DVD Format War Already Over?

An anonymous reader writes "'Nobody likes false starts' - claims the assertive and risky article "10 Reasons Why High Definition DVD Formats Have Already Failed" published by Audioholics which outlines their take on why the new Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD formats will attain nothing more than niche status in a marketplace that is brimming with hyperbole. Even though the two formats have technically just hit the streets, the 'Ten reasons' article takes a walk down memory lane and outline why the new DVD tech has a lot to overcome."

Comments

Re:They're already screwing up.

[Nimey]

Oh yeah? When SWMBO and I went to the local cable place to change her name on the bill, they had an HDTV (can't remember if it was plasma or LCD or what) playing an HD channel, and I could clearly see the difference. The details were sharper and colors seemed more lifelike.

It looked like a several-thousand $ set, FWIW.

Re:#3 is the killer

[DoktorSeven]

"HD is better, much better."

Wrong.

Of course you owners of HD technology say that and want to exclude those that don't. You, like everyone else that advocates crappy technology and media, have to justify the outrageous price you paid for it somehow, to keep from feeling like an idiot for wasting your money on something that's a total pile of crap.

HD is not significantly better than standard TV. _Fact_. Sit from a decent viewing distance from both and... guess what... they both look about the same. HD is slightly clearer, but it's not a significant enough improvement to justify the increased cost.

Basically, the article's right on the new DVD formats -- even more so than I am on the HD TVs. Why? You can't tell me that the new DVD formats look better even on your HDTVs, looking at them from an eye-destroying distance, than standard DVDs. And whoever needs more storage capabilities from the disks... you really need to cut down on the porn. Backing up your system does not involve saving every single thing on it, _just the data that cannot be recovered_. OS/applications/game installs _don't need to be backed up_, just the data they create, which I'm sure will neatly fit on standard DVDs.

Basically what's happening is that big business is trying to move to new formats to limit our freedoms via broadcast flags and harder-to-break encryption on new digital formats. They also can make more money from selling these new formats. It's win-win for big business, tie-lose (roughly the same experience, less money in your pockets) for consumers.

Don't fall for it.

Re:They might have a point

[Moofie]

Four whole years? Yeah, I'm totally taking YOUR word for it on archive media.

Four years...IMAGINE THAT!

FOUR WHOLE YEARS. Wow.

My mind is boggling. Really.