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Consumer Problems with Blu-ray and HD-DVD

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the have-to-buy-fifth-element-again dept.

bart_scriv writes "Business Week looks at the upcoming Blu-ray and HD-DVD product launches and predicts problems and confusion for consumers. In addition to anticipated difficulties in distinguishing between the two formats, some studios will be using copy protection that will intentionally down grade the picture. When combined with Sony's plans to upconvert based on hardware configuration and the fact that most HD TVs aren't capable of displaying either format at full resolution, early adopters may be getting a lot less than they bargained for. As the article suggests, it may be that 'the best bet for either format to gain acceptance now lies with next-generation game consoles.'"

5 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. The key to acceptance: by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Which DRM is easier to crack?

    Simple as that.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:The key to acceptance: by Keeper · · Score: 5, Informative

      The content protection scheme used for both HD-DVD and BluRay is the same (ie: neither is easier to crack than the other).

  2. No more HDDVD Blu Ray Stories Please by abscissa · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Neither of these formats will be accepted as easily as, historically, other formats have.

    1. Cassetes --> CDs: CDs are thinner and higher quality that does not degrade. Even still, it took *almost* 10 years before cassetes were completely and fully replaced. Even to this day, unless you count, say, iTunes, CDs reign supreme and music on DVD is still a joke.

    2. ?? --> Beta/VHS: No fromat existed for viewing movies at home... except maybe an 8mm projector!! But I can't remember video stores that had 8mm rentals... is it just me?

    3. VHS --> DVD: DVD is smaller, thinner, and holds more at a better quality. Plus, like every previous post has pointed out, many people have invested in buying DVDs and, like me, see no reason to "upgrade" the quality of their movies... for... $30+??

  3. Technies needed for adoption but not wanted by Keeper · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In order for a new format to be adopted, people need to buy it. Early adopters are typically technically minded people, and are generally "informed" about what it is they're purchasing.

    The content produces are doing everything in their power to make the format unattractive to technically minded people. Meaning they're scaring away all of the early adopters. Which means that the format will never be adopted.

    For me, degrading the signal over analog connections was the thing that pushed me over into the "not gonna buy it" category ...

  4. Re:Early adopters and FULL HD resolution by paulzoop · · Score: 5, Informative

    i'm sorry, but your talking complete rubbish. i work in the film industry and 35mm film is usually scanned in at 2k which is HD. even sometimes at 4k! i've shot on 16m, 35mm, super 35mm and on hd. film is a very mature technology while HD is still very young. i spend all day examining and working with BG plates shot on both. just because HD is new and digital doesn't mean it's *currently* better than the technology it's replacing. you sound like the early audio companies that said that CD's sounded better than LP's. they didn't then and have only just arrived recently. (listen to a lynn lp12...) the funny thing is that the new cameras have special "film grain" modes...