Dual-Layer Standard May Disappear Soon

[Pariah]

I got it reversed, Blu-Ray is supporting Microsoft. As in their VC-1 compression codec which HD-DVD has support for as well.

As for MS being all for HD-DVD:

'Majidimehr (vice president in Microsoft's Windows Digital Media Division) said the software giant does not intend to take sides in the battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray. "Microsoft will maintain its neutral position in supporting the emerging high-definition video formats that deliver new possibilities for content providers and consumers," he said."'

Get my info right? Pot calling the kettle black.

 

[MrControversial]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: MrControversial
When I say HD-DVD is backwards compatible, I mean that your current DVD player will be able to play DVD movies on it.

That makes no sense. Both of the new formats are based on a shorter-wavelength blue laser. Your existing DVD player's optical head will not likely be able to read either of the new formats. You will have to replace all of your standalone players and computer optical drives in order to support either of the new formats. Given that, why not pick the format with higher capacity? Both new-format drives should be able to read prior red-laser-based DVD/CD media, assuming that they include both lasers on the optical head.

You read me wrong. I said that current DVD players will be able to play DVD movies on HD-DVD discs. I'm looking for a link now, but since the manufacturing process is the same not much needs to be done. This is merely a marketing move to get consumers used to the HD-DVD brand. I said nothing about DVD players playing HD-DVD movies.

And the "Blu-ray = Betamax" thing... is DAT = Betamax? Is SACD = Betamax? Is MiniDisc/NetMD = Betamax? Is *everything* that Sony makes, = Betamax?

All the formats you listed aren't leading standards at all. They exist, but in a limited fashion. I see Blu-Ray taking off as the Mac user's storage of choice, but people won't be buying Blu-Ray players en-masse like they will be buying HD-DVD. It's a matter of what's familiar not what's better. People don't often go with what's better, but what they're comfortable with. You, my friend, do not represent the run-of-the-mill Joe Consumer. You are a techie and an early adopter like I am.

What's wrong with a superior format winning?

Not a damn thing is wrong with it. However, I'm going from the real world and not some idealistic hypothetical situation. Consumers often go with what's familiar. Why do you think that the PS2 is the market leader in the console market? Not because of superior technology, but because of brand familiarity. "Playstation" is synonomous with "video game system" just like "DVD" is synonymous with "movies." If you sent your grandma to Blockbuster to pick up a movie, she'd pick up an HD-DVD movie before she picks up Blu-Ray because she doesn't know what the hell Blu-Ray is just like 95% of the general public. She has a better chance of snagging the movie with the familiar "DVD" in it. DVD is in the public vocabulary now. We don't go to buy a movie, we go to "pick up a DVD from Wal-Mart." Mindshare is more superior than technical specs.

Or is it the "American way" to ensure that the lesser underdog wins out, because Americans much prefer mediocrity on a grand scale? (Which might well explain the popularity of McDonald's, Wal-Mart, and Microsoft, to say the least.)

That's just the way it is. See my PS2 example. Jesus Christ could come tomorrow with the best OS known to man and Microsoft will still outsell him 100 to 1. People are zombies. I wish we could have it our way, buddy, where the best man wins. But that's not always the case.

 

[Pariah]

Why do you think that the PS2 is the market leader in the console market?

Because it made it to market a year before the competition. Playstation is synonymous with gaming? You mean no layman has ever heard of Nintendo? I bet Nintendo is more synonymous with gaming than Sony is to the non-techie, but that did nothing to help Nintendo win the current generation.

You keep harping on how dominant the PS2 is. Well using that as a guide, the PS3 is destined for huge sales and market dominance in the next generation as well. What is the PS3 supporting? Blu-Ray, which means a significantly large installed userbase that pretty much guarantees it won't fail. Your theory that zombies will cause the demise of Blu-Ray because they will go with what they are familiar with is thwarted by your own claim that Sony is synonmous with gaming because millions of these zombies will be buying PS3's which only play Blu-Ray, not HD-DVD.

 

[doublejbass]

That's a very strange post, but given what you were responding to, understandable.

PS2 is the leader for many more reasons than being the first to market, though. Backwards compatibility, good design, innovative expansion (i.e. Eyetoy) and, most importantly for sustained success, an indomitable software library all contributed significantly to Sony retaining the crown. It's a SNES-level longevity success, and the fact that they're not rolling out the next generation for another year after the projected launch of MS's and Nintendo's next group is not due to them having a problem getting it to market, it's the fact that there's still plenty of life left in the PS2 from a business perspective.

Remember, Nintendo wouldn't have relinquished the crown if they hadn't been so boorish regarding third party relationships and *EXPENSIVE* but limiting proprietary media.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: NightCrawler
http://cooltechzone.com/index....k=view&id=918&itemid=0

Oh well out with the old in with Blue.

Doesn't surprise me.