Best Buy's pushing Blu-ray to the front
By Richard Lawler 
posted February 11th 2008 4:36PM
posted February 11th 2008 4:36PM
The HD DVD camp, still reeling after losing support from Netflix this morning, may feel flattened as Best Buy has announced it will officially promote Blu-ray as the HD format of the future. Starting in early March the store will showcase Blu hardware and software on its shelves and website, and switch from its current neutral stance, to recommending Blu-ray to any customers that ask. While "an assortment of HD DVD products" will remain, a vote of confidence from major retailers, following the majority of studio support, will make it impossible for red to recover.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
I just received the email from Netflix a few minutes ago that they were going Blu-ray exclusive.
I have both HD DVD and Blu-ray, and I think it's really unfortunate that HD DVD will be going the way of the dodo. There are aspects of HD DVD that are appealing to me - first of all it was the agreed upon specification by the international DVD consortium. The spec for HD DVD seems and I think is more developed and stable - at this point. I've had no problem playing HD DVDs, with the opposite being true of Blu-ray.
I'm not some HD DVD fanboi, but Blu-ray just has not been as appealing to me. So now what? There are quite a few big-name titles that are HD DVD-exclusive... it would seem logical that many of those titles will take A LONG TIME to migrate to Blu-ray, simply because the studio doesn't want to aid in the premature death of their own preferential and contractually bound HD standard. Of course at some point we'll see those titles on Blu-ray, but I'm guess at least another year or two at the earliest.
I'll use Blu-ray exclusively now because I have to, but there is a persistent voice in the back of my mind that keeps saying, "if we could have just stuck to one format from the beginning, then all this money and effort spent by both producers/manufacturers and consumers could have been spent far more efficiently and effectively." Of course that may not be true, and is simply speculation, but it seems fairly logical.
What do you guys think?
I think that you are one of the few truly insightful readers on this website.
I just wish HD-DVD would have been more victorious for price. I personally have dozens upon dozens of other things I would rather spend my money on than going HD. Now that the far more expensive of the two formats seems to be the victor, it just means I will be waiting until it is absolutely necessary (read when my TV dies) to upgrade to HD.
For shame though, that the format less friendly to independent production is the one being rooted for the most (apparently) by a following that generally touts itself as being the most indie-friendly crowd.
The DVD Forum (it hasn't been the "Consortium" for a while now) is not some UN-sanctioned, internationally-recognized standards body. It's just a group of companies - including Sony - that got together to make an optical disc format about 15 years ago. The fact that they then tried to make another one doesn't make them some sort of legitimate heir to DVD.
The Blu-Ray Disc Association, in fact, has many of the same members as the DVD Forum - including founding members Sony and Thomson, who together came up with the technical aspects of DVD in the first place. If you want to talk about lineage, Blu-Ray has more of a claim on being DVD's rightful heir than HD-DVD does. Toshiba has always been the primary backer of HD-DVD, and they were always a secondary player in the DVD Forum before that.
I'm not gonna bother dealing with any of your other points because it would just take too long, but I get sick of reading how HD-DVD should have won because this group of companies that first invented DVD also invented HD-DVD. Because a) it's not really true, and b) even if it was, who the hell cares? There's no official sanctioning for the DVD Forum, it's just a bunch of corporations that got together for the purpose of profit. The Blu-Ray Disc Association is absolutely no different.
lol, the guy that doesn't have HD, not exactly an authority, posting about HD disk formats. amazing.
i agree with your overall post. i, however, am an HD-DVD "fanboi." i'm not that all hating towards the Blu-ray format itself but its creators: Sony and the BDA. as a consumer, i've felt an arrogant force coming from team Blu, and it seemed pretty much like "assimilate or die."
the DVD Consortium built upon an established and robust media format (the DVD) to develop its inherent successor. i've never felt anyone or any company shove HD-DVD down my throat as Sony did with the Blu-Ray. it would have been a good game if Sony hadn't put its greedy paws into it. now, as HD-DVD dies, i'm sure Blu-ray will probably increase prices; they just seem to be the type of company who'd do that.
I neither have a Blu or HDVD player presently, but I'll tell ya what...everytime I see an article on Engadget about the high definition format war, I ALWAYS go to the comments and read them. It's better entertainment than those subtitled Japanese shows on G4 and Spike TV! Keep it up guys, cause I'm getting my money's worth over here! Oh...and by the way, Blu all the way! I saw this coming when both formats were introduced!
Yeah, whatever. You saw it coming. You saw the NY Giants beating the Pats by three points, too, right?
Wow, someone replied to my comment, and it was obviously from an HD DVD fan. Well, let me tell ya somethin' AJ. I could give a sh*T about NFL football, but I do know one thing, if I would have watched the game, which I didn't, and would have been a Patriots fan and gotten beaten like they did after having so much confidence and hope to win...then I guess I'd feel just like you feel now crying over a media format! Geez, grow up kid. How hard is it to go buy a Blu player and get over it. You need $500 bucks to go buy one? If anyone seriously didn't understand the risk they took buying ANY form of an HD format player early on and are now being a freakin' baby about their "chosen" format not winning and having to eventually go buy another player of the winning format, then you have no business even having anything to do with HD content. Seriously, if you can't afford a new player, then I doubt you even had the money to have even switched to an HDTV in the first place. Grow up A.J.! Suck it up and go buy a Blu player, or get left behind and stick with good ol' DVD. Cause, I doubt your TV even has HD inputs anyways. Ooooo...how was that? I'm getting the hang of this comment war stuff. By the way...I had NO preference in the Super Bowl whatsoever. I only refered to the outcome because someone else referenced it. So, please football fans, don't roast me!
This was one war that was pretty easy to call. When Sony first announced PS3 Blu-Ray support, I remember writing a comment here to the effect of "PS3 = Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray wins."
And that's exactly how it happened.
How was Toshiba ever going to compete with 5 million Blu-Ray players *minimum* in the first year? (That's assuming a worst-case scenario for the PS3 launch, which pretty much did happen.) There was no way they were selling as many standalone HD-DVD players as PS3's and standalone Blu-Ray players put together. No way. Not even in that worst-case scenario for Sony.
Yes, some of us did see the inherent logic in this a long time ago. A lot of other people (including Toshiba, apparently) were just living in some anti-Sony fantasy world.
Jeff. Couldn't agree with you more man! When I first heard news of what Blu-ray even was, and then heard that the new Playstation 3 would utilize the new technology...well, from there on out Blu-ray was already the winner to me. You couldn't be more correct. Sony is one of the biggest players in the media business, and for them to not only back the Blu format but to also put the technology in their newest gaming console...geez, anyone who didn't see this coming a LONG time ago just doesn't understand the media and gaming market. Inevitable, if you ask me. Just my opinion however.
My store's gonna have to reconfigure things. They have always put HD-DVD in a more prominent spot (right next to the top 20 discs). The Blu-ray discs, other than a standalone display, were in the aisle behind that facing the opposite way from the electronics and PS-3's.
Hmm, wonder if my store manager was an HD-DVD supporter?
That started a while. Best Buy had Bluray people doing demo's for them already.
SlySoft...we need BD+ cracks!
Demoting HD DVD players makes sense to me. I don't really care how many HD DVD players are sold post Warner Announcement. What I do care about, is being able to pick up the HD DVD releases that are still out and are slated to come out. As long as Best Buy carries them in the store, I'm happy. I would recommend Blu-Ray to new customers too.
Now Netflix affects me, and I'm mad at that.
Looks like blue-ray won't be going down in price anytime soon.
So true. It's a shame there's only one manufacturer making Blu-Ray players and there's no competition for that one player.
Oh... wait...
Like the first poster said, this isn't really news. Best Buy stores have been pushing bluray for a while. There is tons of misinformation coming out of their mouths as well. I work in a store and it seems that no one over there really knows the benefits and disadvantages of the formats and tell the customers whichever gets them the most margin.
Pew pew pew... take that Mr HD DVd you dead format!
@Jeff,
Very good comments about inevitability of PS3 Blu-Ray support. I will say that HD-DVD did have a chance if someone like Microsoft threw more weight into HD-DVD, they have just as much to lose (though indirectly) as Toshiba. The Blu-Ray/ HD-DVD battle didn't finally tilt until the recent studio news, and only at that point did Blu-Ray stop being a blue noose around Sony's neck.
As you say, Sony's sales had been at practically 'worst case scenario' level, so they did take a big hit to bundle the 2 together. But in the long run the numbers prevailed, and the gamble paid off.
@Jeff,
Very good comments about inevitability of PS3 Blu-Ray support. I will say that HD-DVD did have a chance if someone like Microsoft threw more weight into HD-DVD, they have just as much to lose (though indirectly) as Toshiba. The Blu-Ray/ HD-DVD battle didn't finally tilt until the recent studio news, and only at that point did Blu-Ray stop being a blue noose around Sony's neck.
As you say, Sony's sales had been at practically 'worst case scenario' level, so they did take a big hit to bundle the 2 together. But in the long run the numbers prevailed, and the gamble paid off.
So my HD player is going be obsolete, well damn. I spent 200 bucks on it, It would be nice if sony would give us suckers a trade up program. Anyone know who to call about my free 5 movies I've been waiting on from Toshiba for two months?
Cool.
Long live the idiots !!!!
Shit Hardware, Poor codec support lack of web enabled content, and best of all bd disk not scratch resistant and best of all twice of the price of HD-DVD that has all of the above
Stupidity for ever
I agree, damn shame. I had to upgrade my firmware so I could watch the rest of spiderman 3 on blu-ray (yes to add insult to injury indeed!)
HD DVD was just as stable as DVD is I never got any shit from it, and for this I will defend it to it's grave, and possibly mine.
I'll just have to wait until Toshiba makes a blu-ray player or a combo player.
how did i know, that just by reading the title, i'd find "hey hey hey, good bye, and /or put another nail in the coffin? sheesh. I don't care who wins either way. just pick one so you can shaddup and watch some high def. by the time they pick a format you'll be wining about the next format anyways...
all i really learn from this site anyways is "blue ray rules, hddvd sucks, microsoft is the devil, dell is the devils son, and the words pwned and noob are great.
Blu-ray was the winner ever since the Playstation 3. There are so many Sony/Playstation fanboys (such as myself) who would undoubtedly purchase the PS3. Therefore, Blu-ray discs are never going to stop production (until at least the Playstation 5), so they were always going to have a place in the market from the start. What kind of console support does HD-DVD have? An external dongle drive for the XBOX360 that costs an extra $100? No thanks. And with that, I bid you good day.
Hrmmm. Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD) is never going to catch on when movies are $35/pop -- noway. And yes, I own a PS3 and I still don't own a single Blu-Ray disc as renting via NetFlix works for me. Just because a small percentage of consumers can afford to pay $35/movie doesn't mean that format will be as successful as DVD. In fact, digital downloads have taken a nice chunk out of DVD sales (explaining the declining sales of DVD that HD-DVD/BD sales cannot account for). If prices stay at around $35, BD will be relegated to those with $$$.
I have no problem with the format war. I bought a PS3 for my gaming and Blu-Ray exclusive titles. I also bought an HD-DVD for $199 when the price dropped for their exclusive content as well. Do I feel ripped off or depressed about having an HD DVD that will soon be obsolete? Not a chance. I got the player for $199 with TEN movies bundled from Best Buy (2 in the box, 3 of my choice and 5 by rebate). Even at standard DVD prices ($20) that is $200 in movies. That washes the cost of the player. At HD DVD or Blu-Ray prices that is over $300 in movies. I am ahead.
So now what if they discontinue the HD DVD format? I am sure my player will be relegated to my bedroom, playing my standard DVDs and all of the HD DVDs I buy for $10 when they hit clearance. I will like everyone else buy all my new releases on Blu-Ray from now on, but if you buy lots of movies you will still get a tons of titles in HD for standard DVD prices for quite awhile. Just make sure you buy the combo discs only in case the damn thing breaks.
i actually gasped for air when I read this, the dagger just got driven in to the hear of Hd. I feel for the hardworking researchers and engineers whose futures would have depended on this and all the folk who had HD players. Now its going the Betamax way plus even if i own a PS3 i dont think its fair. There is no more choice in this equation. RIP HD i never knew you but I am sure your followers will find ways to avenge your death....
I don't think either format is going anywhere, look at new release prices - 28.99 or 29.99??? The majority will not pay that. The recent prices at Amazon for HD DVD are more in line with what prices SHOULD be, but those are catalog titles, the new releases are still too high...
i just hope Paramount turns blu b4 the new Indiana Jones move comes out, i really need to have that movie. and ill forgive them for selling out to toshiba.
Some thoughts,
Maybe Sony influence "paid" NetFlix to halt HD-DVD rentals to combat low Toshiba A3, A30 prices. Maybe the thinking was consumers would be hesitant to purchase an affordable HD-DVD player with limited places to rent HD-DVDS. Also, what good is a HD-DVD player to the mass of consumers if there is little of even no outlet for device support (rentals) even if it is lower priced.
Also, possible Best Buy "paid" to push Blu-Ray to protect against lower priced HD-DVD player sales to uninformed consumers to protect against HD-DVD player sales to 2nd wave of consumers.
Interesting $500 milion Warner article link:
http://formatwarcentral.com/index.php/2008/01/04/warner-swayed-by-500-million-from-the-bda/
Sony is strategically doing an excellent job at protecting their assets. With Blu-Ray as a proprietary media format that they control under the BDA with DRM to protect things such as Sony Picture Studios movies from potential big pirated movies such as Spiderman and etc... preventing revenue loss to piracy. These are good moves and much needed to protect PS3's weak take off sales. With the weak PS3 initial sales and "if" Blu-Ray wasn't forced to succeed then the PS3's would have been a major flop for Sony. This calls for evasive action thus the rush to put an end to HD-DVD amiss the lowering Toshiba A-series prices and spread amongst consumers. Blu-Ray was a higher cost development technology than HD-DVD but it will be a very profitable one once newer lasers and revised components are developed and profiles finalized. This will allow Sony more control over the Blu-Ray media and what it will, will not do, and how it can be used and that is a good (profitable) thing for Sony. Think the UMD format for PSP (not limitations but control.) This type of product domination may not the best for consumers but it is interesting and entertaining to see business happen in such a public way.
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These statements are open minded ideals and in no way intended to influence a consumer purchase. Research and consumer education should be used to make an informed decision about a purchase. Thus, giving you as the buyer the knowledge that you have made a purchase that is "right".
A link explaining the 2nd wave of consumers as talked about in the above article:
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=22049
BB just delivered the final deathblow to the red camp.....R.I.P.
if best buy can trick people into buying 130 dollar hdmi cables, then can get the rubes to think bluray is the next big thing (i'm a blu ray "backer" btw)
its over johnny
What's funny is that both formats are dead. The day of tangible media is gone. Downloads are the way to go. Apple TV, Netflix, all starting to offer downloadable service.
Your 400 dollar blu-ray players are just as dead as the 150 dollar HD-DVD players.
Don't deny it!
An HD DVD player makes an excellent upconverting DVD player, and the new prices for the low end one makes it pretty interesting, even if all HD DVD disks were to disappear.
As for BluRay profiles, there's a lawsuit (possibly becoming a class action) against Samsung's Profile 1.0 player, because it is *not* upgradeable to 1.1 Profile and won't handle the interactive BluRay features. So make sure that your BluRay investment lasts by buying one with an upgrade capabilities.
So if Blu takes over and discs are like $30, will all DVDs be like $10 or less now...I'll just get those...save some $$. Upscaling is fine for me if it means I pay 1/3 the price... :)
And until a Blu-Ray player is less than $200 a-la the recent and final last hope Toshiba HD-DVD players...why waste extra money on the player...
This is a large scale rip off if you ask me - at least for the time being...
...unless you have a 70" LCD...in which case your toilet is probably made of solid gold and you're not worried about the extra $$