It is not fair to compare these new formats to beta/vhs. CD and DVD-A are far better examples.
beta and vhs fought out a needed standard. While only one could win, they both provided something that the public needed.
Blue-ray and HD-DVD do not provide something that the public need or want. People bought DVD's because the quality was vastly superior, they didn't have to rewind the tape, they had instant access and VASTLY superior sound.
Yet as an owner of a 5.1 sound system that also supported DVD-A I still don't own a single one. This format would produce better sound quality, 5.1 surround which is worth buying, but due to CD's being so good for most listeners it never really took off.
The only way that either technology will take off is if the price justifies the additional content. For the average TV and average sound system neither format offers any advantages. The fact it contains more storage capacity will not convince anyone. Studios release many DVD's in collector's editions which sell better because people feel like they are getting more. Reducing this to one disc will not demand a higher price.
There are IMHO only two ways either format will take off. One is that DVD support is stopped in preference of a superior format - this is very very unlikely especially with two formats. The other is that studios create a genuinely compelling reason to buy the things.
It is possible that this format will take so long to take off that a better format comes along and replaces it before it starts.
Finally I respond to comment #8
"Btw did I mention once they go a certain direction they never give up? minidisc are so dead and yet they still sell that shit."
This shows a complete misunderstanding of Japanese corporate and technology culture. The not giving up and not loosing face is an ingrained part of Japanese culture and therefore it's not surprising that Sony will not give up on technologies. The comments about minidisc are also short sighted. The format has begun to be superceded in Japan, however, up until very very recently (maybe the last year or so) minidisc was seen everywhere in Japan for mobile music - and CD hardly existed for mobile music. It was an incredibly successful product in the domestic market.
Just because it's not successful in America or Europe, it does not mean it's not successful or "shit".
Indeed sales in Japan have been the biggest stumbling block to the X-Box success. Just as American sales will be the biggest stumbling block to the PS3's success.
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It is not fair to compare these new formats to beta/vhs. CD and DVD-A are far better examples.
beta and vhs fought out a needed standard. While only one could win, they both provided something that the public needed.
Blue-ray and HD-DVD do not provide something that the public need or want. People bought DVD's because the quality was vastly superior, they didn't have to rewind the tape, they had instant access and VASTLY superior sound.
Yet as an owner of a 5.1 sound system that also supported DVD-A I still don't own a single one. This format would produce better sound quality, 5.1 surround which is worth buying, but due to CD's being so good for most listeners it never really took off.
The only way that either technology will take off is if the price justifies the additional content. For the average TV and average sound system neither format offers any advantages. The fact it contains more storage capacity will not convince anyone. Studios release many DVD's in collector's editions which sell better because people feel like they are getting more. Reducing this to one disc will not demand a higher price.
There are IMHO only two ways either format will take off. One is that DVD support is stopped in preference of a superior format - this is very very unlikely especially with two formats. The other is that studios create a genuinely compelling reason to buy the things.
It is possible that this format will take so long to take off that a better format comes along and replaces it before it starts.
Finally I respond to comment #8
"Btw did I mention once they go a certain direction they never give up? minidisc are so dead and yet they still sell that shit."
This shows a complete misunderstanding of Japanese corporate and technology culture. The not giving up and not loosing face is an ingrained part of Japanese culture and therefore it's not surprising that Sony will not give up on technologies. The comments about minidisc are also short sighted. The format has begun to be superceded in Japan, however, up until very very recently (maybe the last year or so) minidisc was seen everywhere in Japan for mobile music - and CD hardly existed for mobile music. It was an incredibly successful product in the domestic market.
Just because it's not successful in America or Europe, it does not mean it's not successful or "shit".
Indeed sales in Japan have been the biggest stumbling block to the X-Box success. Just as American sales will be the biggest stumbling block to the PS3's success.