Most Consumers Sitting Out The High-Def War

The New York Times notes that, despite the increasing variety of programs on the Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats, most US consumers are staying out of the DVD format war. This is a wise decision, the article states, because the two formats are essentially at a stalemate. "The two camps are victims of their own earlier success with DVD. The standard DVDs offered a quantum leap in quality from the picture and sound of VHS videotape, and for many that was more than adequate. In addition, DVD players that can convert images to near high-definition quality can be found for under $100, hundreds less than a true high-definition DVD player, further reducing the urgency to upgrade to one of the new formats."

Comments

Re:Anyone else hate idiots like this?

[EvilSS]

"Anyone else hate idiots like this?"

Yep, almost as much as the idiots that use logical fallacies to attack them.

Well

[ilovegeorgebush]

The average consumer would say the following.

Bluray: Why would I spend hundreds of pounds on a technology that would render my DVD collection (of around 100 DVDs) obsolete with no real gain? Will my TV be compatible?

HD-DVD: My existing collection is compatible, great. Now, let's look at the price....ouch.

I'm sitting it out until I can get a HD-DVD player from the web for less than 100 quid. Why do Sony insist on making formats that are incompatible with others? They've lost before (Mini-disc, which was a potentially excellent format), so I hope they'll lose again.

Re:Well

[Echo_42]

you do get to choose your manufacturer with blu-ray. Sony PS3 - $400 Pioneer, Sony Stand Alone, Panasonic - etc - $500 or so each with HD DVD you dont get to choose, its toshiba right now and thats it Toshiba HD DVD player - $100 online. $200 in stores. other models up to $300 or $400. still think you're better off if you're gonna go for one, even though theres only one manufacturer, its one manufacturer at 1/4 of the price.