Just trying to gauge what owners of formats think will win. I for one own only HD DVD, but think that Blu Ray will win.

Dual Owner. If I were a betting man, I'd go with Blu Ray.

Dual Owner. If I were a betting man, I'd go with Blu Ray.

I was working on it :) it's up now...

This should be a public poll, it is useless otherwise.

I'm an HD-DVD owner and, despite the unprecedented barrage of negative news this week from the BDA, I'm convinced neither side will win. Based on everyday conversations I have with regular folks not into AVS Forum or high-def media like we are most people don't give a f*** about HD media, period. For them regular SD DVD's upscaled to fill their new big screens and/or HD cable/satellite is enough. I wish I were wrong but, if I had to guess, I'll say both HD-DVD and BD stay 'niche' for at least two to three more years (assuming neither side capitulates by then) before they're adopted by the more mainstream consumer. Even then none of them will come close to what will still be the #1 home video format five years from now, plain-old 480i DVD. Good news for Toshiba and the DVD Forum I guess. :rolleyes:

This should be a public poll, it is useless otherwise.

How do i edit the poll... I can't find a way to do it...

I'm a dual format owner, and I think it'll be Blu-ray or neither. I *wish* it would have been HD DVD, but sad to say I have no faith in Tosh's ability to clean up a rapidly developing mess.

How do i edit the poll... I can't find a way to do it...

You can't, you need to make a new one.

I currently only own HD-DVD, but that could/would change depending on the BIG content...there are a handful of movies I REALLY want in Hi-Def and whichever side gets 'em will be the winner (well, the consumer also wins then, but it will help their cause by moving those titles in landslide style) in my house. If LOTR, Gladiator, Braveheart, JP, Private Ryan, etc, come out tomorrow on BD, I'm buying a player PRONTO, nevermind price ;), if BOTH formats end up with those titles, I'll of course just get the HD-DVD version and ride off into the sunset happy as a clam with no concern about whatever happens in the war from then on, just label me a vet and give me my benefit package. :)

I currently only own HD-DVD, but that could/would change depending on the BIG content...there are a handful of movies I REALLY want in Hi-Def and whichever side gets 'em will be the winner (well, the consumer also wins then, but it will help their cause by moving those titles in landslide style) in my house. If LOTR, Gladiator, Braveheart, JP, Private Ryan, etc, come out tomorrow on BD, I'm buying a player PRONTO, nevermind price ;), if BOTH formats end up with those titles, I'll of course just get the HD-DVD version and ride off into the sunset happy as a clam with no concern about whatever happens in the war from then on, just label me a vet and give me my benefit package. :)

I'm waiting for all of those :)

Paramount and Dreamworks are neutral so we'll see Gladiator, Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart on both formats (if Paramount gets their act together)

Universal is HD DVD exclusive so the blu-boys won't get Jurassic Park

Universal is HD DVD exclusive so the blu-boys won't get Jurassic Park

I would consider owning a HD-DVD player just for this one title! :) I purchased a Laserdisc player back in 1983 just so I could watch the CAV Criterion Special Edition of King Kong. :eek:

where is the "Own Whatever: Both Formats Fail" Option?

where is the "Own Whatever: Both Formats Fail" Option?

Yeah that's what I'd vote for. Both fail, both never take off, both remain niche, etc

Yeah that's what I'd vote for. Both fail, both never take off, both remain niche, etc

What an unsurprising viewpoint from a Microsoft employee.

What an unsurprising viewpoint from a Microsoft employee.

Enough with the MSFT conspiracy theory already. SNE has never done *anything* as philanthropic as Bill Gates alone, or *anything* nearly as positive for computing as MSFT has. Somehow I'd bet you have at least 1 CPU running a MSFT product though...how convenient.

i think blu-ray wins in the end too. in a market where technologies are constantly trying to out-big one another, blu-ray has a clear advantage. but even more than that is the marketability of blu-ray. i try to be as neutral as possible, but on its own, the subtle marketing factors that appeal to the average "couldn't-care-less" consumers, like most of our mothers and wives, outweigh those of hddvd almost unanimously. from a marketing standpoint, consider that "blu-ray" rolls off the tongue much easier than "hd-dvd", and the eye sees the color "blu" quicker than other colors and is widely considered "prettier" than burgundy and the electric blue cases for blu-ray stand out more than hddvd's burgundy cases.
throw on that 50gb dual layer vs 30gb dual layer and my mother-in-law asks, "how is this hddvd thing even still around?"

i don't mind if they coexist, i just don't want them to cancel each other out. and whoever can appeal to "joe consumer" has the best chance to run with it. right now, i just think that blu-ray has a better chance.

I'm a dual owner and I say both formats will co-exist, with BD being the dominant present, but HD-DVD still existing beside it, at least for the next 18 months. I think you'll see dual format players long before HD-DVD concedes defeat, which owuld negate the whole format war.

So in summary, that's co-exist with a 66/33 split in favor of BD and this is coming from a dual format owner.

Enough with the MSFT conspiracy theory already. SNE has never done *anything* as philanthropic as Bill Gates alone, or *anything* nearly as positive for computing as MSFT has. Somehow I'd bet you have at least 1 CPU running a MSFT product though...how convenient.

We are talking about high def media and the theory that Microsoft wants it to fail.

If anything you should complain that he infers MichaelHDDVD is a Microsoft employee just because he is an HD DVD fanboy.

We are talking about high def media and the theory that Microsoft wants it to fail.

If anything you should complain that he infers MichaelHDDVD is a Microsoft employee just because he is an HD DVD fanboy.

Actually Jiffy, there was 'confirmation' a while ago - deleted of course, but Michael Armijo is the name I remember.

For the record, I have no problem with people not disclosing who they work for, I do have a problem with MS employees in particular badgering normal members and going around accusing people of being BDA employees while not disclosing all MS employees currently posting on AVSF.

Actually Jiffy, there was 'confirmation' a while ago - deleted of course, but Michael Armijo is the name I remember.

For the record, I have no problem with people not disclosing who they work for, I do have a problem with MS employees in particular badgering normal members and going around accusing people of being BDA employees while not disclosing all MS employees currently posting on AVSF.

I hope that isn't true, if it is I would assume he would do a better job of actually convincing people that HD DVD was the way to go instead of polarizing people.

It seems more likely to me that he is phase hydra, trying to make HD DVD supporters look bad.

As hddvd goes down the tubes, expect to see the fanboys go 'to hell with optical media' and start pushing downloads. Insane and spiting themselves for it, but oh well.

I hope that isn't true, if it is I would assume he would do a better job of actually convincing people that HD DVD was the way to go instead of polarizing people.

It seems more likely to me that he is phase hydra, trying to make HD DVD supporters look bad.


Do you really feel the need for the above comments. How about just voting and say why you voted that way.

I did vote and it should be pretty clear that I own a blu-ray player and expect blu-ray to win.

Sorry if I offended your delicate sensibilities with my OT conversation, will try not to let it happen again.

As hddvd goes down the tubes, expect to see the fanboys go 'to hell with optical media' and start pushing downloads. Insane and spiting themselves for it, but oh well.

How do you know how others will react? Unless of course you are a "HD DVD fanboy" and this is how you will react...but that still doesn't mean that's how the general public will react.

Statements like these are worthless and don't contribute to the discussion in any way.

i own both, i strongly believe that both formats will co-exist for a long long time. The studios will go neutral and pretty much all movie titles will be released on both formats. look at some of the new movies coming out, there on both formats. The majority of the peolple dont even know what hd is, so i'd give it about 2 more years until every body owns an hd format player.

I currently own HD DVD, which is the shot I fired in the format war. I believe that BD will win, if you can call it that, because of all the back-room deals that have been made. After BD wins the format war with HD, it too will fail, joining the has-been ranks of SACD. This will be the ultimate legacy of the format war.

What about VOD?

I think we're a ways off from VOD taking out physical media. Has Cable/satellite VOD stop people from buying DVDs?

I currently own HD DVD, which is the shot I fired in the format war. I believe that BD will win, if you can call it that, because of all the back-room deals that have been made. After BD wins the format war with HD, it too will fail, joining the has-been ranks of SACD. This will be the ultimate legacy of the format war.

This may be true...I was talking to a co-worker today who bought a nice big HDTV (52") but doesn't have any HD programming. I asked why and he said that he couldn't tell a difference and just wanted a bigger screen.

Couldn't tell a difference between HD and SD and stretched and non-stretched. I tried to explain and he responded with "you are too picky and I just don't care."

If most people have this view about HD programming (which most cable subscribers already pay for in their standard service), do you really think they will upgrade their DVD player? Probably not...niche format, here we come :)

I currently own HD DVD only but believe Blu-ray will win. I picked up an HD DVD player because the price was right but always intended to go neutral once BD players became more affordable, which it appears they are now doing. So I expect to be officially neutral very soon.

We are talking about high def media and the theory that Microsoft wants it to fail.

If anything you should complain that he infers MichaelHDDVD is a Microsoft employee just because he is an HD DVD fanboy.

Fair enough.

As hddvd goes down the tubes, expect to see the fanboys go 'to hell with optical media' and start pushing downloads. Insane and spiting themselves for it, but oh well.

Eff downloads as the primary method of getting content. That is a bigger scam in favor of the studios than any since the consumer has been able to buy content.

This should be a public poll, it is useless otherwise.

Agreed. I'm obviously a Blu-ray only owner and firmly believe in it's future.

I own neither, but at this point I think Bluray will come out on top (it may take some time though..). I was actually close to buying a hddvd player for 299, but the blockbuster news was enough to deter me. I would have bought bluray if prices were similar to hddvd, but now I'll have to wait buying until they go down a bit more..

hmmm...one would think demand for HD media would be good regardless of the format. It seems that the Blockbuster news has caused some potential customers to back out of HD DVD at this time and go with nothing.

One would think (okay, me) that in order for HD media to beat SD media (the real war), you would need more people "in the game" regardless of format. Otherwise, it may be a niche format and never be mainstream.

If I was a Vegas oddsmaker handicapping this I would have to make Blu-ray the favorite by a fair amount currently. So that is how I voted. Doesn't mean they will win, but they sure look like the favorites odds wise at the moment to me.

--Darin

Eff downloads as the primary method of getting content. That is a bigger scam in favor of the studios than any since the consumer has been able to buy content.

agree, not only that but it will end up killing quality. lower quality= lower bitrate= faster downloads= less space on disk. Most people like the last two and the studios like that as well

My guesstimate right now is....:

60% chance BD wins : 35% chance co-exist : 5% HD DVD wins

It's too bad from my perspective. I own both - I agree BD is a better product in general, but think HD DVD is a significantly nicer product for movies. The PS3 pretty much guarantees BD will outlast the war regardless of outcome.

I'm a HD enthusiast, so neutrality comes easy for me. I see nothing here an affordable dual format player couldn't cure. Studios could march to whatever tune they so desire and the consumer won't be 'holding the bag' in the end. Everyone goes home happy, nobody gets hurt.

I'm a HD enthusiast, so neutrality comes easy for me. I see nothing here an affordable dual format player couldn't cure. Studios could march to whatever tune they so desire and the consumer won't be 'holding the bag' in the end. Everyone goes home happy, nobody gets hurt.

HMMMM...why would you get hurt by owning either format if it fails??

You can still play dvd's on these machines and the software is still yours. It might not have a future but it is still usable. :)

HMMMM...why would you get hurt by owning either format if it fails??

You can still play dvd's on these machines and the software is still yours. It might not have a future but it is still usable. :)

Assuming your player(s) don't take a dive. Let's say five years from now you own 200 HD titles but no HD playback device. You get the picture.
Besides, I'm not buying $500 players to watch SD. I've got six dust collectors for that.

So far HD DVD has limited itself to being a one trick pony (price) when it comes to marketing. If it can't neutralize BD's momentum ( announcements from Blockbuster etc.) it won't be able to even sell players for $49.95. Perception is everything and this is where HD DVD is getting killed. A great format marketed by people with little imagination who are trapped in the "business model" marketing "box". Too bad, but how many great products have there been that didn't make it for a myraid of reasons - plenty! Anyway, I own HD DVD, but will vote BD will win; however, it will be a pyrrhic victory since it will, IMO, only remain a niche product and cause Sony much financial grief - there's so little interest by consumers in either format that I am not sure it can even be measured.

Cheers,

Grant

I'm a fan of HD movies. Thus, I have both. Both have some advantages the other lacks. In the end, I want HD movies not a cause.

I think Blu Ray is better positioned at this moment due to content though.

Assuming your player(s) don't take a dive. Let's say five years from now you own 200 HD titles but no HD playback device. You get the picture.
Besides, I'm not buying $500 players to watch SD. I've got six dust collectors for that.


Lmao...yes this is true but $500?? The kind of DVD playing quality was 5 times that last year. I payed $300.00 for my a2. :)

I currently own an HD-DVD player and am looking into getting a Blu-Ray player. I think that it is still way too early to forecast a winner.