A total slap in the face of HD DVD owners. I have had enough. I am tired of paying more for a combo disc that I will never use while the BD version is cheaper.

As BD hardware becomes less expensive, the big advantage that HD DVD held over BD (value) is slipping away.

I don't mind paying a little more for combos, but watching studios like Warner and Universal release a SD DVD as well is just ridiculous. The entire argument of the combo disc (help promote the format, ease transition to HD) is BS if these studios release SD DVDs as well.

I am not stupid, it is obvious what is happening and I have had enough of spending 30 dollars on combo discs, when I could buy the BD version for much less, or just buy the SD DVD version. Forcing HD DVD buyers to subsidize both HD and SD formats is one thing, but to do so while also selling a plain old SD DVD version has my blood boiling.

It is rather clear to me now that these studios have no real intention of making the combo format the de facto DVD format for everyone. They are going to bleed HD DVD owners because they can. Well I for one have had enough.

I have been a strong supporter of HD DVD for its quality and value, but I have had enough of paying for combos while both cheaper BD or SD DVD version are available.

What good is my $400 HD DVD player if I have to spend 27-30 bucks on discs while the other format is closer to 20 bucks?

We all had different reasons for going with HD DVD over BD. Mine was simple: value. Combos were rejected by most around here, the studios know it, but here we are...30 dollar discs on new day and date releases. This is going to be the norm from Universal and Warner. Well I for one am saying no more.

I tend to agree with you here. If I wanted or needed a SD version or if combos were priced the same as regular HD DVD's, I would loving the idea, but I don't care if they are only a penny more, I don't like to be forced into buying something I will never use or want. I don't see why they can't release both a combo and a non combo version of the movies and let people pick. It would seem to make more sense, except for the fact that they can't milk you for $10.

Anyone who thinks the HD DVD/DVD combo is going to replace the DVD version is in dreamland. It will NEVER EVER happen! The studios know this.

Imagine the headache on rentals - wrong discs being returned: People putting the "wrong" side of the disc in their DVD player and getting frustrated and returning the disc citing it doesn't work: What about those who are so used to beautiful looking dvds and then asked to adopt to a disc that looks like something burned on a PC.

Flipper discs didn't fly when they were introduced in the late 90s. There was a huge backlash then with a few million installbase - imagine a few hundred million.

i agree. I myself went format neutral when i purchased a ps3, but combo prices really steer me away from those hd-dvd discs. When lady in the water came out, i chose the bd version simply because it was about $10 cheaper than the hddvd combo. I can understand the concept of the combo, but really, why am i paying $10-$15 MORE for a crappy sddvd version that i will never watch? I dont think 99% of people out there who dont own a hddvd will say "oh hey i can buy Superman Returns sddvd for $15, oh but wait, ill pay $35 for it just in case i ever decide to also buy a hddvd player!"

hd-dvd camp are truly shooting themselves in the foot. It only takes one bad decision to tip the scale.

Just give up on HD DVD and go Blu!

This argument is very old and has been debated on here for months. Now let me tell you some news about the combos that you may have missed.

Amir (Microsoft Insider) posted a poll a while back asking about combo discs. Universal heard what we had to say and plans to change their policy on combo discs. If it is a new release it will be combo disc. If it is a catalog title, no combo disc.

This is similar to Warner Bros policy on combos.

I actually agree with this idea. My main problem with the combo disc on catalog titles is I probably already own the SD version or I could get it for $5 which is less than the $7 premium added for combos. Now on new titles, I mind the combos less. I can use them in other rooms of my home where I dont have an HD player or I can use them in the car or take them to a friends. I can also lend the disc to family members to watch. Something I probably wouldn't do with a 20 year old catalog title.

So I wanted to get that news out there before the same old stuff gets debated. Obviously what would be best for the format is to offer combos only(no more SD-DVDs) and price them at the priceline of a newly released DVD. However it does not look like any of the HD-DVD studios are willing to take that much of a decrease in their profit margins.

I think everyone agrees that expensive Combos are bad. Try living in Canada where they go for $35 to 40 CDN. When the regular HD-DVD discs are $25 to $27

If they were the price of a SD DVD or $5 more than an SD DVD than think that while they may deter some that overall they would benefit HD-DVD.

I real winning idea would be Twin Discs [AKA triple-layer single-sided DVD/HD-DVD format disc] for the price of a SD DVD or $5 more.

With the Twin disc, since most HD-DVD to date have had SD extras they could use a HD-15 or HD-17 layer for the movie HD and the other two layers could be DVD-9 where one of the DVD layers would contain the extras but would still be accessible from either HD-DVD system. Where the extras layer is shared for the HD-DVD player this would effectively be a HD-19.5 to HD 21.5 and from the DVD side it would be DVD-9.

Plus the Twin Discs can have cover art, althogh for me cover art is not a show stopper.

i agree // Combos will kill off BD faster than HD DVD :D

!!!!!

Combos are good for rentals. Atleast, it saved my movie evening when HD-DVD side of Superman Returns from Blockbuster.com wouldn't play after a while because of disk damage. So, I continued the movie on SD-DVD side :-) and thanked the COMBO!

If I have to choose a movie that is on combo HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, I will get the one that costs less! If they cost the same, I will avoid COMBO because I love art work on my disc.

How many threads about Combo HD DVDs are going to be started? I mean….is there a limit here at the AVS forum?

Down with Combos (unless there is a BD on the other side maybe).

The Combos cost just as "little" as Fox and some Lionsgate BD titles do. Why is it that we get a trillion threads whining about combos when if you look over at the other side of the fence you're going to barebones discs with no DVD support for $28.

The two formats are within a buck of each other when Amazon doesn't have a sale going on.

http://www.eproductwars.com/dvd/

March 8th

HD DVD-$22.80
Blu-ray - $19.00

A total slap in the face of HD DVD owners. I have had enough. I am tired of paying more for a combo disc that I will never use while the BD version is cheaper.

As BD hardware becomes less expensive, the big advantage that HD DVD held over BD (value) is slipping away.

I don't mind paying a little more for combos, but watching studios like Warner and Universal release a SD DVD as well is just ridiculous. The entire argument of the combo disc (help promote the format, ease transition to HD) is BS if these studios release SD DVDs as well.

I am not stupid, it is obvious what is happening and I have had enough of spending 30 dollars on combo discs, when I could buy the BD version for much less, or just buy the SD DVD version. Forcing HD DVD buyers to subsidize both HD and SD formats is one thing, but to do so while also selling a plain old SD DVD version has my blood boiling.

It is rather clear to me now that these studios have no real intention of making the combo format the de facto DVD format for everyone. They are going to bleed HD DVD owners because they can. Well I for one have had enough.

I have been a strong supporter of HD DVD for its quality and value, but I have had enough of paying for combos while both cheaper BD or SD DVD version are available.

What good is my $400 HD DVD player if I have to spend 27-30 bucks on discs while the other format is closer to 20 bucks?

We all had different reasons for going with HD DVD over BD. Mine was simple: value. Combos were rejected by most around here, the studios know it, but here we are...30 dollar discs on new day and date releases. This is going to be the norm from Universal and Warner. Well I for one am saying no more.


I agree... why would I want a standard version of the HD-DVD and have to pay more to boot... Ugh... the studios are knuckleheads!! :mad:

I agree... why would I want a standard version of the HD-DVD and have to pay more to boot... Ugh... the studios are knuckleheads!! :mad:

Maybe because you don't have a HD DVD player everywhere.

How many threads about Combo HD DVDs are going to be started? I mean….is there a limit here at the AVS forum?

Because HD DVD owners are frustrated with the studios not respecting their loyal customers. Everyone knows that having a combo FORCES HD DVD owners to pay more for the movie if we want to own it. Because that is the ONLY way it can be had. So we have to subsidise old technology (DVD) in order to get our movie. That is simply taking advantage of the early adopters that help put HD on the map. Its a form of shameless extortion fleecing HD DVD without reason.

The studios should price combos at or lower than regular HD disc if they really want to draw non HD DVD owners into the fold. Otherwise it's simply a ripoff of early adopters. Or maybe they are trying to milk as much out of the early adopters as they can just in case HD doesn't succeed. Moreover, studios have to know that if you bought a HD DVD player you have made a concious decision to drop/leave DVD behind.

Maybe because you don't have a HD DVD player everywhere.

No, no offense, but just because you like the Combo's usefullness in other players, doesn't mean that we all agree to help subsidize the cost.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9977186&&#post9977186

I also wouldn't LEND my HD DVDS out, even if they were combo's, a couple of lil scratches on these things, and they hardly work at all.
I laugh everytime I hear THAT as a REASON to get combo's!!

"Yeah, you can borrow it, but be careful, and don't muck it up" >"OK, I will"....

"Ooooooo mannnnnnnnnnn!! Look at those scratches...... ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!"
"Whaaaaadddddddaaaaayyyyyaaaa meeeeaaaaaannnnnn noooooo diiiiisssssccccc!!!!!"

BTW, everyone doesn't shop at Amazon to get a movie they'd like to watch, and the costs in the retail stores is not as close at some places..

Theoretically speaking....will the new release combos ever be "re-released" as catalog titles (not combos) in the future?

Because HD DVD owners are frustrated with the studios not respecting their loyal customers. Everyone knows that having a combo FORCES HD DVD owners to pay more for the movie if we want to own it. Because that is the ONLY way it can be had. So we have to subsidise old technology (DVD) in order to get our movie. That is simply taking advantage of the early adopters that help put HD on the map. Its a form of shameless extortion fleecing HD DVD without reason.

The studios should price combos at or lower that regular HD disc if they really want to draw non HD DVD owners into the fold. Otherwise it's simply a ripoff off early adopters. Or maybe they are trying to milk as much out of the early adopters as they can just in case HD doesn't succeed. Moreover, studios have to know that if you bought a HD DVD player you have made a concious decision to drop/leave DVD behind.

Well said.

No, no offense, but just because you like the Combo's usefullness in other players, doesn't mean that we all agree to help subsidize the cost.


I also wouldn't LEND my HD DVDS out, even if they were combo's, a couple of lil scratches on these things, and they hardly work at all.
I laugh everytime I hear THAT as a REASON to get combo's!!

"Yeah, you can borrow it, but be careful, and don't muck it up" >"OK, I will"....

"Ooooooo mannnnnnnnnnn!! Look at those scratches...... ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!"
"Whaaaaadddddddaaaaayyyyyaaaa meeeeaaaaaannnnnn noooooo diiiiisssssccccc!!!!!"

BTW, everyone doesn't shop at Amazon to get a movie they'd like to watch, and the costs in the retail stores is not as close at some places..


This is going to be horrific for Blockbuster......all those credits...

The studios should price combos at or lower than regular HD disc if they really want to draw non HD DVD owners into the fold. Otherwise it's simply a ripoff of early adopters. Or maybe they are trying to milk as much out of the early adopters as they can just in case HD doesn't succeed. Moreover, studios have to know that if you bought a HD DVD player you have made a concious decision to drop/leave DVD behind.

Some seem to miss the fact that no Hollywood Studio owns or has interest in the hd-dvd format the way that Sony does BD. You don't hurt a studio by moving over to BD or by sticking with SD because they are collecting the money anyway. It's offbase to say "hd-dvd is killing itself" because "hd-dvd" is not selling any movies.

If you don't like their combo buys "they" can simply sell you a BD or SD version. If they did release combos for the same price as SD would'nt they be simply giving away a version of their movie? They would do this why, to promote hd-dvd? Why when they have another format to sell on?

Universal is the only major with commitment where lower hd-dvd sales cost them money and it appears they are looking at taking a the hit by lowering combo costs and limiting them to new releases. Of course they can always move over and sell you movies on BD too if they want to so without the hd-dvd format benefit of combos one has to question how long they want to subsidize an introduction to combos before just selling you the movie on the other disk.

Bottom line is that if early adopters aren't going pay for combos then why should a studio do it when they get paid on either format and for their SD version anyway?

Contrast this with BD50 which also would be more expensive but has a vested studio able to subsidize the price down till high volumes are reached and you can see the issue for hd-dvd combo. It's a key advantage for format but may simply not have any benefactor willing to pay for it's early cost.

combo will be a footnote in history. Seriously, its over anyway folks, go blu and be done with it. I intend to.

Die combos Die! :mad:

It sucks that you dont get the print on the disc... but I wouldnt mind paying a couple extra $$$ to have an SD and an HD-version of the disc.

That way I could play movies in my car as well.

Because HD DVD owners are frustrated with the studios not respecting their loyal customers. Everyone knows that having a combo FORCES HD DVD owners to pay more for the movie if we want to own it. Because that is the ONLY way it can be had. So we have to subsidise old technology (DVD) in order to get our movie. That is simply taking advantage of the early adopters that help put HD on the map. Its a form of shameless extortion fleecing HD DVD without reason.

The studios should price combos at or lower than regular HD disc if they really want to draw non HD DVD owners into the fold. Otherwise it's simply a ripoff of early adopters. Or maybe they are trying to milk as much out of the early adopters as they can just in case HD doesn't succeed. Moreover, studios have to know that if you bought a HD DVD player you have made a concious decision to drop/leave DVD behind.


No disrespect or anything but have you considered that early adopters are not the target of the studios right now? Think about it why appeal to a very very small ammount of early adopters who really do not make a difference in sales at this point? If I were a company I would focus on getting SD owners to quickly adopt HD DVD as fast as possible. One of the advantages to the combo discs is that future prospective HD DVD plater owners can buy the disc, be satisfied with the content immediately and then a few months down the road when they make their HD purchase wham they have that same movie on HD DVD. It is actually pretty smart.I mean the early adopters have to suffer for it but you don't matter as much as the large SD population that can either make or break HD DVD.

If I would have looked in HD DVD a little more before randomly buying it I would have spent and extra $10 for Superman Returns or Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift.

Imagine the headache on rentals - wrong discs being returned: People putting the "wrong" side of the disc in their DVD player and getting frustrated and returning the disc citing it doesn't work: What about those who are so used to beautiful looking dvds and then asked to adopt to a disc that looks like something burned on a PC.

You really can´t blame the distributor for the fact that some customers are stupid, can you?


Flipper discs didn't fly when they were introduced in the late 90s. There was a huge backlash then with a few million installbase - imagine a few hundred million.

That was due to the fact that the movie itself was split onto both sides of the disc. This is not the case with HD-DVD combos!

How many threads about Combo HD DVDs are going to be started? I mean….is there a limit here at the AVS forum?

I agree

If you guys see duplicate threads;

could you post a polite reply that it is a duplicate, and post a link to the original thread...then report the duplicate thread to moderator and ask it to be closed

Thanks