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High-def hardware sales during the first two weeks of January  (Source: Digital Bits)

High-def hardware sales during December and January  (Source: Digital Bits)
Blu-ray Disc charges ahead in sales charts following Warner Bros. announcement

Consumers who were on the fence regarding which high-definition format they should support may have been swayed by Warner Bros.’ decision to side with Blu-ray Disc.

Data from research firm NPD Group, as displayed by Digital Bits, show Blu-ray Disc taking the lion’s share of the high-definition hardware sales. Sale throughout December saw nearly 40 percent of players be HD DVD, eventually climbing in the first week of January to nearly 49 percent.

In the week immediately following Warner’s pro-Blu-ray Disc announcement, Blu-ray Disc player sales took over the charts with nearly 93 percent of hardware sales. It’s important to note that the sales breakdown between hardware of the two formats do not include the sales of PlayStation 3 or the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive.

A similar trend appeared in software sales following CES 2008. According to numbers from Nielsen, Blu-ray Disc sales were 85 percent of the high-definition split, which represented the largest gulf yet between the two formats.

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% of what?
By jkresh on 1/24/2008 12:14:41 AM , Rating: 1
Having >90% of sales for a week is big but it depends on how many drives were sold that week. Warner going blueray definitely had an impact and it may be that blueray will win (though I still think hybrid players will end up being a least a short term solution), but without having total sales numbers the percentages are somewhat meaning less. I am also curious to see what the numbers are now that Toshiba has dropped the price so much on their drives and what kind of impact that has had.




RE: % of what?
By Gio6518 on 1/24/2008 12:21:12 AM , Rating: 4
hmmmmmmmmmmmm it is showing their impact of the new pricing

lots of stores have been marking HD-DVD players down with the new price along with a clearance sign, not planning to replenish their stock.

and with BLU-RAY discs sales jumping from a 2-3 to 1 lead to the current 5-6 to 1 lead, I don't see anymore future to HD-DVD


RE: % of what?
By jpeyton on 1/24/2008 8:23:16 PM , Rating: 5
Game over.

I own two HD DVD players and even I know there are only so many weeks of Blu-Ray hardware/software domination that Toshiba/Paramount/Universal can take before they submit.

HD DVD will be a footnote in the pages of history by the end of 2008. Guaranteed.


RE: % of what?
By ChristopherO on 1/24/2008 12:46:13 AM , Rating: 3
I for one ran out and bought a Samsung BD-UP5000 that week. I was unsure of Blu Ray's future (I wanted to know which way WB would break since their decision to go exclusive to one of the formats was inevitable).

I'm sure there were a lot of other die-hard A/V fans in the same position. Once the initial rush is over the numbers will probably get a bit closer. HD DVD saw a similar spike after Paramount moved over.

As for universal players the Samsung BD-UP5500 is on its way (May 2008)! That will be the first entry-level combo player and should street for less than $500. That's almost a bargain considering entry level Blu players are 300-400.

I love the 5000. I can insert any media and it doesn't care... That's the way home theater should be! At this point I couldn't care less if either format wins since I'll be able to handle both.

I'd rather both formats stick around then condemn some group of supporters to own a dead format.


RE: % of what?
By Gio6518 on 1/24/2008 1:40:13 AM , Rating: 2
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/23/the-samsung-b...

The Samsung BD-UP5000 to be discontinued in May
Posted Jan 23rd 2008 12:05PM by Ben Drawbaugh
Filed under: Blu-ray, HD DVD, Samsung

While we've become accustomed to Blu-ray players being released every six months, it's a little ridiculous when we're forced to wait for a new player longer than it's on the market. Eventually we expect the cycle to slow down -- like when BD Live players are out for example -- and many believed that the Samsung BD-UP5000 could be one of those players based on promises when announced. Once you have an Ethernet port for internet content, REON video processing, internal decoding and bitstream support for every codec, discrete analog output, as well as HDMI 1.3, what else could possibly warrant a mid year revamp? We suspect the problem is that the player isn't delivering, and on top of that, we don't think it's Samsung's fault. You see, just like the LG BH200, the BD-UP5000 is based on Broadcom's Reference design BCM97440, and the word on the street is that it isn't ever going to deliver. So it'd make sense that Sammy would change the platform for one that's actually able to get the job done. So yeah, this Broadcom bit is just speculation, but we did contact the outfit to figure out what the deal was, and while it was very responsive at first, as soon as we asked about the troubles with the BCM97400, it must'a lost our email address (or maybe its servers have been down for a week). The good news is that Samsung doesn't see the BD-UP5500 as a replacement, and promises a suitable replacement for the high-end dual-format customer in the second half of '08.


RE: % of what?
By bplewis24 on 1/24/2008 2:15:00 AM , Rating: 2
You probably won't see many dual-format players anymore because of these broadcom issues.

Brandon


RE: % of what?
By ChristopherO on 1/24/2008 3:52:29 AM , Rating: 2
The Samsung 5000 is fine. I'm not sure why I'm supposed to worry about an Endgadget link for a device I own, that works fine for what I use it for.

Maybe it's not doing profile 2.0, but I wouldn't use those features anyway. It's handling my audio just fine and HDi works just as well as the Toshiba HD DVD player I replaced. After the latest firmware update all the discs I insert seem to be fine.

The 5500 is also rumored to be firmware compatible with the 5000... Which will ensure that the player gets supported for an adequate amount of time.

The 6500 (replacement for the 5000) comes out for Christmas of 2008. I wasn't going to wait that long since I could in theory have waited forever for something better.


RE: % of what?
By Belard on 1/24/2008 4:40:05 AM , Rating: 2
With about 100,000 HD-DVD players in the wild... don't have hopes for a dual format player.

If there were... millions of HD-DVD players, then more likly. There is way to few people with HD-DVD, and many of those people are not going to be buying more movies.


RE: % of what?
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/24/2008 8:55:02 AM , Rating: 3
Well, you won't see me buying a Blu-Ray player until they release one that works with the latest BR Spec >.< Sorry but not gonna purchase one just to find out later I have to replace it to be compatable with the latest BR spec. GG Moving specifications.


RE: % of what?
By Shoal07 on 1/24/2008 9:21:10 AM , Rating: 2
PS3?

No matter how much people don't want to count it, it is well regarded as the best Bluray player out there. The options for output are enough for any AV nut (speaking as one) and it is 2.0 compliant. I, as many others, bought this as our standalone blueray players based on the fact it was (and is) the best (not to mention after 1.6 or something it went from a good upconverter to an amazing one). Iceing on the cake is that it's a media center as good as any other, to include the 360, for streaming content from ANY windows machine (my WHS, MCE Laptop, or XP Pro boxes). And it's not a bitch to connect to them either (unlike the 360).

Oh, it plays games too, but I don't really use it for that, I have a 360.


RE: % of what?
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/24/2008 9:35:38 AM , Rating: 1
No thanks, I will wait for a real stand alone player. PS3 is a console.


RE: % of what?
By BansheeX on 1/24/2008 9:52:26 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
PS3 is a console.


It's both... worried about profile updates and new fluff features? Get a PS3. The end, Kenobi. If you want a rectangle you don't reject the square because it's a rectangle, too. If you want to say something doesn't exist or isn't possible based on weird personal categorical preferences, that's your prerogative, but you should have noted this in your first post instead of making people reply to correct you as though they were supposed to know.


RE: % of what?
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/24/2008 10:07:42 AM , Rating: 1
No, you just have your classifications backwards. So let's have a brief lesson.

PS3 is a game console. It possesses the capability to play Blu-Ray movies, but that is not the primary function (as much as Sony might want you to believe otherwise).

X360 is a game console. It possesses the capability to play HD DVD movies when an add-on drive is added.

iPhone is a cell phone. It possesses the capability to play music. It's primary function is to make and recieve calls.

End lesson. (Moral- Integration is not always a good thing)

Just because something "can" do something, does not mean it is an ideal device. PS3 does not have a standard IR remote nor can I get it to work with my existing remote. Don't bother mentioning the Bluetooth remote that can be purchased separately as this won't turn the PS3 on when it's in hibernate or (preferably) turned off when not in use. Thanks but no thanks. I will hold out for a BR 2.0 spec player from a reputable manufacturer with a track record for not screwing consumers at every corner (Read: Not Sony).


RE: % of what?
By BansheeX on 1/24/2008 11:10:53 AM , Rating: 4
quote:
No, you just have your classifications backwards. So let's have a brief lesson.

PS3 is a game console. It possesses the capability to play Blu-Ray movies, but that is not the primary function (as much as Sony might want you to believe otherwise).


The PS3 is marketed as a console with blu-ray playback being one of its features. Because that feature is marketed as a secondary function does not automatically imply inferiority to a device which has it as its primary. And if you buy it as a blu-ray player and use it solely for such, it becomes a player to you. It doesn't matter what it was marketed as or what its market classification is. If I buy a baseball bat to use as a club, and it's just as good or better of a club as clubs marketed as clubs, then it makes no difference what it was sold as BECAUSE I AM USING IT AS A CLUB. WHY DO YOU HAVE A BLOG ON THIS SITE??

Let me correct your first post:

"Well, you won't see me buying a Blu-Ray player until they release one that works with the latest BR Spec." <-Incorrect

"Yeah, I personally care very much about PiP and java mini games, and am very picky about remotes, so I would need a player that has both an IR remote and upgradeable profiles and is not classified foremost as a console since I also have a hangup with players possessing other functions, so until that happens I'm not going to be buying a blu-ray player." <-Correct


RE: % of what?
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 1/24/08, Rating: 0
RE: % of what?
By Hawkido on 1/24/08, Rating: 0
RE: % of what?
By murphyslabrat on 1/24/2008 8:13:33 PM , Rating: 2
The problem is that Ben over there just can't be satisfied. So what if you get a below average-featured player (no remote, etc., where you have to walk over and power it on) with a free next-generation gaming console, it's just not good enough.


RE: % of what?
By DJ Tama on 1/24/2008 12:43:19 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
PS3 is a game console. It possesses the capability to play Blu-Ray movies, but that is not the primary function (as much as Sony might want you to believe otherwise).


The PS3 was originally designed as a game console, but was transformed into a Media Center with Gaming capabilities. I have one and I can say with certanty I use the Media Center functions 80% over the gaming functions (apart from lack of titles, I am a PC guy...)

quote:
Don't bother mentioning the Bluetooth remote that can be purchased separately as this won't turn the PS3 on when it's in hibernate or (preferably) turned off when not in use.


Sorry, I have to correct you here. You obviously don't research before you speak/type.

The BT Remote acts as a controller for the system (Controller 7 of 7) and is married with whatever system you pair it with (just like BT is supposed to). The range on it is exceptional and is far superior than an IR remote that you need line-of-sight- to use. And because it acts as a Controller, it will turn on the unit from the standby state.

The PS3 is faster, sharper, and all-around the best choice in a BD-player. Just bec