Video Asylum

• Hopefully, blu-ray will begin market penetration . . . - townsend 15:39:40 02/15/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Another major retailer (Wal-Mart) to go Blu-ray exclusive... posted by Russell on February 15, 2008 at 08:56:09

  With HD DVD out of the way, it will be interesting to see what happens to blu-ray.

  Blu-ray still faces two "threats." (By the way, videophiles aren't one of them. Duh . . .)

  1) standard DVD--the average consumer is happy with it, and won't give a "look" (pun intended) at blu-ray unless there is added value. For blu-ray to achieve critical mass, the average consumer has got to jump in the game, and the average consumer will insist on less expensive blu-ray hardware and software.

  2) Hi def video download may very well pose a threat, though at this time, I think such talk is slightly premature. (Downloading music is a different animal than downloading video. Downloaded music can be played on a portable handheld device; for video, screen size is important.) Nonetheless, blu-ray needs to move fast. Why risk a potential competitor on the horizon? Just my two cents.

  P.S. Glad to see that such movies as Once Upon A Time in America, The Sand Pebbles, and Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid are coming to blu-ray.

  YMMV, perhaps greatly . . .
  
  

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  Edits: 02/15/08
• Some thoughts... - TK421 12:28:55 02/15/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Another major retailer (Wal-Mart) to go Blu-ray exclusive... posted by Russell on February 15, 2008 at 08:56:09

  It has been a non-stop flurry of bad news for HD DVD since Warner's decision to go BD exclusive. Between studios and retail stores abandoning the format, it will be interesting to see if Toshiba bails before Paramount and Universal.
  
  Personally, I'm really hoping that the HD DVD software fire sales start soon, as there are some really good titles that I would love to have in my collection.
  
  We will now see if the format war truly slowed the adoption of high-def media, or if the general public is just satisfied with plain old DVD. If Blu-ray fails to take market share away from DVD, it may never elevate itself beyond niche market status. 2008 is going to be a fascinating year.
  
  

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• It'll be hard for any retailer to sell HD DVD soon...word is that Toshiba will drop it - Jazz Inmate 10:22:53 02/15/08 (5)
  In Reply to: RE: Another major retailer (Wal-Mart) to go Blu-ray exclusive... posted by Russell on February 15, 2008 at 08:56:09

  Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say
  Company says no decision has been made
  By Thomas K. Arnold and Erik Gruenwedel
  Feb 15, 2008
  
  The format war has turned into a format death watch.
  
  Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc format after May.
  
  
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  "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
  

  • http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/home_entertainment/video/e3ib77125d96b22e8601c4db951ac47ca5d   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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  • Bingo (nt) - Jack G 10:59:16 02/15/08 (4)
    In Reply to: RE: It'll be hard for any retailer to sell HD DVD soon...word is that Toshiba will drop it posted by Jazz Inmate on February 15, 2008 at 10:22:53

    .
    
    

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    • Did you catch this? - Jazz Inmate 12:00:43 02/15/08 (3)
      In Reply to: RE: Bingo (nt) posted by Jack G on February 15, 2008 at 10:59:16

      "But in the end, sources say, the substantial loss Toshiba is incurring with each HD DVD player sold -- a figure sources say could be as high as several hundred dollars -- coupled with a series of high-profile retail defections has driven the company to at last concede defeat."
      
      That's hard for me to believe. I could see they might be losing $10 on the player if it's discounted to $139, but I doubt it costs Toshiba much more than that to mass produce those things. Losing "hundreds of dollars" per sale? I doubt it.
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      "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." -Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982)
      
      

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      • Perhaps they were thinking of the first gen players. (nt) - Jack G 14:24:02 02/15/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: Did you catch this? posted by Jazz Inmate on February 15, 2008 at 12:00:43

        .
        
        

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      • I saw it - Jack G 13:52:17 02/15/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: Did you catch this? posted by Jazz Inmate on February 15, 2008 at 12:00:43

        Not sure I believe it though.
        
        

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      • I probably means.. - Prisoners 13:29:57 02/15/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: Did you catch this? posted by Jazz Inmate on February 15, 2008 at 12:00:43

        when factoring the total costs of the HD-DVD format including R+D that they were losing money on every player sold from day one even at full list price. When you consider discounted players it's even more of a loss. I'll bet the long-term goal was to make money on the players but it would've taken a few years to off-set the intial expense. Obviously that won't happen now, so the loss per unit sold is probably more than the retail price that it sold for. Therefore a couple hundred dollars each is reasonable.
        Baba-Booey to you all!
        
        

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