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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."
The article fails to mention my reason for avoiding a new format: I do not want the extra features that the manufacturers put into the players., including:
1) DRM
2) The ability for the players to "phone home".
3) Any other "feature" that makes it more difficult for the consumer. By this I mean anything that forces the user to do something he does not want to like the PUOPs on standard DVDs. You can be forced to watch previews when you start a disk without having the option to skip forward or advance the track. I expect HD and Blu Ray to be worse in this matter.
Why should I pay a lot of money for a new player and shell out more money per movie? For the insignificant increase in video quality? Do I need that level of resolution to watch a tv series or most movies? Maybe I will like the difference on a few action movies, but until the price is under $200 for a player and the cost of movies is on par with standard def, I will not upgrade.
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Since Blu-ray consistenly outsells HD DVD by about 2:1 I'd say it's pretty much decided.
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending December 16th
WE: BD-61% HDD-39% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-62% HDD-38%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending December 9th
WE: BD-76% HDD-24% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-62% HDD-38%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending December 2nd
WE: BD-58% HDD-42% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-62% HDD-38%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending November 25th
WE: BD-72% HDD-28% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-62% HDD-38%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending November 18th
WE: BD-66% HDD-34% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-61% HDD-39%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending November 11th
WE: BD-65% HDD-35% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-61% HDD-39%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending November 4th
WE: BD-71% HDD-29% YTD: BD-64% HDD-36% SI: BD-61% HDD-39%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending October 28th
WE: BD-55% HDD-45% YTD: BD-64% HDD-36% SI: BD-60% HDD-40%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending October 21th
WE: BD-51% HDD-49% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35% SI: BD-61% HDD-39%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending October 14th
WE: BD-71% HDD-29% YTD: BD-66% HDD-34% SI: BD-61% HDD-39%
Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending October 7th
WE: BD-68% HDD-32% YTD: BD-66% HDD-34% SI: BD-61% HDD-39%
Source: http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=8608
it's in my head
the idiots have changed the meaning. Happens all the time. Someone hears a phrase or word they don't know, imagine it means something it doesn't, use it the wrong way, and before you know it everyone is using it the wrong way.
Like 'steep learning curve'. In reality a steep learning curve is good, because the learning curve is the amount learned over time, and a steep curve means one has learned more in a short time. Some idiot though thought steep was bad like in climbing, so now 'steep learning curve' is taken to mean 'hard to learn', the exact opposite of it's true meaning. I blame media that makes it so easy to propogate the thoughts of idiots.