Blockbuster ditches HD-DVD for Blu-Ray

TheUnk

Golden Member
Jun 24, 2005
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I don't think either side will "win" this format-war. Standard DVD will remain supreme for a long time. Movies will continue to be released in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Hopefully in the future we'll see movies in both formats rather than studios taking sides.
 

IlllI

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2002
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Originally posted by: TheUnk
I don't think either side will "win" this format-war. Standard DVD will remain supreme for a long time. Movies will continue to be released in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Hopefully in the future we'll see movies in both formats rather than studios taking sides.

well back when dvds first came out, a lot of retailers still had vhs/vcrs. it was only when dvd players started to get around the $100 price point that it really took off. then soon afterwards big retailers stopped selling vhs movies etc.

 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
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Not in the least, Blockbuster wont decide the format wars. Price points and supply will.

 

MarcVenice

Moderator Emeritus <br>
Apr 2, 2007
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Why the topic title, it contains some bad information. Blockbuster did NOT ditch HD-DVD, they are still allowing ppl to rent HD-DVD's, but they expanded their Blu-Ray offerings since customers seem to be renting more Blu-Ray movies then HD-DVD movies.
 

Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
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If I were Netflix, I would be all over this. I would start advertising that I carried not only Blueray, but an extensive line of HD DVD as well. I red the papers today in my area and they indicated that Blockbuster was going to expand their Blueray selection, but would not be expanding the availablility of HD DVD titles (in other words, keep the ones they have, but not add any titles in this format).

As it stands now, HD DVD players are running about $300 where the Blueray players are running between $700 and $800. Plus, blueray titles sell for about $30 where HD DVD titles are selling for $25. This could mean HD DVD may start picking up steam... :)

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out!!

 

vhx

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2006
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Lol, $700 to $800? :Q Hell, a PS3 is only $600. Standalone players are much cheaper.
 

PhatoseAlpha

Platinum Member
Apr 10, 2005
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Where are they cheaper? They don't have sony subsidizing them hoping to make it up on game costs.
 

BernardP

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Jan 10, 2006
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Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Why the topic title, it contains some bad information. Blockbuster did NOT ditch HD-DVD, they are still allowing ppl to rent HD-DVD's, but they expanded their Blu-Ray offerings since customers seem to be renting more Blu-Ray movies then HD-DVD movies.
I only reported what is the Fudzilla article:

but now it seems that they have opted for Blu-ray as its only format.

But let's try to find out what Blockbuter really said:

Here

Blockbuster Inc. will rent high-definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format in 1,450 stores when it expands its high-def offerings next month, dealing a major blow to the rival HD DVD format.

and here

This one is less straightforward: Blockbuster is keeping the door cracked open for HD DVD. "While it is still too early to say which high-definition format will become the industry standard, we will continue to closely monitor customer rental patterns both at our stores and online, so we can adjust our inventory mix accordingly and ensure that Blockbuster is offering customers the most convenient access to the movies they want, in the format they want"

So we'll see how this develops.

 

Rockhound1

Senior member
Dec 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: vhx
Lol, $700 to $800? :Q Hell, a PS3 is only $600. Standalone players are much cheaper.

True, you can get a PS3 for $600, but a standalone Blueray player costs between $700 and $800.
 

manimal

Lifer
Mar 30, 2007
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The reason Sony is keeping standalone players at a price higher than a ps3 is that they do not want to affect the sales of ps3's as bluray players. The ps3 is such an embarrassment that Sony wants to give early adopters no option other than buying the ps3 over a standalone thus marginally inflating the sales figures of the ps3.
 

Wreckage

Banned
Jul 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: cm123

shortly we will see HD-DVD in lots of laptops, the MS wheel also behind HD-DVD too of course. The wins chances are for Blu-ray could be very limited.

You can already get Blu-ray in laptops from Dell, Sony, Gateway and pretty soon Apple.
 

cm123

Senior member
Jul 3, 2003
489
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Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: cm123

shortly we will see HD-DVD in lots of laptops, the MS wheel also behind HD-DVD too of course. The wins chances are for Blu-ray could be very limited.

You can already get Blu-ray in laptops from Dell, Sony, Gateway and pretty soon Apple.

you'll see Dell go with the Microsoft way, add to that toshiba, aopen/acer and others, of course you'll see sony and apple...

...big diff is, toshiba as example is putting HD in everything, standard drive, not some pricey laptop or costly upgrade - as others will follow.

unless sony can get the drives to the oem channel and cheap, that market will switch fast with MS supporting it directly...
 

Wreckage

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Jul 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: cm123
Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: cm123

shortly we will see HD-DVD in lots of laptops, the MS wheel also behind HD-DVD too of course. The wins chances are for Blu-ray could be very limited.

You can already get Blu-ray in laptops from Dell, Sony, Gateway and pretty soon Apple.

you'll see Dell go with the Microsoft way, add to that toshiba, aopen/acer and others, of course you'll see sony and apple...

...big diff is, toshiba as example is putting HD in everything, standard drive, not some pricey laptop or costly upgrade - as others will follow.

unless sony can get the drives to the oem channel and cheap, that market will switch fast with MS supporting it directly...
That's all just pure speculation. Right now the largest laptop makers (other than Toshiba) ship Blu-ray drives. Microsoft could give a crap about either format other than their little console war with Sony.

If MS really supported HD-DVD it would have been in EVERY Xbox360. Clearly they are not that confident.
 

cm123

Senior member
Jul 3, 2003
489
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Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: cm123
Originally posted by: Wreckage
Originally posted by: cm123

shortly we will see HD-DVD in lots of laptops, the MS wheel also behind HD-DVD too of course. The wins chances are for Blu-ray could be very limited.

You can already get Blu-ray in laptops from Dell, Sony, Gateway and pretty soon Apple.

you'll see Dell go with the Microsoft way, add to that toshiba, aopen/acer and others, of course you'll see sony and apple...

...big diff is, toshiba as example is putting HD in everything, standard drive, not some pricey laptop or costly upgrade - as others will follow.

unless sony can get the drives to the oem channel and cheap, that market will switch fast with MS supporting it directly...
That's all just pure speculation. Right now the largest laptop makers (other than Toshiba) ship Blu-ray drives. Microsoft could give a crap about either format other than their little console war with Sony.

If MS really supported HD-DVD it would have been in EVERY Xbox360. Clearly they are not that confident.


wrong on the HD-DVD, it is the only supported format as far as MS cares - MS is money machine, adding it to x-box in the past cost them money, why not offer as a upgrade like they do?

actually aopen already ships HD as well (which then add acer/asus and the whole aopen family to the mix) and there are others as well, was already in the news few weeks back...

I would say if they are not confident, why using it at all, why does windows support this standard?

again, big diff. from paying huge $$$ to get a blu ray laptop, and getting HD standard on any model (from some company(s)).




 

Wreckage

Banned
Jul 1, 2005
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Originally posted by: cm123
wrong on the HD-DVD, it is the only supported format as far as MS cares - MS is money machine, adding it to x-box in the past cost them money, why not offer as a upgrade like they do?
Vista supports both Blu-ray and HD-DVD. The add on was a lame attempt to compete with the PS3. Without it being standard on the 360 it's irrelevant.
actually aopen already ships HD as well (which then add acer/asus and the whole aopen family to the mix) and there are others as well, was already in the news few weeks back...
Aopen is moving to Blu-ray
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Section...ails.aspx?NewsId=15230
I would say if they are not confident, why using it at all, why does windows support this standard?
Again Windows supports both. Don't know where you get this.
again, big diff. from paying huge $$$ to get a blu ray laptop, and getting HD standard on any model (from some company(s)).
You will pay either way. Unless Toshiba is going to eat the extra cost of the drive, which would cost them millions.




[/quote]

 

designgirl

Senior member
Oct 7, 2000
254
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0
Originally posted by: manimal
The reason Sony is keeping standalone players at a price higher than a ps3 is that they do not want to affect the sales of ps3's as bluray players. The ps3 is such an embarrassment that Sony wants to give early adopters no option other than buying the ps3 over a standalone thus marginally inflating the sales figures of the ps3.

i enjoy my ps3 albeit games are lacking but it's got a good line up coming this fall. anyways, DVD players were expensive back in the day also.

just normal product cycle. with the move to blue-ray, it will mean prices should theoretically come down faster since you have a focus on a single standard.

price of being an early adopter...pay high prices. iphone anyone?
 

cm123

Senior member
Jul 3, 2003
489
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not looking to debate here by no means - the aopen link is year+ old (10-2005) now, many things changed since then, and with add-on blu ray works, not MS standard, and yes many laptop companies are going to use the drive as standard, thing the story even ran here at anandtech about this last few weeks...

windows does not support both (either) out of the box, nor does the x-box... and only may support blu ray, which was said will not happen by MS -

this has changed lots since 2005, lots, as well as the battle goes too...