HD Dvd & Blu-ray?

Question

Hi, I have 2 main questions.....

1. Who do you think will win the race between HD Dvd and Blu-ray, and why? Who's winning so far?

2. Why are Blu-ray players so expensive vs. HD dvd players are so cheap?

I just bought an HD dvd player and I hope I made the right choice. Thanks.

Answer 1

Sorry to say, but Blu-ray Disc is the winning format.

Recently the HD DVD promotional group had a major blow just before the CES 2008, when Time Warner, including Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema and HBO said that they would be supporting Blu-ray Disc exclusively from May 31st 2008.

This means, that Blu-ray Disc has 70% of the market share of Hi-def discs being sold, with HD DVD having only 30%.

For you interest the studios supporting Blu-ray Disc are

Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, HBO, 20th Century Fox, Buena Vista (Walt Disney, Pixar Animation, Miramax, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures), Sony Pictures (Columbia, Tristar, ScreenGems), MGM and Lionsgate.



While HD DVD has only Universal Studios, Viacom Paramount (Paramount Studios, Dreamworks, Dreamworks Annimation, MTV), and some other minor companies.

Also now, the average sales in the US, since this for Blu-ray is 83% of the market, with recent statistics saying around 93% of recent hardware sales were Blu-ray Disc players, since the Time Warner move, excluding the world's best, most upgradable Blu-ray Player, the Playstation 3, which many people buy.

Also in Japan 90% of people, are with Blu-ray, and 95% in Australia, and around 80% (I think) in Europe.

Also video rental chains Video Ezy in Australia, and Blockbuster stopped HD DVD rentals, and Target are now also Blu-ray Exclusive. You should see the Blu vs HD clips on Youtube, there was a hilarious based on Hitler, on the fall of HD DVD.

Now, HD DVD is really falling into the Betamax pit, especially, as not many companies endorsed HD DVD, like the Betamax, unlike Blu-ray and VHS, which have a lost of licensies. Although HD DVD has the backing of the DVD Forum, the Blu-ray Disc Association is now equaly as powerful, and large as DVD Forum now, with major electronics giants like Sony, Phillips, Panasonic, Hitatci, JVC, Dell, HP, Sharp, and LG supporting it.

In the Betamax/VHS wars, VHS started it's winning streak when it had around 70% of the market, which now Blu-ray has since Warner desicision.



Now based on reports, Intel(R) Supports both formats, and Microsoft still hasn't denyed the possibility of including an external Blu-ray Disc drive for the XBOX 360,instead of HD DVD.

When another major company drops, it will be the final death blow to HD DVD.

"The Future is Blu"

And about the prices of Blu-ray, it's only expensive as it's a new technology, like DVD was when it was released. Anyway Blu-ray is a far better technology, and the Blu-ray Disc Association don't have to rely on cheap players of the mass market adoption of Blu-ray Disc.

Answer 2

1. I think Blu-ray will win out because of its capacity (25GB can fit on a Bluray single layer and 50GB on a double vs. just 17GB in signle and 34GB in double layer for the HD DVD) - I think the extra space will be needed and Blue-ray will win out! Also, they are already working on a quad layer of both giving the Blu-ray 100GB on a single DVD! Unreal!

2. New Technologies are ALWAYS expensive when they 1st come out... they have to cover the expense of the development of the item... once that is paid for and more people start making competitive products... the price will come down.

Answer 3

Well Blu-Ray is winning....because Sony has billions of $$ to pay retailers to push Blu-Ray on everyone.

The right choice would have been a dual format player like the one from LG or Samsung....more expensive yes but you would never have had to worry about which format is going to win.

I myself have an LG dual format player and am very happy to be able to play Blu-Ray and HD DVD in the same machine.

Answer 4

Hi Theresa,

HD DVD (Toshiba) vs Blu Ray (Sony).

The battle rages and it looks like consumers will have to face a dual format much like the dash R and plus R DVDs.

Samsung & LG already offer dual format machines and others will follow. This probably means both formats will survive.

Both use interactive menus but differences are – Blu-Ray capacity is 50Gb and HD-DVD is 30Gb. HD-DVD is region free while Blu-Ray is divided into three regions. (Figures Sony will try to stick it to the consumer) A disadvantage to HD-DVD is they are not all hard coated as are the Blu-Ray. HD-DVDs scratch as easily as regular DVDs while the Blu-Ray are more scratch resistant.

Norm

Answer 5

Who's winning so far? Neither, as the war is getting sides right now and it is being balance.

As of who I think will win the race, it also will answer the why is blu-ray expensive. I believe that HD will win out as blu-ray disc are expensive to create and encode. Most manufacturers have to change their equipment (which can cost millions) to create blu-ray disc and the machines to run them. With HD, they just have to change programs and little if any equipment. Most manufacturers of DVDs can do this at a little cost.

Answer 6

1.  i've been wondering this too. and looking at the market, it looks like Blu-ray is edging out HDdvd.  most major movie studios have decided what format they want to put their movies on.  it seems most are siding with Blu-Ray.  

Blu-Ray supporters:  Sony (obviously), MGM, Disney/Buena Vista, Fox

HD supporters:  Paramount, Universal, and Weinstein

2.  blu-ray players are more expensive due to different manufacturing settings in factories.  those required for HD are quite similar to those producing our dvd players.  so the factory doesn't have to reconfigure itself too much to accomodate HD production.

we just got an HD dvd player as well.  but we're looking into getting a PS3 for the gaming and blu-ray capabilities.

Answer 7

I'm still waiting.  I think Blu-ray is ahead by a nose.  It is so much more expensive because that format can hold a lot more data, and is designed to be more interactive.

Answer 8

I am guessing Blu ray is winning the war.With the latest information available bluray is holding around 90% of the market .I think you got the answer for y HDDVD players are cheaper than Bluray .You can check the following links to see the market trend.Besides the consumers the movie studios play a major role in deciding the winner.Best thing is to wait for a while. lol