Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems BR Is the King OF HD.

Yeh, I agree, there does seem to be a lack of aggressive marketing of either format in the UK. Other than loads of flat-screen TVs with 'HD Ready' plastered all over them, I've seen very little hard selling

"Ready for what?" is perhaps the burning question!

Clif

I think the HD DVD group had $150m marketing budget ready to start spending this winter, but the disastrous chip fault in their second generation players that has delayed their release on both sides of the Atlantic this side of Christmas seems to have put a halt on advertising. What would be the point if they`ve got nothing in quantity to sell? Bluray set ups can be found over here in the odd Comet or John Lewis branch, but again, they`ve got diode shortage problems and so on so quantity is low and hardly worth advertising to the mainstream yet. I`m deeply disappointed actually, as I was foolish enough to think both sides would get their arse in gear and really get serious this winter. At the moment the format war is more boring than I can ever remember it being.

I`m going to a little event at PJ-Hi Fi in Guildford at 4pm on the 20th. Amir Majidimehr is coming over from Microsoft in the US to do a two hour on and off the record discussion about HD DVD and the format war. I`m looking forward to that. Tickets are still available for the 4pm session on the PJ-Hi Fi website (7pm is sold out).

I`ve great respect for those buying either, or both, formats right now. Those buying now will hopefully steer us toward a winning format in good time. I stopped buying DVD ages ago but ideally I am not ready to buy into either HD format until we`ve a better sense of the outcome. I hate the prospect of dual format players and I don`t want an array of titles on my shelf, some of which might be for a dead format. It just baffles me how studios and manufacturers could be so arrogant as to let this outcome happen.

I`m just repulsed by the way backers of either formats talk about this situation. Fox are perhaps one of the most disgraceful with boasts and arrogance aplenty with regards to their Bluray support. These companies are dictating what consumers should buy, and I hate that. I`d rather they all saw sense, discarded their agendas, published on both and let the public decide. That would be the decent thing, but I am no longer sure that decent is in the vocabulary of those involved with either format.

I still don`t agree with the “it`s DVD-A and SACD” analogy, at least not to a significant deegree. Whilst yes we`re probably in a similar situation where the general consumer considers DVD ‘good enough` as they did CD, it can`t be denied that HD and HDTV are buzzwords ever escaping into public consciousness. It`s taken an age to bring HD to the UK, but this year you`ve not be able to escape it. I genuinely believe the market IS there for a single HD format but, and this is the greatest similarity to DVD-A and SACD, because we`re lumbered with two formats, people are confused, many can`t afford and/or justify buying both, so the majority decide not to buy either at all.

I like Bluray`s spec on paper, but I hate the way its backers have decided to take such a lacklustre approach in publishing on the format. As the premium priced format, it ought be exploited as the superior format its specification allows it to be, but we`re not seeing that. Everyone on the HD DVD side really seems to be trying their hardest to make their discs as good as possible and I can`t help but admire that.

Here's another twist to shock the system.

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Conten...tent%20And%20Services/Retailers/E8M5F3G4

So, Sony will actually kill off their own disc format before it's even close to mainstream.

BT (UK phone people) go for internet TV.

SKY increase their hold on web broadcasting and now offer upgraded sports and movie content via the web.

I'm sure there are plenty of other pointers around the world as to whether or not a new silver disc format will survive....regardless of how good they might be.

No wonder the Mothership is keeping it's powder dry on this one.

Lets get it straight, the Blu-ray/HD DVD battle is a video game console war, not a HD media format war.

I just got the HD DVD Xbox 360 player for $200. If HD DVD loses I'll toss it with no regrets.

The consensus on the AVS Forum is that the Sony PS3 holds its own against all available Blu-ray players, plus you get a cool next gen game console!

Most important for me is the fact that both Xbox and PS3 offer downloadable HD movies. None of the HD media players to date have hard drives for downloadable HD content.

You'll probably be tossing your PS3 with it though :

http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Games_...=/Games%20And%20Devices/Console/W2D5W7X5

PS4 due in 2010 Maybe its time to rediscover books and really exploit my music collection

~M~

Its all Academic.

DVD SD is good enough for Joe sixpack. His Kids are used to downloading MP3. They will easily take to download movies. They cannot afford houses big enough in the UK to house vast collections and massive replay systems. MP3 sound is good enough. (I Know it isnt)

For HD DVD (in any guise) to succeed it must be:

1. Backward compatible and good at upscaling SD DVD. (Who wants to buy it all again?)

2. Cheap to buy players that look stylish.

3. Plentyfull and cheap Discs. No more that a �5.00 Premium on SD price.

There are not enough enthusiasts to make it work. Its up to those with no interest at all to vote with their walletts.
This will only happen with agressive marketing and the above criteria.

Just my two pence worth again.

Cheers, Chris

In the US, Target/Frys/Amazon sell most HD-DVDs for $20-$25. However #2 is not true and will certianly take a while to get there. Probably too long. You can already download legal HD movies on the Xbox 360 for a few $ rental.

Chris, I think you may have started something with the house price issue. How can any first time buyer afford to put a roof over their heads now? Mortgage or rental. Never mind then have to fork out for anything more than a HT in a box.

I paid �88k for my house in Newmarket in late '99 and sold it for �120k in early 2002 when I moved out here. It is now worth over �180k from what I've seen. Absolutely crazy, and I couldn't afford to move back to the UK now. I see a friend in Reading paying 350k for a 1200sqft home, and wonder how he manages it. Maybe Japanese style mortgages where your kids continue to pay it after you die? Thankfully I'm not in a position where I need to sell my hifi/ht to pay the bills, but I don't see kids today ever being in a position to buy hifi in the future (except from Richer Sounds).

David.

I'm liking this idea; golf and fishing are looking pretty good too.. All in real-time HD!!

ken

No, I'm not. I wish they were doing better but corporate greed is going to get in the way of success.

By the time this is sorted out, the possibility of HD downloads might be realistic.

Cheers,

David, I think you make a good point. The future for our kids in this area is bleak to say the least.

Look at the 2006 property stats:-

Average Cost: �184,924
Detached: �285,697
Semi-detached: �170,650
Terraced: �143,512
Flat: �174,052

Average UK salary is approx �23k p.a.

Look at the multiplier needed to borrow for even the lowest priced average house.

It needs 2 incomes and has all the consequences that come with that when couples want to become families.

Once Joe Average has bought his flat telly and paid �60/mth for his Sky subscription, he'll not be buying into any new format of disc unless it is priced to match....and by then, he'll be downloading it as he won't have to leave the comfort of the sofa to do so. The codes will be cracked and he'll be sharing it all with his mates.