Hi-Def DVD

I just read an article at videobusiness.com that said that the new hi-def dvds could be out as early as the first half of next year. I was wondering if that does happen what will you guys do with it? Will you jump in or hold back and see how it goes?

[Hardcopy]

Hold off for a little while at least. See who adopts it studio-wise, etc.  The area I am in is also last to update to new machines, so we will have to wait  and see.

Having said that, I want one now. Now. Now. Now. Course my want list is long and expensive.

Rich.

[mcmarc]

Did anyone rent dvd players out when they first came on the market?  I smell an opportunity...

marc

[Thomas]

Is this the blue-laser DVD that we've been hearing about for so long?  If so I don't see it taking off near as quickly as the standard DVD have done.  Why, you may ask?  Because you will have to purchase a new machine and with most households having a DVD player that is less than 3 years old and the new machines bound to expensive for some time it will probably take longer to catch on.  Will be interesting to watch.

[mcmarc]

Plus I think most of the population is quite happy with the dvd, which is a quantum leap from vhs.  Still, there will be those hardcore videophiles...

marc

[jayluft]

Is this the blue-laser DVD that we've been hearing about for so long?

Actually there is a battle going on for two different formats.  What else is new.... :roll:   Blue Ray and HD-DVD are the two formats that will battling out to see who takes the market.  Therefore, this is one reason that I question, a little of the timing.  I'm curious if the production companies are ready to start offering - VHS / DVD Full Screen / DVD Wide Screen / HD-DVD or Blue Ray HD Widescreen......

Could that be the official end of the new release VHS??[/quote]

[Thomas]

To give a short answer, no.  VHS won't die off completely for a few more years in my opinion.  There are more VHS players in homes now than ever and while I don't think they will make any kind of comeback I do think that it will be the end of "rental priced" VHS in the next 12 months or so.  The studios have got to figure out at some point that we aren't going to willing to pay $40-70 for a tape when I can get 2-5 DVD's for that same money.

[j4kp07]

HD-DVD has more studios backing it right now.  I agree with mcmarc, hardcore videophiles and rich kids will adopt the new players...but will probably also buy DVDs over renting.

Also, don't forget that along with a new HD player you will need a HDTV which costs even more.

[yburan]

DVD was revolutionary compared to VHS: the surround sound, the picture quality, the special features.... I hope HD-DVD (blue or red) will also offer something new and exciting besides the dubious clarity of picture that no-one can see without a new and very expensive TV. Our industry could use a new infusion of excitement.

[seanandsarah]

I have read, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, that both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray hardware will be backwards compatable, meaning new units will play DVDs as well.
 
This makes me think that even if people purchase units with Blu-Ray or HD-DVD capability, they will rarely use it.  I seriously doubt the discs will be cheaper than DVDs.  If anything the price will be higher because it's new technology and I doubt the average consumer will be able to spot the difference in quality.  So either new format will probably be relegated to the same position in the market that laserdisc took.
 
Therefore, we should be able to continue buying DVD for some time, even long after the hardware comes out before having to purchase yet another format.  The only thing that will change this is if the studios decide to push the format by no longer providing DVD as an option, but only Blu-Ray or HD-DVD.
 
Bottom line is that average consumers are not ready to purchase another format, regardless of the advantages.  The general public is still in upswing of converting over to DVD with players now under $100 and some people still clinging to VHS!  The public as a whole if presented with not just one, but two new hardware decisions will be disuaded from purchasing anything.
 
I believe a majority of the reason for the new format is in no real way beneficial for the public, but solely to help the studios protect their movies by encoding them at such large data sizes as to make it impossible to transfer over broadband internet connections, and to provide greater copy protection to the discs themselves.

[j4kp07]

believe a majority of the reason for the new format is in no real way beneficial for the public, but solely to help the studios protect their movies by encoding them at such large data sizes as to make it impossible to transfer over broadband internet connections, and to provide greater copy protection to the discs themselves.

and BINGO was his name-o.