Some more on the Blue Ray, HD DVD discussion

[Bigdaddybrat]

Here is a couple of links that everyone may find interesting in regards to the HD DVD and Blue Ray wars... Some of the information may be old news to some... but the discussion regarding HP is a intesting read.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2005/tc20051020_154892.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_42/b3955117.htm?chan=tc

[RabidDog]

What I think will happen... movies studios will mostly support blu-ray, while the pc industry will mostly support hd-dvd.. savvy consumers will buy dual- (B+H) players, and the whole thing will gradually work itself in favour of
maybe blu 40% HD 25% Other 15% .. other will increase to 50-60% maybe 80-90% *







*but only on Earth

[Wile_E]

This whole thing is stupid, just like the whole DVD-R/+R battle. Having two formats just confuses most people. All companies in the industry should've jointly developed one universal format. Make it an open source format too. If I can't record programs off of digital TV at a high resolution, what good is it? Smart people are not going to buy a format that protects HD content so it can't be shown on all TV's.

[mbellot]

Smart people are not going to buy a format that protects HD content so it can't be shown on all TV's.

True.

But there are plenty of stupid people in the world, so things will go ahead as planned.

[Quantum]

Whatever format's protection that is overcome first that allows consumers to rip their purchased disc's content to the computer, xbox, ect. will be dominant. Since movie studios are basically going to release on both formats to maximize their margin the consumer will adopt the format that allows them the most control.

As for using the different formats for PC storage (R, RW, ect) that will likely be decided by storage capacity and price.

[RAAGAAman]

Which format are you going to purchase? A format that you can make Legal (One time only) copies? HD DVD. or a Format that will not allow you to copy anything. BD. Considering these HD DVD and BD movies will probably be $50.00 or more out the gate I know which one I will choose. HD DVD.


RG[/quote]

[kirpen]

The problem with HD-DVD will be the lack of films for you to purchase anyway. Most studios do not want you to make any copies thus if you want movies you need blu-ray.

[the future]

I don't know how many times I've read this FUD in forums already...

1. Manged Copy is managed by AACS, the copy protection both HD-DVD and Blu-ray use. So *both* will have it.
2. Managed Copies will not be free. The studios will charge you again for the movie you just bought, and load the copy with heavy DRM.

thus

Managed Copy is really not very interesting, especially not as a differentiating factor between HD-DVD and Blu-ray.


P.S. The studios would have to be on crack if they think they can sell HD movies for 50$. It'll be 30-35$ max, I guess.

[Wilbert]

1. Manged Copy is managed by AACS, the copy protection both HD-DVD and Blu-ray use. So *both* will have it.

Managed Copy for HD-DVD is manadatory, and for Blu-Ray it is optional. At least, that's the current state.

Managed Copy is really not very interesting, especially not as a differentiating factor between HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

If you want to back up your high definition stuff, then yes it's an important differentiating factor.

[oldfart13]

The recent Japanese electronics show had a number of the new players for both formats. The biggest problem that seemed to be common was the heat build-up in the units that meant that they had to be shut down every few hours. That means no marathon viewing of all 3 parts of Lord Of The Rings in HD-DVD or Blu-ray would be possible. Let's hope this is addressed before units hit the store shelves...

[the future]

Managed Copy for HD-DVD is manadatory, and for Blu-Ray it is optional. At least, that's the current state.

No, that's the current state as described by the HD-DVD spin doctors. They try to argue that BD+ might interfere with MC, which is totally unproven. The "mandatory" in MMC is part of the spin, because if MC is in AACS (which itself is not finalized yet, as you may know), it is automatically "mandatory". Plus if a studio does not want you to make a copy of their HD-DVD, they will just put a really high price tag on MC.

If you want to back up your high definition stuff, then yes it's an important differentiating factor.

It may be for a limited number of people, but J6P certainly isn't gonna pay *again* for the movie he just bought just to get a copy full of DRM, along with having to buy massive storage capacity to store those MCs, as the next gen disks will have a capacity of 25, 30 or 50 GB. So, again, some people may still use this, but it's certainly not going to be an important factor in the outcome of this "format war" if it is indeed battled in the marketplace (which I doubt).

P.S: And if you think you'll be able to make a MC to *disc* (i.e. HD-DVD-R or BR-R) you're in for a disappointment. MC is meant for home network storage for HTPCs and MCE. Think about it, what reasons could Hollywood studios have to enable you to make a cheap (let alone free) copy of their HD movie on a disc you could give away to a friend? None, so it ain't gonna happen.

[Tom Saurus]

All I know is I live in a small house, have two standard definition tv's and my DVD's look good on them. We have a 14 inch tv and a 20 inch tv, and the movies I have recorded in throught the capture card on my computer are alot better quality then the vhs tapes I taped over the years.

HDTV has no appeal to me at the moment. Our house isn't built for a big monster tv, besides I can't afford to invest in such technology. Not everyone can afford to keep up with the Jones.

I can forsee a couple years down the line, when I may be going back to antenna and disconect our digital satellite dish. If all I have to look forward to is shows that have a broadcast flag on them, so I can't record them, I can't justify paying nearly a thousand bucks a year in programming fees. Hopefully the price of Hollywood Boxsets of Series and Movie DVD's will drop in price. I don't hold out much hope of that though.

So if it is hard to afford to buy Hollywood DVD's now, why upgrade and pay even more? It would serve Hollywood right if the consumers just said we can't keep up with you, and we are not going to buy your HD DVD's. What we deserve is good quality DVD's at a reasonable price. A concept "such as good quality DVD's at a reasonable price", that kind of thing might get rid of a big chunk of this copying DVD's or recording them into your computer and burning to DVD's.

[RabidDog]

Remember prices for early dvd players, then Dvd recorders. ALso early DVd releases (I know someone who bought Indiana Jones on dvd for £70, thats $110) He thought it was a never to repeated bargain! All these items have to reach prices that are affordable for the mass market, give it four years...
Year 1 Nutters, trust Funders and Microsft shareholders only
Year 2 Early adopters with WAY too much money to spend.
Year 3 J6P topend .. start's appearing as prizes in newspaper competitions... ordinary people start understanding what it is about now
Year 4 some ordinary people dip their toe in the water
....
price drops year on year
.....
Year 10 players are commodity items (as cheap as chips) recorders are well affordable.
Year 11 Super-Cranky Vision . a new stunning yadayada

[the future]

Remember prices for early dvd players, then Dvd recorders. ALso early DVd releases (...)

This time it's going to be different, because you will have a very affordable BR player right from the start (with some added functionality...): the PS3.

[mikesbytes]

Whatever format's protection that is overcome first that allows consumers to rip their purchased disc's content to the computer, xbox, ect. will be dominant. Since movie studios are basically going to release on both formats to maximize their margin the consumer will adopt the format that allows them the most control.

As for using the different formats for PC storage (R, RW, ect) that will likely be decided by storage capacity and price.

Perhaps the opposite will happen, once the formats protection is bypassed, the sudios stop manufacturing that format and just use the other one.