Comments on: Look Before You Leap

By: Hank Aberle

Hank Aberle — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:03:46 +0000

I’m an HD DVD advocate and early adopter. I have big bucks invested in HD DVD hardware and software. I would say that I’m the kind of person Sony would like on the Blue Ray bandwagon but I have to say that unless Sony compensates me for my loss, I will never buy another Sony product for as long as I live!! I place the responsibility of my loss squarely on Sony.
At this point, I hope the death of Blue Ray will come quickly and we can move on to other technologies to take it’s place. The movie industry should be ashamed of themselves for
bringing down the better system because of their GREED!!

By: Pravin

Pravin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:58:55 +0000

That’s actually going to be the main story at this site in just a few hours after the press conference happens and it can all be promoted from scuttlebutt to official statement.

By: K bill

K bill — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:09:32 +0000

Posted at a different site… just thought everyone would want to know the latest scuttlebutt:

Sources close to the situation have alerted Blu-ray.com that Toshiba is expected announce at a press conference to be held at 5pm (local time) in Tokyo, Japan that they have ended their support of the HD DVD format. Toshiba will announce that effective immediately, production of HD DVD hardware, software, and authoring tools will cease, and that sales and support of existing products will end sometime in March.

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:58:41 +0000

Randy,
I think you’re absolutely right. Walmart was in it for the quick profit. They would have done the same if it were Blur instead of HD-DVD. Walmart is just a money-grubbing evil corporation bent on sucking money out of communities.

Matt,
If what you’re saying is true, and if there is a liquidation sale, I will buy as many movies as I can afford.

I’ve been satisfied with my small investment with HD-DVD thus far and will continue to support to the end.

BTW…if it means anything to anybody (probably not), Toshiba made a statement to the Hollywood Reporter today denying all the HD-DVD speculation and also says that it has not officially made decision on the future of HD-DVD. Sounds like the same ‘ol cr@p since last Friday. Here’s link if you’re compelled to read it yourself.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i759fab371cec78730e23360ed09c2ca4

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:32:21 +0000

I will buy all I can. I read today on one of the sites Pravin mentioned that the announcement is coming out tomorrow. What worries me is that they also said that all units would be pulled off the shelves. They would stop selling media and players in March. I hope they sell all the movies dirt cheap.

By: Randy

Randy — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:27:19 +0000

Kevin C

On Walmart

In my town the Blu-Ray and HD DVD movies were only the end cap on a row of DVD’s with 60% BD and 40% HD DVD. There were no Blu-Ray players except the PS3. The HD DVD players were only seen a few times. They should have had HD DVD hooked up to an HDTV running all the time. It seems Walmart may a killer deal to get the cheap HD DVD players for the holiday, but in the long run they really did not look out for their customer’s interest. Of course it still comes back to Warner no matter what Walmart did.

By: Mel

Mel — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:40:26 +0000

WOW! All this talk of going Blur. I wish I had money to burn and buy a Blur. I am an early adopter of HD-DVD. I got the HD-DVD add-on as soon as it came out. $200 at the time, but well worth it. Prior to that, I did not invest in HD-DVD mainly because of the cost. I also have a A30, which I recently purchased at a great price.

In any case, I would suggest not selling any of your HD-DVD hardware or movies. Just because of the lack of studio support and the high possibility of Toshiba dropping its support as well, that does not mean your HD-DVD player will all of a sudden stop working. HD-DVD players make great upconverting DVD players. And if you do sell, buying a Blur will not quench your HiDef thirst. I think Blur will remain expensive and out of reach for the general consumer population that currently buy standard DVD’s. I think Blur will come and go, just like all of Sony’s other great endeavors. You will be setting yourself up for disappointment once again.

If HD-DVD does go away, I am going back to standard DVD’s. And why not? It is still a viable option for home entertainment, and the upconverting quality of HD-DVD players is top notch and very close to HiDef. Also, if some other HiDef technology does emerge, I am going to sit and wait. I am done with early adopting. Sometimes leading edge will cut and bleed you and leave you for dead. I think I will play it safe from now on. Who knows, maybe someone else will pick up the HD-DVD pieces and try to revive the technology. Maybe a company with a better marketing strategy than Toshiba. Wishful thinking, I know. For now, I would just ignore all the “come over to the Blu side” comments and suggestions. Don’t waste your money.

By: Pravin

Pravin — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:44:19 +0000

Thanks for your kind words Silent J, and I’m sure that many of us can appreciate the great gesture on your part to see things from the opposite point of view.

It’s much easier to stay within one’s shell, and many people just take that simpler route.

By: Silent J

Silent J — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:00:01 +0000

I would like to take the time to apologize to Pravin and to all the HD DVD breathen for appearing to bad mouth you folks for selecting HD. What I was trying to state that it was better to put your chips on both sides of the table instead of one that way no you will always win the outcome no matter what. I truly feel bad because no one wants to lose any kind of war, no matter what. The HD DVD brotherhood has TRULY EARNED MY RESPECT FOREVER!!!

By: Pravin

Pravin — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:34:41 +0000

Maybe that’s a good strategy for the next few months (and you have the money): upgrade the rest of your system if it needed to be. Get the right receiver for hd audio, maybe new speakers, etc.