Cheap PS3 won't help Blu-ray, claim HD DVD backers
Can't hinder the format, though
Sony's plan to cut the price of the PlayStation 3 in Europe will have "minimal" impact on the adoption of next-generation optical disc formats, the group promoting HD DVD over here has claimed.
The European HD DVD Promotional Group (EHPG) stuck to its argument that sales of dedicated media players will determine whether HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc win the format war, and not sales of games consoles with built-in drives, like the PS3.
Curiously, the EHPG is nonetheless quite happy to include Microsoft's HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 games console in the debate, so we can only hope the organisation is praying the software giant chooses not to release a second-generation 360 with an HD DVD drive built in.
The EHPG once again trotted out statistics - this time from market watcher GfK - that show HD DVD commands 70 per cent of HD player sales in Europe. But that still leaves Blu-ray with 30 per cent of player sales and the million-plus PS3s that have shipped in European nations.
Yes, PS3 buyers are less likely to acquire movies on Blu-ray than owners of standalone players are, but the sheer scale of the lead the format has in terms of hardware volumes gives it the end - something, surely, the arrival of cheaper PS3s can only improve.
If Register Hardware readers are anything to go by, judging by their postings in our comments pages, the one thing many gamers have been waiting for is less expensive PS3 hardware. We doubt the price cut will hurt Nintendo any, but it's hard not to see it boosting Sony's sales figures.
COMMENTS
Look @ industry support of both formats.
Look at all of the players and discs that are being put out. Blu-Ray is supported widely by manufacturers. Did you notice that Hitachi is the comapny that is making 100+ BD roms not Sony.
If you think that just because the product is cheaper it is better, think again. The longevity of HD DVD isn't good.
If you blame the BD as a format for not being able to support certain discs you are wrong... it is the manufacturers fault. My LG Superblu 1000 doesn't playback HD DVD bonus materials, Do I blame Toshiba or LG? I think it is obvious. US early adopters are going to experience some negative side effects of a new technology. I like how scratch resistant my Blu-discs are because i have a little nephew who will be sure to get his hands on anything shiney.
To not include the sales of ps3 into the stand alone is a complete denial for the HD DVD Camp for sure. They can dismiss it but only by looking the other way, and by making false negetive comments.
I like both formats, but Blu is my personal preference.
HD DVD is unfortunately going to be around for a while due to transformers and that is the only HD disc that I will buy for my LG Super.
Standards - or double standards
@Scott Mckenzie
"HD DVD is still the superior format in my view, people talking of BR 4 layer discs becoming standard is utter speculation.... and will be yet another nail in the coffin as existing players won't be able to handle them... HD51 discs are readable by existing players, so you invest in something and it's not made redundant by the next "standard" that BR announce."
Hitachi has published a press release claiming to have developed a 100 GB Blu-ray disc, capable of being played in a already released Blu-ray player, although it requires a firmware, apparently to tweak the focusing mechanism of the laser. Neither Hitachi, nor Toshiba, has shown any working solution, so I will therefore take both developments with an appropriate amount of salt.
If Toshiba succeeds in bringing out a 3 layer, 51 GB disc capable of working in every single one of all the current HD DVD players, then I will stand down and applaud Toshiba, but if it only works in some of the players, then of course its not a viable solution. Of course, then you could claim that it is exactly like Blu-ray with the different profiles and that would be somewhat correct, but with the caveat that even if you bought a 1st generation Blu-ray player, you would still be able to play the new disc, just not with the new features.
If Toshiba does not succeed in making it work in every single player on the market so far, that would make that version of HD DVD somewhat near "dead in the water" and would certainly remove the claim of Blu-ray being the only specification under constant review. And according to this site, http://thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents (dated 9th october 2007), even Toshiba claims that it is not possible to get it to work without physical hardware modification, so until Toshiba (and Hitachi for that matter) shows a vanilla, older generation, HD player playing one of the new discs, then I will claim that the new "extensions" are worthless - for both sides.
PS3 not counted!!!
Figures can always be twisted to suit ones needs. And that of course is all the HD-DVD camp is doing.
Blu-Ray discs are blantantly outselling HD-DVD discs across the world (300 sold 2 to 1, blockbusters US don't hold HD-DVD discs due to low demand, if you want more stats it's all there on the net). If HD-DVD players are outselling Blu-Ray players, then obviously those HD-DVD investments are sitting with not much to play on them, as the owners are not buying many films. Or of course, the alternative.... shock horror, PS3 owners are buying films to watch on their PS3s.
Funny thought that one, but then i own a PS3, i do not own any stand alone HD disc player, and yet i have replaced every DVD in my library i can with a Blu-Ray disc, and there are plenty of movies coming out on the run up to Xmas which i am really looking forward to obtaining. OK my Blu-Ray movie list extends to maybe 10 movies so far, but by xmas that will probably be doubled, and you'll never believe it, i watch them all through my PS3.
Will i care much if Blu-Ray dies, no, not really as i have not forked out for a stand alone player, my PS3 will have many years use for gaming, and playing movies, probably will last until the next movie format arrives. Alternatively, had i purchased a standalone player and had it's format die, yep i would care. I recall the days when my dad purchased a BetaMax video player (the superior format), and going to the film rental store, and always seeing that list of films available deminish, until one day there were no films available at all. Just goes to show, which format is superior is not the issue, it is all about marketing and getting those players out there and ensuring there are plenty of films available. Sony are getting the players out there, and marketing very well at the moment, the films are coming.
Standards.
Is the only outcome and always will be, BR just create them as and when... anyone for BR+???
There are some people on here with brains, some lacking it seems... at present the PS3 probably is the best BR player out there as there is such a large uptake of them that the firmware etc will always be the first one to market, so as an introductory player it's a good one...
HD DVD is still the superior format in my view, people talking of BR 4 layer discs becoming standard is utter speculation.... and will be yet another nail in the coffin as existing players won't be able to handle them... HD51 discs are readable by existing players, so you invest in something and it's not made redundant by the next "standard" that BR announce.
HD DVD has been standardised from day onw, BR has not and that is why it'll win out. Personally i'm not fussed which does win but i wish the bickering would end soon so we can all get on with one format as the universal ones aren't that much cop in direct comparison!
Is this really blue ray vs HD?
Or is this a historic re-enactment with HD playing the valiant betamax?
