Almost Average Consumer Thoughts

Sounds about right.

1. They're waiting out the war. Smart.

2. Prices need to come down to the 200s.

3. I'm betting that once they learn there's a combo player, they'll begin to jump off the fence. Othewise, as many of us fear both formats could fade without more support. To me this bolsters mine and others' belief that a combo is a very good thing.

If these guys are representative of the general public, then the G.P. is more informed than many here think.

Non video/audio philes?

Some maybe.

But read this poster's thoughts - he is not Joe6Pack. BUT read where he was and now where he is going. Same thing applies to video...

"Me...former, reformed, audiophile
The ipod and children changed my ways...the music is more important then the gear.

That said...Sandi, my Neodigits does HDCD, not DVDA..... http://www.neodigits.com/new/body/pr...4000/h4000.asp

Kevin, yes, both formats SUCK...they sound manipulated. Stereo still is best. While I will admit to loving good vinyl, I still think good digital is dollar for dollar far better. My 10+ year old digital front end (Audio Alchemy DDS Pro transport, DTI Pro 32, and MSB Full Nelson Link Dac) which is low end audiophile....or rather, value audiophile, sounds better then my current analog front end (Music Hall MMF w/Grado gold cartridge, and Pro-Ject el cheapo phono pre-amp) at comparable value level. This goes through my Audio Alchemy OM150 (dual mono rig) amp, Audio Alchemy pre-amp and NHT 2.5i speakers. Cables, as above...analog are Kimber (including speaker). I have a bunch of other $$$ spent on power cables and stations...but thats all BS. I rarely listen to that system. I listen to almost everything through my Pioneer HT receiver, (new) HSU speaker system (replaced B&W...yikes!!!) and Ipod."

They certainly are not UNeducated - not a single one.

I agree. These guys are not likely the representatives of J6P. Just responding to the original post puts them in a category that already gives a damn. There are probably plenty of other members that passed this one over.

Doubt it...considering they are saying that the BD stand alones are still "outrageously" priced.

You're right. I should have coupled that statement with my $200 range comment.

I have a couple of neighbors that are cycling fanatics (one at the competitive level). They spend insane amounts of money on cycles, etc that far exceeds what we consider outrageous for HD-DVD and Blu-ray players!

its true bd needs to drop the price like now or produce a player in the a2s range,but i was around in 1997 when sddvd launched and the players were 799.00 and up!!! i always get akick out of people who think they can forcast the future,no one knows how this war is gonna turn out as much as whos gonna end up in the super bowl lets get real !

Interesting point. Sounds logical.

1. They're probably the mainstream rather than early adoptors
2. They're waiting for mainstream prices
3. Format wars put mainstream consumers off

So nothing we didn't already know. Early adopters get new technology first when it's expensive. As time goes by, manufacturers drop the price as technology matures and sales plateaux. This opens up new markets and gradually the mainstream (who only got DVD 4 years ago) start buying.

Generally speaking early adopters tend to be early adopters for most of their life and mainstreamers tend to remain that way as do late adopters. The HD formats are no different and in fact HD displays are only just starting to hit the mainstream. When displays are sub $400 and players are sub $200 then things will open up


It's funny when people act like DVD was $300 at launch and dropped to $200 in a year. Blu-ray is no different to how SD was. DVD players are $30 now and in 10 years so will Blu-ray players (assuming BD wins)

Agreed. J6P still gets hoots from using Email and maybe chat-rooms, if "he" goes near a computer.

larry