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Blu-ray Holds 5 to 1 Hardware Lead Over HD-DVD


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Old 23-06-2007, 16:41
SeaviewHome
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Research firm Digital Entertainment Group has compiled what would appear to be a solid breakdown of the numbers of next-generation DVD players sold in the United States. The research firm concludes that Blu-ray presently holds a 5 to 1 advantage over HD-DVD in installed hardware, primarily on the strength of the PlayStation 3.
http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/798/798463p1.html
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Old 23-06-2007, 16:57
Parker
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The important thing to note is the part about the PS3. How many of those people use the console for games only?

Sales of the disks themselves are much more important really.
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Old 23-06-2007, 17:57
PrinceGaz
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Almost all of the BD equipment is PS3's though. They weren't exclusively bought for movies, some of them might have been bought for games (though with PS3's current game selection, that isn't too likely).

Sales of discs are tipping in BD's favour probably because of the number of PS3's out there compared to dedicated HD-DVD players, but HD-DVD is far from dead and prices are continuing to fall for both formats but with HD-DVD always remaining cheaper, which could give HD-DVD the edge when it breaks some crucial price-barrier and gains mass acceptance.

In the end, the chances are dual-format hardware will be the norm meaning the consumer loses as license fees will have to be paid to both groups.
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Old 23-06-2007, 20:59
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Almost all of the BD equipment is PS3's though. They weren't exclusively bought for movies, some of them might have been bought for games (though with PS3's current game selection, that isn't too likely).

Sales of discs are tipping in BD's favour probably because of the number of PS3's out there compared to dedicated HD-DVD players, but HD-DVD is far from dead and prices are continuing to fall for both formats but with HD-DVD always remaining cheaper, which could give HD-DVD the edge when it breaks some crucial price-barrier and gains mass acceptance.

In the end, the chances are dual-format hardware will be the norm meaning the consumer loses as license fees will have to be paid to both groups.

I dont think either format can afford to carry on as they are long enough for dual format players to become affordable.

At the moment you can buy a top HDDVD player and a PS3 and still have change from the price of the dual format player available.

Yes ,prices will come down but not for a long time.

All the big brands of Pioneer,Panasonic,Toshiba etc have chosen their format to support and wont be releasing dual format players anytime soon,so it will be left to the budget brands like LG,Samsung etc to try this market out.

MY bet is that unless one format drops out HD discs will remain a niche like laserdisc was and dvd will carry on happily into the next decade.

Everyone knew VHS was crap so dvd was an obvious move ,but the move into HD from dvd is not so important,mainly as dvd already offers quality equal (and usually better )to what most people see on live tv.
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Old 23-06-2007, 21:55
Nigel Goodwin
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I think a lot of PS3's are being bought to be used as HD players, it's the cheapest way to do it - and it keeps your kids happy

I installed a 46 inch Sony Bravia (full 1080 one) the other week, and the guys young son was pestering him for a PS3. His father was having none of it, so I pointed out that it's the cheapest way to get a Blu ray player - if I ever need a character reference that son is the person I need to ask

BTW, we DON'T sell PS3's, so it wasn't a sales pitch!.
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Old 23-06-2007, 22:51
PrinceGaz
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I think a lot of PS3's are being bought to be used as HD players, it's the cheapest way to do it - and it keeps your kids happy

I installed a 46 inch Sony Bravia (full 1080 one) the other week, and the guys young son was pestering him for a PS3. His father was having none of it, so I pointed out that it's the cheapest way to get a Blu ray player - if I ever need a character reference that son is the person I need to ask

BTW, we DON'T sell PS3's, so it wasn't a sales pitch!.
The only slight problem now being that the Toshiba HD-E1 HD-DVD player is now a lot cheaper than a PS3, uses only the usual 20 watts or so of electricity for a consumer disc-player instead of the 170 watts or so a PS3 burns burns its way through just to play a movie, and was designed to play movies from the outset and therefore has a much better user-interface and remote-control.

The PS3's initial advantage: price, has now vanished. It wasn't that much of an advantage to make them fly off the shelves though as almost every store wasn't able to sell the units they had delivered, unlike the competing Wii games-console which focused on games.

Things could very easily change in either format's favour depending on player-price, and at present, HD-DVD has a big advantage.
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:20
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The only slight problem now being that the Toshiba HD-E1 HD-DVD player is now a lot cheaper than a PS3, uses only the usual 20 watts or so of electricity for a consumer disc-player instead of the 170 watts or so a PS3 burns burns its way through just to play a movie, and was designed to play movies from the outset and therefore has a much better user-interface and remote-control.

The PS3's initial advantage: price, has now vanished. It wasn't that much of an advantage to make them fly off the shelves though as almost every store wasn't able to sell the units they had delivered, unlike the competing Wii games-console which focused on games.

Things could very easily change in either format's favour depending on player-price, and at present, HD-DVD has a big advantage.
I wouldn't say it's singularly down to price though, it would also depend upon the exclusivity of titles. At the moment, it is looking like most of the studios are supporting Blu-Ray but with some of the major studios supporting it exclusively. It could very well fall upon future releases and what format they're "allied" to. At the present time though, just about all of the major films will be out on Blu-Ray either exclusively or otherwise and you can't really say that for HD-DVD.
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:24
verybigknob
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I wouldn't say it's singularly down to price though, it would also depend upon the exclusivity of titles. At the moment, it is looking like most of the studios are supporting Blu-Ray but with some of the major studios supporting it exclusively. It could very well fall upon future releases and what format they're "allied" to. At the present time though, just about all of the major films will be out on Blu-Ray either exclusively or otherwise and you can't really say that for HD-DVD.
Not much point in releasing hot titles when there are no players out there.

Without the PS3 Bluray would be dead already.

Nothing will change until a Bluray standalone is out there for under £200
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:28
DjM2k3
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Not much point in releasing hot titles when there are no players out there.

Without the PS3 Bluray would be dead already.

Nothing will change until a Bluray standalone is out there for under £200
With all new technology though - it's a niche market. The same was being said for DVD when the first batch of DVD players arrived with the slow takeup until all of a sudden the marketplace exploded into action. One thing for sure though is the market will grow with the advent of cheaper HDTV screens and the studios are wise to capitalise on this.
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:32
verybigknob
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With all new technology though - it's a niche market. The same was being said for DVD when the first batch of DVD players arrived with the slow takeup until all of a sudden the marketplace exploded into action. One thing for sure though is the market will grow with the advent of cheaper HDTV screens and the studios are wise to capitalise on this.
The HD disc market ain't going anywhere while there are 2 formats.

I was in at the start of dvd before it was even in the UK but it was obvious from day one it was a winner .

And I was moving over from laserdisc.

For VHS regulars it was a no brainer.

Helped of course by there being one format
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:39
DjM2k3
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The HD disc market ain't going anywhere while there are 2 formats.

I was in at the start of dvd before it was even in the UK but it was obvious from day one it was a winner .

And I was moving over from laserdisc.

For VHS regulars it was a no brainer.

Helped of course by there being one format
I disagree it is going nowhere at the moment, basing my opinion on the fact that all the premium TV content let alone movie content is focusing on and pointing towards HD quality. Planet Earth for instance was designed for HD and judging by the cost of making the series reflects the importance the BBC are placing on the HD platform. Narrowing it down to a single format, all the signs are pointing towards Blu-Ray. As I've said, just about all of the major releases are now available on Blu-Ray or are Blu-Ray exclusive and that will be a very big factor in deciding the popularity of the platform. Also the fact that PC manufacturers are favouring Blu-Ray, chains such as Blockbuster have shunned HD-DVD and it goes to show the overall trend where things are heading.

Of course there are also dual players now surfacing which enable the consumer more choice but I still believe Blu-Ray is likely to be the victors in the HDTV battle in the long road ahead. I can't for one moment think that people will shun the likes of Bond and other blockbusters in the future and that in my opinion has already decided the battle.
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:45
verybigknob
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I disagree it is going nowhere at the moment, basing my opinion on the fact that all the premium TV content let alone movie content is focusing on and pointing towards HD quality. Planet Earth for instance was designed for HD and judging by the cost of making the series reflects the importance the BBC are placing on the HD platform. Narrowing it down to a single format, all the signs are pointing towards Blu-Ray. As I've said, just about all of the major releases are now available on Blu-Ray or are Blu-Ray exclusive and that will be a very big factor in deciding the popularity of the platform. Also the fact that PC manufacturers are favouring Blu-Ray, chains such as Blockbuster have shunned HD-DVD and it goes to show the overall trend where things are heading.

Of course there are also dual players now surfacing which enable the consumer more choice but I still believe Blu-Ray is likely to be the victors in the HDTV battle in the long road ahead. I can't for one moment think that people will shun the likes of Bond and other blockbusters in the future and that in my opinion has already decided the battle.
Your comments are almost right.

I was referring to HD discs though ,not HD tv.

No matter how superb Bluray is ,it wont succeed as a dvd style mass market winner while HDDVD is there.

And the same goes for HDDVD.

The dvd market was already large (in the US) after a year but the HD formats will trickle along not doing much for anyone bar early adopters.

I'm an early adopter and even I'm not interested.
Some decent titles on either format would be nice,but with 2 formats and still nothing to show which will win I am in no rush

I am a huge 007 fan but dvd is good enough

The same cant be said for VHS when dvd arrived
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Old 25-06-2007, 23:54
DjM2k3
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Your comments are almost right.

I was referring to HD discs though ,not HD tv.

No matter how superb Bluray is ,it wont succeed as a dvd style mass market winner while HDDVD is there.

And the same goes for HDDVD.

The dvd market was already large (in the US) after a year but the HD formats will trickle along not doing much for anyone bar early adopters.

I'm an early adopter and even I'm not interested.
Some decent titles on either format would be nice,but with 2 formats and still nothing to show which will win I am in no rush
When I'm referring to HDTV and Planet Earth for instance I'm only making comparisons to the onslaught of HDTV screens, the greater role premium HD content is playing and how this would "push" the consumer into wanting the best picture available. Naturally when people see films broadcast on BBC HD or SKY HD they would possibly want these films for their own collection - and owning that on DVD when they've just witnessed somewhat close to HD standard is a none-brainer.

Obviously I'm not comparing the standard of BBC HD etc to Blu-Ray or HD DVD as the standard is vastly inferior but the knowledge that people are quickly on the take-up of HDTV would surely push the consumers into at least considering the HD disc players available which in turn would lead to looking at the back-catalogue of films on each platform as well as future releases. This is obviously of high importance.

The true test is the sales of the discs themselves and not necessarily the hardware players though and, again, the availability of titles is of high importance. It is only when the blockbusters sell that the platforms will take off. This won't be for a few years yet in my opinion but it makes perfect sense for the studios to be laying the foundations.
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