HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Disappointing So Far
Dster76 writes "Reuters is reporting that the new format wars are showing signs of underwhelming performance, both technically and financially. In fact, according to the article, the new formats are just not selling. Reuters chalks it up to a current lack of interest. They indicate that as more movies and players become available this autumn, sales should improve. Just the same, the current picture is quite sour." From the article: "'Neither format is selling well or at the level I had expected. I had expected early adopters to step up and other retailers have had the same experience,' said Bjorn Dybdahl, president of San Antonio, Texas-based specialty store Bjorn's. 'High expectations were set. At every meeting with Sony, every demonstration was spectacular,' Dybdahl said. 'Then along comes the first Blu-ray player from Samsung and that's when my expectations were hurt. When we put the disc in, all the sales people looked around and said it doesn't look much better than a standard DVD,' he said."
I can't imagine why folks are not rushing to this.
DVD's look great on screens up to 55".
DVD's can be backed up and are very cheap.
DVD players are dirt cheap.
HD/Blu ray are
1) expensive
2) heavily drm'd
3) havn't chosen the best movies to start with.
4) Not that much better on the screens joe average can buy.
5) DO NOT EVEN WORK CORRECTLY on HD MONITORS if they are more than about 7 months old (downsample if the player doesn't detect a secure connection to the monitor)
I can't imagine why consumers are not flocking to these--
She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
Dear [electronics manufacturer],
Wonder why [new format with uncertain future] isn't selling?
Remember [format that flopped]? We do.
Signed, the buying public.
I'm scared of numbers that can't be written as a fraction. It's an irrational fear.