Is the importance of Blu-Ray overstated?

[bdbdbd]

MikeB said:

@ bdbdbd

Technical superiority definately is the reason for Wii to beat PS3 in sales. Well, this would be the case in order to make your claim true.

The Wii is more of a toy like nature, toys are usually designed to be cheap. The Wii is a non-factor with regard to this thread and neither is the Nintendo DS, it's not really a multi-media device.

The PS3 is a very different device, it was designed to be a long term high spec gaming device as well as a multi-media entertainment device in a much broader sense. In short, a great choice for high definition entertaiment content.

The device was not designed to be cheap for the short term, if Sony would have sold more launch units they would have made a far bigger loss than the 2 billion USD the company lost for the PS3's launch. IMO for the long run, the short term disadvantage will pale in comparison to the long term gains.

@ thread

Microsoft seems to be the main advocate of digital distribution of high definition content. But note the bulk of 360s sold only have a 20 GB harddrive, enough space left for maybe 1 movie stored on it in Blu-Ray quality...

The Elite sold far less units than the 20 GB variant (~90%) and even less than the core units which lack a harddrive. 120 GB is enough to store about 5 movies, so you will be deleting movies very soon. The 360 doesn't even have the option to install larger PC world harddisks like the PS3 does, so 120 GB is the max any current 360 owner will own.

First off, all the gaming devices are toys.
I agree that Wii is a non-factor, although it's userbase makes it a lot bigger factor than PS3, while Wii supports DD (not as movies or HD), conclusion: PS3 is a non-factor too. Although, you had no real argument in your post agains DD taking over BD.
As what it comes to GT5P example, more PS3 that have access to offline content, than there are PS3:s that have access to online content. It also shows that the DD is adopted by people that have online access. DD is a new method of distribution, which definately have transition time. There will be discs available, but i don't see it being the main distribution method in the future.

And as for what Sony expected PS3 to sell, was at a rate, which it's trailing behind behind around a year in sales.

@jalsonmi: I wasn't meaning (just) mobile phones. I was talking about high-speed internet via mobile network. Think about the 3rd world countries with wireless infrastructure, all you need is to contact your mobile operator, get a mobile network modem and you have high-speed internet access for your computer.

@dgm: The question wasn't about HD content, besides the amount you pay for your DSL, isn't any more than you'd be paying for a slower connection.
As what it comes to storing the downloaded content, is where physical media comes to picture.

@slorg.net: Consider if someone would make program which would work like the TV-guide in recordable digital STB:s. You just choose what you want to download and everything else works automatically. So, if you decide you are going to watch a movie saturday, you just click a movies name from the program any day of the week and when it's downloaded, and you want to watch the movie, it's ready. Of course, DD won't kill physical media, but DD will eventually be bigger than physical media. Edit: I forgot to add, that losing your data isn't a problem, just look how Virtual Console works; once you have paid the product, you have unlimited amount of downloads for the paid content on your account.