Blu-Ray Launch Expected Next Week

grammar fascist writes "According to a Reuters article, two Blu-ray players and 'various titles' are expected in stores next week, June 20th. From the article: 'Blu-ray, one of two much-hyped high-definition DVD formats, debuts next week, but the launch is expected to be muted amid device delays and consumer confusion, industry analysts said on Thursday.' On the 20th, Samsung, not Sony, is launching a set-top player (Sony's is due this fall), and Sony is launching a Blu-ray compatible VAIO PC. Sony's fall set-top player will probably cost $1500. No word on the cost of Samsung's player yet, but I wouldn't expect it to be cheap."

Comments

Format wars?

[Poromenos1]

I don't know about you, but I am not at all excited by this. When DVD came out I couldn't wait for writers to come out so I could get one, but if we're going to be in the middle of a format war I don't even want a player. I think sales are going to be somewhat less than satisfactory.

Dual-Format Player

[CowboyTodd]

I'm personally waiting for a dual-format play before I buy a next-gen format. Unlike with VHS/Beta both formats are the exact same dimensions so I think it is just a matter of time untill we get a player that can play both.

Re:I don't care who wins

[falcon8080]

You know the biggest god damn problem with Hi Def TV?

Its too complicated. 480i, 480P, 720i,720p,1080i,1080p, HDTV that displays a 720P in 1080i, that looks crappier than 1080i, 1080p sets that exist but cost $10,000+ but no actual content, 1080p content that is really just someother content, but 'upscaled', 480p not looking correct on a 1080i/p set, increased cost for 'digital' content via cable/sattelite, cable cards, hd-tv sets that are hd-tv ready, but not actually ready, and god help you if you just want to watch normal TV on the damn thing, not only does it look like crap, but theirs a dozen different ways to make it look slightly less crappy.

Seriously, what bunch of idiots thought this up and actually thought this was a good idea? the average person has no hope of understanding all the formats, and just wait to see their responce when they buy one of these drives only to find out that the HD-TV set they brought can not in fact actually display these images. Then you have the PS3 with limited output on the lower end model, just try explaining that to some irate joe, when he finds out how much money hes wasted.

This has been possibly one of the largest clusterfucks I have ever seen....