HD DVD vs Blu-ray war has a third combatant in the form of standard DVDs
It may be awhile yet before we know how the Christmas holiday season shaped the ongoing HD-DVD vs Blu-ray war for sure, but one thing is for certain in that standard definition DVDs still aren’t going anywhere.
Reports from the groups behind the rival formats say that as of December 1st there were. 2.7 million Blu-ray devices (including PS3s) in the country, and 750,000 HD-DVD players. The more telling sign of trouble for HD-DVD may be the fact that Blu-ray discs are outselling them two-to-one currently.
The biggest hurdle facing both formats may not be each other, but the standard definition DVDs so many consumers had built up over the years. Universal Studios executive vide president of HD strategic marketing, and the co-president of the HD-DVD Promotional Group, Ken Graffeo told CNN Money, “”When we look at competitors, it’s really not Blu-ray. It’s DVD, people are very happy with their DVDs.”
With the introduction of upconverting DVD players that bump standard DVDs to near high definition quality, and only approximately 1/3 of American households have even upgraded their televisions sets to HD so far, this whole “war” may have commenced a bit early. With only 18-months in the trenches so far, it could still be a long haul until this whole thing is sorted out.
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December 27th, 2007
The Blu-Ray has superior durability in my experience. HD-DVDs can rupture after only 20 or so hours of use!
December 27th, 2007
Jeeez Konqueror, I’ve seen some laughable lying on this subject (something the Blu-ray gang have made their trademark in this) but “rupturing discs” is hilarious.
Tell us all about the Blu-ray ‘disc rot’ while you’re at it though, why don’t you?
The Blu-ray fans always try and ignore the same central fact in this; the PS3 game console format (Blu-ray) simply doesn’t shift enough movies per player.
Despite being out-numbered by at least 10:1 the best Blu-ray can manage is a 60:40 lead.
All it takes is a little bit of time.
Inexpensive HD DVD is set to take the mainstream a/v mass-market in a way a mere game console never could or would (particularly one as expensive as the PS3).
Very soon the regular DVD market will see a huge wave of $100 players coming from China that do an excellent job upscaling regular DVD and which happen to be very good HD DVD players (they are all based on the 3rd gen Toshiba HD A3).
Blu-ray simply cannot compete with that.
They have no equivalent licencing to the Chinese (which is not the same as either assembly or buying Chinese components – everybody buys in components and has stuff assembled there already).
A stock-clearance on a buggy Samsung or the poorly spec’d Sony doesn’t alter a thing
(and note they were still more expensive than even the 1080p HD DVD players – for those interested in such trivial differences).
January 4th, 2008
I think as the article says its too soon to tell. PS3′s are obviously going to help Blue ray and now the new 40Gb version down to £279 you have to say it may help.
Studios will have the biggest say i believe as the best selling titles will help to boast either format. A wait and see is all we can do for now…..although i think sony might just get their way.