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In Reply to: RE: Hi-def video war: folly of taking sides? posted by townsend on June 23, 2007 at 18:03:24
I think the format war is less important than the survival of movies on 1080p as a whole.
Imagine this scenario: What if you could see into the near-future, and you discovered that the future was all about 480p video, which isn't even high-def. And that HD DVD and Blu-Ray offered the highest quality video you'd ever be able to own, only you couldn't own it anymore because both formats flopped because too many folks just sat on the sidelines waiting for one format to prevail over the other, and in the end, both got yanked from the market, with no replacements waiting in the sidelines?
I think this is a very real possibility, and it's already happened with Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, even the various flavors of AM stereo. Don't hold your collective breaths waiting for 1080p video on demand or available for quick and easy download anytime soon. THAT particular future is more likely to remain 480p, and maybe heavily compressed 480p at that.
So my current feeling is: If you really like true high-def, show your support by buying and renting HD DVD and Blu-Ray movies, and encourage others to do the same. Because these might just be as good as it gets for a long time.
Follow Ups:
SACD/DVD-Audio failed because the public could not perceive any significant difference between them and standard redbook CD. So they refused to buy more hardware, replace their software libraries and pay more for each disc, not to mention the lack of avaliable software. High resolution video is different, the public can actually see the difference and it's siginificant (even 720p/1080i). That's why HD televisions are a success. The problem with Blue-Ray/HD DVD is that the hardware and software is too expensive for the public and there is not enough software released. The public is quite content with HD OTA, HD cable, HD satellite and standard DVDs (and upscaling) on their big screen Hi-Def TVs.
Both formats continue to survive as niche audio formats.
Fortunately, there isn't a "portable" version of video for Home theater. People are going to watch video on the Big Screen and the bigger the screen, the more likely they are to value the benefits of Hi-def video. I expect more success for HD video; maybe even mass market adoption IF there is a clear HD video disc format war winner.
I would have to disagree. MP3 was not even going full bore when SACD and DVD-A hit the market but MP3 does prove the point that the public is quit happy with lower resolution and can't tell the difference. The formats failed because of the reasons I stated and because of all the confusion [eg. dual disc, hybrid disc, disks that wouldn't play in every player, unknown or lower resolutions recorded on the disc, etc.]. A niche market can hardly be considered a success with these formats.
Comparisons to DVD-A Vs. SACD may not be valid. They didn't die because of the "war", they died becausae nobody wanted either of them. I suspect one or both formats will be niche products only. I'm really not convinced people want another format (so maybe the comparison is valid). The issue isn't the "war", since most people aren't paying attention, its the fact that there is another format(s) people have to buy into. DAT didn't die because of a format war, neither did the minidisc. Laserdisc wasn't adopted by the masses, and it wasn't because of any war, it was because it was expensive, big and bulky, and a PITA to use. As far as downl;oads goes, that is a strong likelyhood, but they'll be 720p, They have already started doing that.
Jack
In spite of their high cost and inconvenience, laserdiscs did manage to hold onto a niche in the market until DVDs finally drove a stake through their metaphorical heart. Just enough people were willing to pay that premium to have the best available picture and sound for home video.
There were some excellent deals on laserdiscs after DVD killed it (brand new box sets for 10 cents on the dollar), but before that a player and disc would cost you pretty close to what an HD-DVD player and movie cost now.
Maybe the war is driving prices down, but they're not low enough yet to convince me to buy either a player or a movie on a format which may not have a future. And I really am ready to upgrade from the Road Warrior widescreen laserdisc to a high-def version.
I bought most of my 900 laserdiscs used at less than $20. With two side play they are as easy to use as CDs.
Rico, you must have hands like Jimi's (he could reach completely around the neck of a Strat with fingers & thumb! -grin)! :o)
AuPh
SACD is still hanging on as a niche particularly with classical titles. I'm hoping at least the same for Blu-ray. Sony's already invested too much in the format to let it die on the vine. The Studios have to come up with another excuse to charge consumers too much money. I think at least one of these formats will go for a while. A prerequisite for mass market penetration, if it ever happens, is a winner to this format war.
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