Well... statements like this really irritate the crap out of me. Who said ANYTHING about being "anti Sony"??? This here is a prime example of people making asinine assumptions that they don't have the right to make.

etc etc etc "

Mate, dont take things so persoanlly. I wasnt refering to you or anyone else. I didnt use names or anythign of that nature.

Quit being so paranoid dude, the worlds not out to get you.
Im only stating facts that so many people bitch and moan, but then end up using Sony products. Myself included.

I choose to not use Sony equipment except for Vegas and PS2/3. I WOULD be considered anti Sony simply because i dont believe theyre the bees knees for alot of things for a number of reasons.
The point however, is that I am not openly arguing a moot point.

A format is a format and a delivery option is a delivery option. Sadly HD DVD didnt give us much in regard to media on a small scale production basis. It didnt offer the hardwre which allowed us to create our own content.
I believe this is a major isue to consider as i know for a fact that my content, has influenced many sales toward the BD camp simply becuase my clients can view my work (contracted to them) in that format, moreso than HD DVD.

You gotta understand that if people do not have the means to view or create content (im refering to content delivered on the "correct" media, then it maks it tough to sell.
People wont understand why theyre paying extra for HD content on DVD5 if its still "delivered on DVD" and no amount of education will change this mentality until the clients see it for themselves.
Thy see a DVD and THAT is all the know.
Stupid? Yes. Do i agree with it? No. Do i think alot more could be done to educate and expose the consumer, definately yes. Am i being proactive in educating MY consumers? Yes.
Thats as far as i go with this...

"
"Paramount's Transformers showing up in Blu-ray attire?"
If you can pick it up on sale then go for it... but if you gotta pay full price then forget it... it's not worth the full price. I got it on HD DVD and I'm a little sorry I threw the money away on it."
Mate, your missing the point...

And yes DJ... I am well aware of the point that was being driven.... I was simply trying to be a nice guy in warning of a movie that does not carry its price tag."

Well, im sure the previous poster woudl be greatful. maybe he's a TF collector from way back, much like myself... we geeks gotta look out for each other.

But to be honest, i dont think ppl are getting my meaning. If TF (or any other bloody HD DVD movie) was in BD format (NOT a download but a legit buyable format) we wouldnt see it downloaded as often on the torrents.
Prices would eventualy fallas sales exceed their goals and then they hit the bargain basement bins much like DVD

In any case, it doesnt matter anymore

oops... bugger

sorry mate, my net got bottlenecked... was download a BD copy of TFormers from my local torrent see and ... LOL j/k

TF is actually due for release on BD within the next 6 weeks or so...

Good God DJ, did you need to say better yourself 4 times? LOL

Prices would eventualy fallas sales exceed their goals and then they hit the bargain basement bins much like DVD

Was it the chicken or the egg first?

Prices will at some point quite naturally fall but for the moment.... the software prices are high because you have the studio profits spread out over a rather small buying community. But as more people buy they can afford to drop the price a little as the buying community expands and the profit is not affected as much with a drop.

Of course the studios are also well aware of the fact that they can suck a lot of extra dollars out of early adopters who will pay just about anything to be the "first ones"

Samsung Electronics Focusing More on Blu-ray Format

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Samsung Electronics is expected to accelerate its ongoing efforts to strengthen Blu-ray products since Toshiba virtually pulled the plug on its HD DVD products.

``Samsung is expected to show more interests in Blu-ray products than rival HD DVDs,’’ according to a Samsung official on Sunday.

Industry sources have said Toshiba is highly likely to shut down its HD DVD business early this week, ending the ``survival game’’ over the next-generation format against Sony- and Samsung-led Blu-ray technology.
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Full article: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/02/123_19049.html

"And now that company has no competitive reason to improve its products."

I beg to differ a bit. Since when has lack of standardization fostered healthy competition? And even so, just because Blu Ray has won out over HD DVD, it still has to compete with direct downloads and possibly future formats which will be based on better technology.

In this case the product is the content, not the format and companies will still be competing to make better players, writers and burners and that will continue to drive down the price. Now at least all of us don't have to worry if we'll be "Betamaxed" and left with worthless investments. Most consumers stayed on the sidelines in this fight, leaving it to the media giants to battle it out. Now, I'm looking forward to both that first sub-$200 Blu Ray burner and a decent set top top player to go along with my TV. If all the pundits are correct, with the format war over, the demand should pick up and that should drive down the prices for everyone.

But no matter what happens to the hardware, HD movies on optical disks were never going to be cheap, since that IS a monopoly. New movies go from theater to disk to cable and as long as that progression stays intact, the prices will remain high. If a first run movie comes out as a direct download simultaneously with its theater release, that could drive the price down.

I guess that I'm a lot more optimistic than you are about Toshiba's decision. And besides, did anyone here or elsewhere think that this "war" was going to last very long? There's just too much money at stake.