivX???

After hearing that in Asia biggest hit among formats is VCD (yes, that's it - MPEG1 CDs), I hardly beleive that guy would sell bunch of his stuff.

Most people hardly feel difference between TV and DVD. Why would they want to premium to watch say movie with quality they cannot appreciate?

As professional, I can tell the difference beetwen TV/DVD/HD or filmed v. CGI'd content - but most other people they just try to enjoy the show... They don't care about "better format".

[someguy389]

Formats to match screens

VCD is popular in Asia because, at least at the time of it's adoption, it was the easiest to copy. Piracy is a massive, government sponsored force in China. More relevant to discussions of western adoption is that the quality doesn't matter that much when you're watching on a low end, small screen. I know I'm happy to watch a DivX encoded film on my 20 inch or pc monitor, but even DVD starts to look a little sketchy on the 80+ inch screen that results from my projector. I would wager that big screens don't sell nearly as well to space deprived, relatively low-income households in Asia.

The price of big, high quality sets is dropping rapidly making the difference between low quality formats and new HD formats more and more apparent. My jaw dropped the first time I saw a soccer game in HD on a 52inch screen and it's like night and day flipping back and forth between NBA games on TNT and TNT-HD.

[Ilgaz]

HD DVD and Blu Ray, both are run by stupids

There should be HD DVD, Blu Ray for computers RIGHT NOW
including external (USB, Firewire) drives with support to OS X
and Linux.

They should also have a full feature, FREE player with minimum
support for Windows, OS X at least.

If we speak about prices and "fantasy" decks only can be pre
ordered, looks like either DivX HD DVDs will be de facto
standard or people will still buy MPEG 2 DVDs for same price.

There are computers having processing power that can
PRODUCE blu-ray/HD DVD used for gaming and they ignore
them.

It just shows how serious (NOT) they are.

[Ilgaz]

HD DVD and Blu Ray, both are run by stupids

There should be HD DVD, Blu Ray for computers RIGHT NOW
including external (USB, Firewire) drives with support to OS X
and Linux.

They should also have a full feature, FREE player with minimum
support for Windows, OS X at least.

If we speak about prices and "fantasy" decks only can be pre
ordered, looks like either DivX HD DVDs will be de facto
standard or people will still buy MPEG 2 DVDs for same price.

There are computers having processing power that can
PRODUCE blu-ray/HD DVD used for gaming and they ignore
them.

It just shows how serious (NOT) they are.

[bobby_brady]

These formats are going to fail! DRM!

Why do they want to shove these onto consumers? Because movie studios love the new DRM restrictions!

[Rolndubbs]

Actually...

As far as moving content from disc to media centers, the new discs are suppossed to offer more than DVD's. Remember, unless you use a decrypter, you can only watch a dvd if it is physically in your computer. Of course studios want to protect there property from piracy, but it is very likely that these new protections schemes will be cracked very quickly, just like DVD's were.

[bobby_brady]

These formats are going to fail! DRM!

Why do they want to shove these onto consumers? Because movie studios love the new DRM restrictions!

[Rolndubbs]

Actually...

As far as moving content from disc to media centers, the new discs are suppossed to offer more than DVD's. Remember, unless you use a decrypter, you can only watch a dvd if it is physically in your computer. Of course studios want to protect there property from piracy, but it is very likely that these new protections schemes will be cracked very quickly, just like DVD's were.

[fred dunn]

No Sale if they are more expensive than DVD

DVDs are expensive enough and the thought of re-purchasing titles that I already own does not fair well with me regardless of video fidelity.

The main issue is still which format will be around in 10 years? Why would I want to purchase the newest title on "BetaMax" when I can't find a player for it.

[Rolndubbs]

20% premium

I am more than willing to pay a 20% premium for movies that run at 1080I(or P, but my tv only displays interlaced at 1080). The jump in quality is huge, and that initial premium will drop as these new discs become common. $4 more is well worth it for HD movies.

[fred dunn]

No Sale if they are more expensive than DVD

DVDs are expensive enough and the thought of re-purchasing titles that I already own does not fair well with me regardless of video fidelity.

The main issue is still which format will be around in 10 years? Why would I want to purchase the newest title on "BetaMax" when I can't find a player for it.

[Rolndubbs]

20% premium

I am more than willing to pay a 20% premium for movies that run at 1080I(or P, but my tv only displays interlaced at 1080). The jump in quality is huge, and that initial premium will drop as these new discs become common. $4 more is well worth it for HD movies.