By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - General Discussion - $198 too expensive? HD-DVD player on sale for $99 at Wal-mart

epsilon72 on 03 November 2007
makingmusic476 said:
You guys actually believed KBG? lo
From looking at the other posts he has made I'd say it's a good possibility that he was serious....

"This is yet another reason why Sony is the king of electronics. It is hard not to love a company that makes quality products and is always looking to the future."

He thought that Sony came up with the idea for OLED. He loves them too, apparently.

 

Still, it's kind of like the whole Sony Defense Force thing....they say such outlandish things but keep a straight face 100% of the time. (I know SDF is satirical)



Around the Network
friedtofu on 03 November 2007
KBG29 said:
Spent 3 hours at Wal-Mart today. I stoped 11 out of 12 people from getting HD-DVD players. I will be spending a lot of time down thier the rest of this year.....
 Im sorry but if you are serious this is sad. And funny. 

PS360 ftw!

Currently playing..........

Gears of War 2, GTA IV Lost and Damned, Little Big Planet (Yes I said I had no interest but my girl wanted to try it and we did and now Im hooked )

 

 

makingmusic476 on 03 November 2007
madskillz said:
KBG29 said:

@Madskillz

You buddy are just as bad as I when it comes to these formats. As to your no games on the PS3, I have plenty to play, but somtimes real life is a little more important than video games.


Actually, no. I am a thrifty shopper with thismuchbrandloyalty. I quit being a fanboy a long time ago. You do realize that as far as hardware and the like, HD DVD offers: Web exclusive content - Web facts - region-free movies - cheaper entry into HD world AND - a very familiar name. Blu Ray offers - more movies, the chance to get it when you buy a PS3 - and pretty much the same HD experience - and oh, braggin' rights. That's it. You are still getting the same 1080i experience - with the exception being storage size. That's it. And to the average consumer, when all the facts are laid out, you have - a dollar difference. Sure, I want to watch Cars on my HD DVD - and I will be able to. You know why? I can buy it overseas - get my boy Dav to send it to me - pop it in my HD DVD player and watch it. Why? Blu Ray movies here are also HD DVD movies elsewhere. Now, can you do that with BR? No - because it's locked to one region. So, you have absolutely NO HOPE of ever seeing Transformers on BR - unless their studio defects.

But what I find the most comical is your devotion to correct the facts. Never mind you were creeping folks out - but it's not that serious. As much as I loved my PS2 and Xbox, I only talk about them when asked. Or ... I'll say something if I see a person about to make a costly, warranty-voiding mistake (Intec 360 cooler fan). I'll speak up. But most times? Not so much. I am happy if that's what a person wants. I can't make a person like a Wii, a 360 or even accept Jesus. No, that's not fair.

And lastly, you and several of your partners are of the mindset 'If it's cheap, it's a desperate move" or "it can't touch BR." It's not our fault Sony is too stubborn and downright stupid and of course, arrogant, to lower prices. They are like "If you don't have the money, you don't need our product." Toshiba is of the mindset "We want to win this war - and will play Sony with their shiny new BetaMax BR."

HD DVD, ftw ...


 You keep touting the ability to buy Blu-Ray movies on HD DVD from overseas, but you can only do this with VERY few movies, and no Disney movies.  You will NOT be able to buy Cars on HD DVD no matter how bad you want to.

Also, you chose the wrong movie to say we'll never get it on Blu-Ray.  Transformers is being released on Blu-Ray in Korea, last I heard, and that's region 1, just like the US. ;) 

Either way, it will be very hard to find movies from the opposing format on your format overseas, for both BR and HD.   The only movies I can think of right now are Terminator on HD in Europe, and HP4 on HD in Europe (though it's coming to both formats here in a month), because both are distributed by Studio Canal over there.  Region free ultimately means nothing.  In the gaming world it's important for niche titles only released in Japan, but for movies it matters little.

Also, you keep saying HD DVD is so much better because it's cheaper.  A year ago HD DVD players were $499.  Was that cheap?  In a year Blu-Ray payers will be $150-$250.  Is that cheap enough?  Price is a moving target, that really only matters right here, right now.  Considering the fact that this war will not be decided for 2-3 years, provided Warner does not go Blu-Ray exclusive, then the price difference between the two formats will be non-existant when all is said and done.

Also, size DOES matter.  Transformers and King Kong were forced to forgo lossless audio becuase of storage limitations.  This may not matter to you, but it does matter to studios.  What if New Line puts the LotRs on two discs each just so they can include lossless audio in the form of uncompressed PCM or Dolby-TrueHD?  The days of two-disc films should be behind us.

All your arguments about why Blu-Ray sucks and HD DVD is awesome are complete BS.  Just accept the fact that both are great formats, and that both have their pluses and minuses.  Just because you bought into HD doesn't mean you have to bash Blu-Ray at every given turn. 



NJ5 on 03 November 2007

One thing that I can't understand about Blu-Ray is why the cheapest player is still the PS3?? Is that going to change soon? I ask because I'm not paying much attention to the HD war.



My Mario Kart Wii friend code: 2707-1866-0957

Cobretti on 03 November 2007

makingmusic476

"Also, size DOES matter. Transformers and King Kong were forced to forgo lossless audio becuase of storage limitations. This may not matter to you, but it does matter to studios. What if New Line puts the LotRs on two discs each just so they can include lossless audio in the form of uncompressed PCM or Dolby-TrueHD? The days of two-disc films should be behind us."


yes cause 90% of people can hear the difference lol. Most people won't be able to tell the difference between compressed and uncompressed audio.

Look at mp3's a lot of people can't tell the difference in quality over cds. Not to mention if you really want to benefit from uncompressed audio you need a hell of a expensive audio setup. You really thing people 5 years from now will all own HDTVS and 7.1 or some crazy ass number of speaker systems just so they can have a 10% audio quality increase.

Most people will have either just their TV speakers or at best 5.1.

The moral of the story is just cause Transformers doesn't have uncompressed audio does not mean it is required since most won't give a shit.



Around the Network
madskillz on 03 November 2007
makingmusic476 said:

You keep touting the ability to buy Blu-Ray movies on HD DVD from overseas, but you can only do this with VERY few movies, and no Disney movies. You will NOT be able to buy Cars on HD DVD no matter how bad you want to.

Also, you chose the wrong movie to say we'll never get it on Blu-Ray. Transformers is being released on Blu-Ray in Korea, last I heard, and that's region 1, just like the US. ;)

Either way, it will be very hard to find movies from the opposing format on your format overseas, for both BR and HD. The only movies I can think of right now are Terminator on HD in Europe, and HP4 on HD in Europe (though it's coming to both formats here in a month), because both are distributed by Studio Canal over there. Region free ultimately means nothing. In the gaming world it's important for niche titles only released in Japan, but for movies it matters little.

Also, you keep saying HD DVD is so much better because it's cheaper. A year ago HD DVD players were $499. Was that cheap? In a year Blu-Ray payers will be $150-$250. Is that cheap enough? Price is a moving target, that really only matters right here, right now. Considering the fact that this war will not be decided for 2-3 years, provided Warner does not go Blu-Ray exclusive, then the price difference between the two formats will be non-existant when all is said and done.

Also, size DOES matter. Transformers and King Kong were forced to forgo lossless audio becuase of storage limitations. This may not matter to you, but it does matter to studios. What if New Line puts the LotRs on two discs each just so they can include lossless audio in the form of uncompressed PCM or Dolby-TrueHD? The days of two-disc films should be behind us.

All your arguments about why Blu-Ray sucks and HD DVD is awesome are complete BS. Just accept the fact that both are great formats, and that both have their pluses and minuses. Just because you bought into HD doesn't mean you have to bash Blu-Ray at every given turn.


Thanks for your response. I'll take them under advisement.

I am not the one who camped out at a Wal-Mart so hell bent on converting folks. For me, I see the advantages of HD DVD over Blu Ray. And that's it. There are a few Blu Ray movies I want, but I will not pay $200 for a Blu Ray player. $100? Why not? Do you really, honestly think the average consumer will buy a $400-$500 player just to watch a few movies? I got a free player - and a great deal. Eventually, I'll get a PS3 - from a pawn shop or used - and then, I'll get to see Blackhawk Down and Cars. But seriously - I can get *most* Blu Ray movies - including XXX, Ghost Rider, Fantastic Four, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and a host of others - on HD DVD. Oh, trust me - I have done my research and don't see the need of shelling out an additional $200 to $300 just to watch a handful of movies. Sorry - that does not compute.

Two-disc films? So what - who cares? I would rather have HD DVD movies and extra loot than have a Blu Ray player, my 5 free movies and being locked into regions and DRM. Not, thanks. I enjoy having choices.

And I bash Blu Ray? ROTFLMBO ... I don't care for the format's arrogance. They are discriminating - and could care less if commonfolk will buy their format. They will see once again that commonfolks will determine this battle. You can rip HD DVD - blast the format at every given turn, but to several thousand folks, they are now in the HD race - and didn't have to pawn an arm and leg to get it. Yes, I am the type of person that wants everyone to share in the HD experience, regardless if they spend $500 on Blu Ray or $100 for HD DVD.

And in reality - the PS3 is the only reason BR is in the race anyhow ... HD DVD players outsell BR players in the standalong category.



makingmusic476 on 03 November 2007

You completely ignored my price argument. >_



madskillz on 03 November 2007
makingmusic476 said:
You completely ignored my price argument. >_<

It's as if you expect the war to be won over the next two months when HD DVD is below $200 and Blu-Ray is still $400. What about the people that buy in over the next year or two? Blu-Ray player prices will keep dropping.

They are dropping, but can you predict when we'll see a $100 BR player? That's the huge difference. Wal-Mart will eventually come out with a permanent HD DVD sku close to $150. Watch it and see. In the end, what is the real difference between a sub $200 HD DVD player and a $400 BR player? Bragging rights - and a good library for BR NOW. However, with HD DVD moving a lot more players, you don't honestly think studios will continue to say 'NO' to HD DVD? It's all about the bottom line ... making money. HD DVD will have an awesome install base shortly, IMHO, rivaling Sony's PS3 install base. And watch for an insane attach rate for HD DVDs too.



kn on 03 November 2007
makingmusic476 said:
You completely ignored my price argument. >_<

It's as if you expect the war to be won over the next two months when HD DVD is below $200 and Blu-Ray is still $400. What about the people that buy in over the next year or two? Blu-Ray player prices will keep dropping.

 I don't think he is ignoring your price comments.... I don't think that looking forward a year from now and stating that a sub $200 BR player will be on the street will win the war...  IF Toshiba decided they wanted to win this war NOW, they would release the A-3 for a price close to $100 around the globe (plus VAT where applicable)...

I don't think your average Joe Six Pack is going to look at the two formats and decide on what the price might be a year from now.  He's going to decide right here and now.  Apparantly, $98 was enough to throw caution to the wind and jump in head first.

If the price differential remains $150-200 for another year, Toshiba may build a rather substantial stand-alone lead and stand-alones tend to buy a lot more software.

I understand what you are saying.... as the war continues, prices do keep coming down and maybe blu-ray will be $149 or less next holiday and that would certainly change the game a bit but as I said, J6P doesn't care.  He just wants it cheap and he wants it now... 



I hate trolls.

Systems I currently own:  360, PS3, Wii, DS Lite (2)
Systems I've owned: PS2, PS1, Dreamcast, Saturn, 3DO, Genesis, Gamecube, N64, SNES, NES, GBA, GB, C64, Amiga, Atari 2600 and 5200, Sega Game Gear, Vectrex, Intellivision, Pong.  Yes, Pong.

epsilon72 on 03 November 2007
Cobretti said:
makingmusic476

"Also, size DOES matter. Transformers and King Kong were forced to forgo lossless audio becuase of storage limitations. This may not matter to you, but it does matter to studios. What if New Line puts the LotRs on two discs each just so they can include lossless audio in the form of uncompressed PCM or Dolby-TrueHD? The days of two-disc films should be behind us."


yes cause 90% of people can hear the difference lol. Most people won't be able to tell the difference between compressed and uncompressed audio.

Look at mp3's a lot of people can't tell the difference in quality over cds. Not to mention if you really want to benefit from uncompressed audio you need a hell of a expensive audio setup. You really thing people 5 years from now will all own HDTVS and 7.1 or some crazy ass number of speaker systems just so they can have a 10% audio quality increase.

Most people will have either just their TV speakers or at best 5.1.

The moral of the story is just cause Transformers doesn't have uncompressed audio does not mean it is required since most won't give a shit.

Ugh. I won't be giving up my CD's for MP3's any time soon.

As far as lossless audio goes, you don't need 7.1 to hear it. You can still play it back with 5.1 or even 2 channels.

 

Lossless audio is my only concern regarding HD-DVD, if it does win out over blu-ray. Home theater enthusiasts (most of the people who buy high definition movies atm) do care about lossless audio to some degree.