Blu-Ray. Hi Def.... High Cost.

Blu-ray Won, But the Public's Still Not Buying...
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,146824-c,dvddrivesmedia/article.html

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A recent study by the NPD Group has shown that Blu-ray sales only increased by 2 percent from February to March and that Blu-ray sales dropped 40 percent from January to february.

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006883.html

Take out the fanboys, audio/video enthusiasts, and what do you get? About 90% of the population that neither care, nor can afford, a luxury box that requires a new (HD)TV set... at least NOT at current prices. Gasoline & agriculture (thanks ETHANOL!) will NEVER go down in price EVER AGAIN- average of $4.30/gallon as of today in the United States!

This dramatically hampers the public's spending CHOICES, and a new Blu-ray player (that requires you to buy a new HDTV and blu ray movies, that you already dvd-own/rented/seen to view in 1080p format... otherwise, why buy the player at all!) is NOT A PRIORITY CALL to replace current DVD players, nor someone's DVD COLLECTION that numbers in HUNDREDS!.

The industry knows this, but will Walmart's $300 blu-ray deal (includes a $100 gift certificate, not cash, so you still NEED to spend it on Walmart) be enough to sway the public to go blu? Doubtful. The longer they (the industry) wait to retail the blu-ray player (for around $150), the higher the gasoline prices (and agriculture... and everything else) goes spikin' up... while the average wage (increase) for the majority remains stagnant... if you don't get laid off. Consumer prices are RISING FASTER than years before, with our gasoline pumps being the DISASTER GAUGE! Nationwide adaptation of ethanol, hybrids, electric cars, & hydrogen fuels- will take YEARS to arrive. At least five years... if at all! By that time, will Blu-ray still become a choice, or will a CHEAPER format w/ the same features (or better) takes its place? (Volatility/evolution in technology is rampant nowadays).

Blu-ray player MUST RETAIL for around $150. FAST. Will we see one by year's end? It better, or Blu-ray is as good as a BETAMAX in Sony's archives.

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[Post edited by tylerdurden on Jun 7, 2008 - CDT 4:15 PM]

tylerdurden + deadmeat = flies

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But more likely is what NPD's high-def video analysts have been harping on for a while: that DVD is "good enough" for most consumers. And that the picture offered by a Blu-ray Disc and accompanying player doesn't appear so overwhelmingly better than a standard DVD and an upconverting player that many consumers can't justify the dramatically increased cost.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9932311-7.html

Deja Vu again...

tylderdurden... NOT showing the whole picture!

Recent sales report is viewable on EngadgetHD today - and here's what some have completely OVERLOOKED from that report...

"...Blu set a personal best at 10 percent of the market on this week's Nielsen VideoScan charts..." - 10%!!!

Folks, this had yet to happen, as hi-def discs (even with HD-DVD combined) usually were lucky to get 5% of total sales, but now, this past week, with the only major title released (Rambo), the Blu market achieved 10% of all discs sold!! As Tim Raynor is fond of saying, "This is great news!"

And when those discounted BD players arrive by 2009, and people want to see REAL hi-def content (not 'upconverted' SD), look to see higher sales numbers.

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-JIMI McLovin (the Voodoo Child)

I see nothing wrong with the article. It is true though. Outside of a few enthusiasts or people with money to burn, how many people have switched? Shit, a friend of mine has more expendable income, than I make in a year, and could careless about Hi-Def or Blu-Ray! He does have a nice collection of muscle cars, and a Ferrari 350 from 1968!

All you need to know is where to buy your movies from. I'm starting my collection by getting them on Amazon.com. Used copies are uber cheap.

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All you need to know is where to buy your movies from. I'm starting my collection by getting them on Amazon.com. Used copies are uber cheap.

Anyone can start building their Blu-ray collections right now. You can go to JR.com from a bunch of $10.99 and $15.99 titles, and Walmart.com has a 2 for $25 sale right now. Also, for Father's day Amazon.com and Best Buy are having great deals all next week.
Whoever said that there wouldn't be any deals after HD DVD's demise was sorely mistaken.

WALMART IS KEY TO BLU RAYS SUCCESS. WITHOUT IT....IT FAILS ON A MASS ACCEPTANCE LEVEL.

This is very short-sighted thinking. Sure, not everyone wants HD right now, and of course it's going to take time for people to convert to HD, but HD sets are selling in bigger levels year after year, so owning an HDTV is going to be less and less an obstacle as every month passes. Prices will go down as time goes along, especially starting this Fall, but I don't think the future of Blu-ray is going to be set in the next few months. If you want to look at the numbers today and assume that none of this is going to change, then that's one outlook, but the demand for HD content is only going to get stronger. That "90%" figure is only going to get smaller in the future.

I also just read an article noting that the rough economy outlook might actually not be so bad for home entertainment, as many people expected to curb back on their travel and do more things at home.

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WALMART IS KEY TO BLU RAYS SUCCESS. WITHOUT IT....IT FAILS ON A MASS ACCEPTANCE LEVEL.

Right, because it's hard for Wal-Mart exclusive shoppers to get HD VOD in their trailers.

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[Post edited by interplanetaryspy on Jun 7, 2008 - CDT 8:37 PM]