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Harry Potter on HD DVD is currently only available in Europe  (Source: Amazon.co.uk)
HD DVD holds 74 percent market share in Europe, according to group

Although Blu-ray Disc may be leading the high-def race in North America, HD DVD appears to be ahead in Europe – at least according to information released by the European HD DVD Promotional Group, as reported by Reuters.

The Group claims that the HD DVD format holds a 74 percent market share in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, citing figures supposedly from market research group GfK. However, GfK said it has not published research commissioned from the trade group.

The majority market share held by HD DVD is only according to standalone player sales, which do not account for PlayStation 3 consoles or HD DVD add-on drives for the Xbox 360.

Despite the perception of a fierce battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD, even combined disc sales of both formats are insignificant compared to the total number of DVDs sold.

“You can't get to mass-market consumption until you get to mass-market pricing,” Steve Nickerson, a Warner Bros spokesman for the HD DVD group, told Reuters. “It took nearly four years for that price point to be achieved in DVD ... anything inside three years would be significantly improved compared to the DVD.”

Nickerson adds, “If we take a pragmatic approach, and understand we're still only selling to innovators, we are ahead of the DVD curve.”

Earlier this month, the European Commission, which watches over antitrust matters, became interested in why certain studios exclusively support one high-def format over another. The Commission reportedly sent letters out to all studios that exclusively support one side or the other asking for an explanation.

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Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 7/17/2007 9:36:32 AM , Rating: 2
Looks like HD DVD being backed by the Harry Potter series will be a nice deal. Now if Star Wars would back HD DVD, we would see the scales tip in favor of the red.




RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By nemrod on 7/17/07, Rating: 0
RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By luigionlsd on 7/17/2007 9:46:29 AM , Rating: 1
Harry Potter is "backed by HD DVD" the same way The Matrix is. It's just a timed exclusive, if you can even call it that (it was planned to be released on both platforms at the start). Harry Potter was finished for HD DVD and released before BD simply beacuse the interactive platform (iHD) is much further along than the BD-Java platform for interactive features. What's interesting is that the import of Harry Potter 4 on HD DVD still has the FBI warnings before the feature....... interesting. Gotta love Warner's "neutrality" we're seeing in a lot of the new releases (DD 5.1 on BD, TrueHD on HD DVD for The Departed).


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By porkpie on 7/17/07, Rating: 0
RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Vertigo101 on 7/17/2007 10:35:47 AM , Rating: 2
Because the FBI warning is for the American markets; Europe really doesn't need to see FBI warnings on movies.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By porkpie on 7/17/2007 10:47:19 AM , Rating: 3
I've seen plenty of Interpol warnings on US discs.

HD-DVD is region free. The whole concept of "European" and "US" specific releases that existed with DVDs is pretty much out the window.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Pjotr on 7/18/2007 5:08:41 AM , Rating: 2
If they are so region-free and lack the concept of geography, howcome it is only sold in Europe and not in USA?


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By omnicronx on 7/18/2007 3:36:05 PM , Rating: 2
Because the movie studios decided to do so? They can still be played on any player anywhere in the world making them region free.

In the past movie studios had to essentially create a european version and a north american version or whatever other area because of NTSC VS PAL and even SECAM. They probably figured hey why not, we are already making different versions we might aswell copy protect them to the area in which they are bought so they could not be sold elsewhere even though, in most cases would not work on your tv anyways.
But now with the age of digital lcd and plasma televisions, The battle of the analogue TV format is over movie studios are free to only make 1 version of the disc, different languages aside. So instead of copy protecting them, which was a dumb idea to begin with, they decided just not to sell them out of area which is probably much more effective and doesnt piss the consumer off as much.
i remember my dad went to europe and came back with 20 PAL DVDS and i laughed at him.. no longer is it a problem.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By FITCamaro on 7/17/2007 9:50:34 AM , Rating: 1
Well for the original Star Wars trilogy, could they even do an HD release since it wasn't filmed in high def? I mean a lot of the first movie was filmed with a camera not much better than some camcorders these days.

That being said, if Star Wars comes out on a high def format, I'd have to get it. Even if it meant getting a PS3 for Blu-ray. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (no conventions though. those are for people with truly no lives) and love the new ones as well. Episode 1 was a little slow but it was story set up time and the first movie of a trilogy is always the slowest.

I'm still hoping for Episodes 7 - 9 to come out. With all the books out there, they could easily do it. Base it on the X-wing series or the Thrawn trilogy. The Thrawn trilogy would kind of require a leap in time but its still doable. They would have to find new people to play Han and Leia though since they're big characters in it. The X-wing series though really wouldn't require any of the original cast. Most didn't pay attention to Wedge and hardly anyone knows which person was Tycho Celchu in Episode 6.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By therealnickdanger on 7/17/2007 10:43:31 AM , Rating: 2
The original film stock used for IV-VI is vastly superior to even today's best consumer camcorder, I'd wager. In case you don't already own a next-gen DVD player, many of the HD conversions of old films are SPECTACULAR. Don't worry about it. With any luck, by the time Star Wars hits BD, combo players will be less than the PS3... probably not too likely though.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By jabber on 7/18/2007 6:18:24 AM , Rating: 2
The original trilogy was shot on 35mm film stock. Unfortunately the first film at least, was shot on the film stock that degraded colourwise but thats been corrected.

The cameras used for the first film also dated back from the 1950's as they worked well for the SFX shots.

As far as I know when the DVD restoration/transfers were done for the DVD release a couple of years ago, they were done in HD. In fact if you do a search you can find a few articles on it. They used a huge Power Mac sever farm for the work.

A lot of folks seem to think that if it wasnt shot in 'HD' then it will never be HD. Pretty much anything shot on 16mm and above film stock is HD already. In fact its better then anything branded 'HD' at the moment. You've been watching HD stuff since you were born!

I am really looking forward to seeing all the old classics in HD. Ben Hurr, 2001, Lawrence of Arabia, The Wild Bunch etc. etc. Forget the current modern remake rubbish, give us the classics!


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By GlassHouse69 on 7/18/2007 2:14:49 PM , Rating: 2
yes, real life photos far exceed hd... this shouldnt be a shocker though... seems like some people have gotten caught up in the HD hype.

The problem with todays hd movies is that the digitalization process compresses and kills much of the image. its in focus and smooth frames. but it sux


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By timmiser on 7/17/2007 12:30:35 PM , Rating: 2
Film is much better quality than digital hi-def. Even 35mm which might be what the early Star Wars was filmed in would be better however contrary to what many people may think, the original Star Wars had a fairly large budget and high expectations from the film studio and I believe was filmed in 70mm.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By theapparition on 7/17/2007 12:33:25 PM , Rating: 2
Even old film is vastly superior to HD resolutions. Even old 16mm film has higher resolution than 1080p, and I believe Starwars was filmed with 35mm panavision cameras.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By probedb on 7/17/2007 9:56:49 AM , Rating: 2
Just reading thedigitalbits and apparently they won't release Star Wars on any HD format until there is a clear winner.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Lakku on 7/17/2007 11:49:38 AM , Rating: 2
Incorrect. If Star Wars is ever released, it will be on Blu Ray disc. Why? 20th century fox, while not really controlling Star Wars, is exclusive to BD and is the publisher of the Star Wars films, even though they don't own all the rights. If it comes out, it will be on Blu Ray, not HD-DVD.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Xavian on 7/17/2007 12:11:06 PM , Rating: 2
Lucasarts holds the rights to all the movies, if they want to switch Publishers because 20th century fox is too stubborn, then they will.

After-all, Fox only has rights to publish the DVD versions and the films themselves (e.g in Cinema's/Theaters), they have no rights when it comes to publishing the Star Wars films on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Chillin1248 (blog) on 7/17/2007 8:25:42 PM , Rating: 2
If I remember correctly Lucasarts currently holds all copyrights/trademarks to the "Star Wars" name, excluding the space defense program of course.

I remember a interview with George Lucas in which he said that he bought the rights to the "Star Wars" name early in the films career when 20th Century Fox didn't expect it to become the blockbuster it did. I remember Lucas calling it a "steal".

-------
Chillin


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By porkpie on 7/17/2007 12:11:41 PM , Rating: 2
20th Century Fox made a decision long before a single disc was ever sold. But they didn't sign a contract to stick with that decision...and no company is stupid enough to ignore a huge segment of the total market.

There's just too many people with players of EITHER format for a studio to flat-out ignore them...and more HD-DVD (and BD) players are being sold every day. The market for both is increasing. No one's going to ignore that.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By theapparition on 7/17/2007 12:24:55 PM , Rating: 2
Well, to get technical about it, the OP is somewhat correct. Fox & Lucas won't release until there is a clear winner (so it has been stated by numerous magazines/interviews). Fox backs Blu-ray, but if Blu-ray doesn't "win", do you think they will suddenly stop releasing movies, rather than go HD-DVD?

All in all, the point is moot. Both standards will combine with hybrid players. The HD "cold war" will result in a truce, and StarWars will be released in HD (most likely BR-disk format). Shortly after the release and controversy, Lucas will release the unedited original versions. I'll buy both like the loser I am.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By Spivonious on 7/17/2007 2:10:38 PM , Rating: 2
Lucas has to re-re-re-release the movies on VHS first, then a few years later he'll release the Super-Special Jawa Edition on DVD, and then finally, in 2015, when The Adventures of Jar Jar Binks' third sequel is released in theaters, then he'll release the original trilogy on HD/BD.


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By theapparition on 7/17/2007 3:33:04 PM , Rating: 2
OOOOhhhhhhh,
The Adventures of Jar Jar Binks. Can I get my ticket early?


RE: Hmmmmmmmmmm
By timmiser on 7/17/2007 12:36:06 PM , Rating: 2
I expect LucasArts to follow the same procedure they followed when they were debating to release on DVD. George Lucas made a comment that they would not release Star Wars or Indiana Jones until the players were in a majority of homes. The reason for this is they felt they could sell more if they had their worldwide release on DVD while there was a majority market for it. If they released those movies early in the DVD lifespan, they would become stale by the time everyone had a DVD player.


Antitrust matters
By timmiser on 7/17/2007 12:41:31 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Earlier this month, the European Commission, which watches over antitrust matters, became interested in why certain studios exclusively support one high-def format over another. The Commission reportedly sent letters out to all studios that exclusively support one side or the other asking for an explanation.


This is interesting and may force an end to the exclusivety of studios supporting only one format. Even if it only effects Europe, the studios will be forced to support all formats globally.




What fails to be mentioned...
By Carl B on 7/17/2007 1:04:08 PM , Rating: 2
...is that Blu-ray *software* sales still lead HD DVD by over 2:1 in Europe. The percentage of 'market leadership' discussed in this article applies only to the standalone player sales.

There - as here - the PS3 has been the primary mover of high def media.

http://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/329




WELL TRANSFORMERS WILL BE HD DVD!
By Pitbull0669 on 7/17/07, Rating: 0
RE: WELL TRANSFORMERS WILL BE HD DVD!
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 2:07:47 PM , Rating: 1
Stupid post. Served no purpose. It was neither beneficial to HD or the BD community. If i didnt post this reply, i would downrate you.


By Carl B on 7/17/2007 3:09:02 PM , Rating: 1
Not to mention both Paramount and New Line release on both formats, so he doesn't even know what he's talking about.


HD-DVD FANBOIS
By necrio on 7/17/07, Rating: -1
RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 10:34:00 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Approach #2 ---> When looking at software sales there is no way to hide the fact that HD-DVD is getting pummeled by Blu-ray in total sales, so instead HD-DVD focuses on "attach rate". In this scenario every PS3 is counted as a Blu-ray player by them! Obviously this is not even remotely consistent with #1 above.


Maybe you can clarify this part, because I'm not quite sure I follow what you are saying.

You say that HD-DVD are getting crushed in software sales because the PS3 Blue-Ray is not counted as a player? What does that have to do with BD-DVD software sales?

Also, I partially agree with your argument with PS3 not being included in the research - however, the HD-DVD addon for 360 is not included either. So if you are going to call false claims, you need to state all the facts, not just facts partial to the PS3.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By Hawkido on 7/17/2007 5:08:55 PM , Rating: 2
Attach Rate is the average number of Movie titles (in this case) purchased for a particular type of player (HDDVD stand alone, X360 HD Addon, BD stand alone, PS3) The article stated that it ignored the X360 addon and PS3 (which is a horrible injustice to the truth as there are far more PS3's sold than HD addons for the X360).

If your attach rate for, say the PS3 is 2 then the average PS3 ower buys 2 movies. If there are 3 million PS3s in the wild then there are is an estimate of 6 million BD titles purchased by PS3 owners. The number of players for the HD-DVD standalone is higher than the BD standalone, so by the articles ommission of the PS3 and HD AddOn (the PS3 beats the X360's addon by a factor of 15 or more) this shows the HD-DVD format on top with more players on the market. Which would be a fair comparison if they always used this format (the format of excluding Game Systems in their calculating). But, when they go to on to calculate attach rate (the average number of titles purchased per player) they then throw in the Game Systems. Which shows that the HD-DVD player has more (on Average) movie sales per player than BD. If you took the number of player listed for both formats in the first report and multiplied it by the attach rates given from the second report you would see a discrepancy from that actuall sales of BD and HD titles. The HD-DVD number would be close to their actuall sales numbers (they only omitted the X360 addon numbers which are around 1/4 million players but yet used them in the calculated attach rate because the addon users buy lots of movies because that is all they can do with it). On the BD side of this equation you would see a massive underrepresentaion of sales. The BD numbers wouldn't even be close (might be as low as 30% of actual disc sales). See how if you don't do your math backwards after you run a calculation (like your math teacher said) you will miss these errors. I don't for a second think that this was an accidental error. This was marketing thinking of a way to twist the numbers to spin up something good for a change.

The attach rate allows them to calculate the ever-changing HD player landscape and predict which media is gaining share. However it has flaws that cannot be ignored.

Namely:
1. Movie afficionados might support one format over another, and purchse a high # of HD discs per player for that format. Whereas, the competing format may only have casual users in much higher quantities but each purchase fewer titles of that format. The afficionados will distort the figures and give an early lead to which ever format they lean towards, but the economies of scale will allow the other group (the common user) to catch up and quickly surpass the first group. Simply because the small but dedicated group cannot match the purchasing power of the rest of the market.

As already stated the real rush for this technology hasn't even started. The players have to reach market penetration of about 20% of those who buy movie players (of any format). Plus this is a reliant technology, It requires an HDTV (okay, no it doesn't require it... Raise your hand if you have an HD player but no HDTV... okay <2%, shut up) Market penetration will be limited for a year or so till people begin replacing their home sets in quantity, about the time you no longer see SDTV's on the shelves at the major electronics stores at all(not the specality stores). At this point the Greatest percentage of the market will resemble group 2 the common purchaser, and they will outnumber the other group by a large factor (larger than the attach rate difference). Which ever side the common group leans to it will eventually win the market, unless it becomes a split and manufactoring the players into a dual format becomes economically feasable. This would be the worst case scenario IMO as Media Ecomonies of scale would take much longer to achieve and the players would have dual licensing (added cost) and dual format hardware and software (added cost again)... Consumers loose.

One format or the other has to loose, else all the consumers loose.

There are winners and there are loosers, else there are only loosers. Life has no grey areas, there are those who are alive and those who are dead.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By ATC on 7/17/2007 8:27:04 PM , Rating: 3
Good post. I agree with everything you said but IMO the short term impact of the format war is actually good for consumers.

Think of how quickly BD and HD-DVD players' prices are falling. If it hadn't been for the cut throat competition from this war, it would have taken much longer.

Long term, you're absolutely right. One format and that's it. I think it would be ideal to have the format war done and decided by early 2008. That way, hardware would have fallen to very reasonable levels for the masses and the media production costs would also be well under control just in time for the spike in demand/manufacturing (at format war end) to further drop.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 9:16:49 PM , Rating: 2
I think you guys are right, by stating that if a format won, then they could increase the number of standalone players & brands while decreasing the price to consumers...

However, that wouldnt happen immediately. Think of the companies out there that have been mass producing these expensive players for the format who wont win. That loss has to be made up somewhere, and most likely will have to be from the sales of the new format right away - so that it doesnt show negatives at the end of year fiscal reports & directly affect the shareholders.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By ATC on 7/18/2007 12:42:56 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Think of the companies out there that have been mass producing these expensive players for the format who wont win.

Yes but that's only one manufacturer; Toshiba. Oh I'm just kidding.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By Hawkido on 7/18/2007 1:04:32 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry, You are absolutely right... I meant to say that *GRINS* Honestly, I did. It just got lost somewhere. Great touch up and Thanks.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By DingieM on 7/17/2007 10:35:34 AM , Rating: 2
Well, the most important market is the stand-alone player market.
If you look at the current-gen market, I bet there are multiple times more stand-alone DVD players than PS2's and/or Xbox1's (if that thing can play DVD's).
So eventually it is about the stand-alone player market. Such a player is affordable by almost anyone, they cost about $25 a piece these days.

If history would repeat itself somewhat that either takes HD-DVD or Blu-Ray the dominating standard in the industry, the stand-alone player market is still the most important one and not the market of the game-consoles capable of displaying HD-DVD and/or Blu-Ray. Eventually the stand-alone players will be purchaseable below $100 and you will not be able to buy a Xbox360 or PS3 for that kind of money.

But history will not repeat itself (duh) because the dominating factor will be the internet, like downloadable content (online videostores).
Around 80% of the people don't care about very crisp high-definition content so will not buy a Xbox360+HD-DVD add-on and/or a PS3.
Besides this, flash drives have a high potential to breakthrough in the form of media carriers and their storage capacity will surpass that of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD very fast and not by a small margin. Also they are much much faster then both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD in terms of seek-time, reading speed and writing speed.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By TomZ on 7/17/2007 11:14:22 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Well, the most important market is the stand-alone player market

That is only the most important market if you happen to be a device manufacturer in that market.

If you are a content producer or distributor, the more interesting number is the total number of devices available in the market that might be used to play your content . So if people are actually buying and watching movies on game consoles, then it is pretty important in the overall "format war," especially at this early stage when standalone player prices are relatively high.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By deeznuts on 7/17/2007 1:34:19 PM , Rating: 2
TomZ I want to add on to your point a bit. If you are a content producer/distributor, the more interesting number would be total devices multiplied by the attach rate. Standalone devices have a higher attach rate than the PS3, but the sheer numbers of the PS3 allows a lower attach rate to dominate media sales.

Just wanted to expand a bit. Hypothetically speaking, 3 million PS3s with an attach rate of 1 movie per player, is a lot higher than 200,000 standalone HD DVD players with an attach rate of 5 movies.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 2:06:32 PM , Rating: 2
The attach rates are also a bit inconclusive as well. By giving bundled movies & rebates from both BD & HD for 5 free movies (most of which are junk, and no one would actually pay $15-20 each for), its waters down the actual attach rate numbers for both sides.

No matter how you look at it - whether you include the PS3 (that can be or cannot be viewed as a movie player depending on the intent of the purchaser), the HD-DVD 360 Add on, and standalone players (inlcuding dual format), or you just look at the total number of movies BD vs. HD that were "Sold" (inlcudes give aways, rebates, bundles), there will always be inconclusive evidence.

The only real evidence will be once the standalone players start moving south to a price that makes them affordable for each home (the price in which regular DVD players are now $125>, then and only then will we see the final direction of the format. Either HD or BD will start seeing profit drops from decreased sales - especially if one is priced higher than the other - when dual format standalone players are the norm.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By deeznuts on 7/17/2007 3:32:25 PM , Rating: 2
I don't believe the free movies (bundled or by rebate) are included in Nielsen VideoScan. Those have to be sold. Coupons or mail-in rebates for store purchased videos count, but not the promotional stuff.

I don't believe it'll have to wait for mass market acceptance for a winner. The winner will be decided before that I suspect. Divx. vs. DVD anyone remember? I know Divx was vastly different but it was decided long before players became reasonably priced.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By inorganicmatter on 7/17/07, Rating: 0
RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By Lakku on 7/17/2007 11:52:54 AM , Rating: 2
I shouldn't reply to this, but I have to. I bought my PS3, 20gigger in fact, solely to play Blu Ray movies. Have I played games on it? Sure, mostly my old PS2 games and a couple PS3 games I rented. However, I own a total of ZERO games for it, and have had it since December/January.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By KentState on 7/17/2007 12:40:48 PM , Rating: 2
That is a false statement if I ever heard one. The majority of the owners of the PS3 on AVSForum own one just for movies. My father, in his early 60s, purchased one just for movies. Personally, I purchased one to watch movies now and I'm sure I will pick up games once they are out. The difference in price between the low end $299 Toshiba and the PS3 is only $300 which isn't that much considering it's much more capable.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By wallijonn on 7/17/2007 3:04:05 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The difference in price between the low end $299 Toshiba and the PS3 is only $300 which isn't that much considering it's much more capable.


I can't say that BR is more capable (how so?, purely on size?) but I can say that $300 is a lot of money.

A better case could be made for the new $500 Sony BR player (in which case there is no need to buy a PS3) and the $400 HDDVD player (since the $300 model only does 1080i).


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By Hawkido on 7/17/2007 5:22:03 PM , Rating: 2
He didn't say BR is more capable, he said the PS3 is more capable. Take your bias colored glasses of... You'll read better.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By Hawkido on 7/17/2007 4:16:52 PM , Rating: 1
HI,

I wanna have a PS3 for the games comming out 2H-07 and 1H-08. As such I will not buy a HD-DVD. Because, when I get my PS3 I will have a Hi-Def player for my new HDTV.

It's my plan, most affordable way to get it all.

X360 has only one game I am interested in, so, at a higher price (with add-on HD Player) with less to offer (Geez only one RPG? Common!), it would be stupid to get an X360 to play Hi-Def content.

I'll wait for my PS3 this fall. I'm not rabid about Sony or anything, but I see it as being able to talk my wife into getting something we both want (Hi-Def movie player) and something I want (Hi-Def game player) for about the same price.

Stand alone player? If I got that Then I wouldn't get my PS3 Games I want, as I would already have the Hi-Def player and my wife would see it as just an expensive toy with little else going for it.

I have a Wii, thanks, don't use that as an argument. The Wii is not competition for the PS3 (maybe only in the really low income markets and kids just out of school). It is a complementary console. Bravo Nintendo! Perfect placement for your product! Everyone gets a Wii no matter what it seems. Doesn't stop me from getting a PS3 or Hi-Def player. HD-DVD just doesn't have it. Sorry, MS should have made it integrated into it's player, but they had to rush a fualty player to market without it and now have to repair millions of Ex-Box 360s and they are doing next to nothing for HD-DVD. For $200 you can almost buy a HD-DVD player, so why would you buy the HD addon player for your already incredibly faulty X360? Pay $50-$100 more and get a stand alone, with a much better life span.


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By Hawkido on 7/18/2007 4:50:27 PM , Rating: 2
Nice! I got rated down for saying why a PS3 makes the best sense for me and My Family, and why Xbox didn't make the cut. I smell a widdle Fanboi awound here...


RE: HD-DVD FANBOIS
By killerroach on 7/17/2007 11:33:07 AM , Rating: 2
Let's grant them their 74% quote, even if it is somewhat slanted. The overall market is so minuscule, however, that even 74% doesn't amount to much. Wake me up in a couple of years and see if hi-def sales then finally are an appreciable fraction of DVD sales...


ROFL
By defter on 7/17/07, Rating: -1
RE: ROFL
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 10:28:54 AM , Rating: 3
Not calling you a complete liar, but in order to post statistics like that, especially ones not in the article at hand, you should also include a link, article, or something concrete to back that up.

I highly, highly doubt that 95% is correct - especially given the actual price of the PS3 in Europe (~$850 USD).


RE: ROFL
By ATC on 7/17/2007 12:17:38 PM , Rating: 2
here you go http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/8730/...

I have to say, the omission of PS3 as a BD player makes these numbers worthless and pure propaganda.

Here I am, with a PS3 and a load of BD movies without a single PS3 game that I own; I guess, according to the HD-DVD group, that disqualifies me as a true high def user because my player is not a standalone player? Wow. Just wow.

I'd say the HD-DVD camp is getting quite desperate but I don't blame them; I'd be that desperate too if I were in their position.


RE: ROFL
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 12:38:02 PM , Rating: 2
While it does make sense that the numbers would increase if the PS3 were counted, the only problem i see is that the HD-DVD add-on drive is not counted in either of those figures. So its definately not 95% BD, and not 74% HD.

The problem is that anyone who buys a standalone player does so with the sole intent of watching movies.

Anyone who buys an HD-DVD add on does so with the sole intent of watching movies.

Anyone who buys a PS3 does so to play video games, watch movies, or a combination of the two.

Therefore, any results including the PS3 would be inconclusive because it does not have the sole intent of being a movie player. Therefor you cannot define every PS3 as a stand alone movie player, and you cannot dismiss any PS3 as a standalone movie players.


RE: ROFL
By deeznuts on 7/17/2007 1:29:58 PM , Rating: 2
HD DVD add on player numbers are not huge. I think in the 100,000 range (don't quote me on that). So taking that into account it's not 95% BD just as you say, but it could be damn close. 85-90% even.


RE: ROFL
By mdogs444 on 7/17/2007 1:42:35 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, but of those 85%, it does not mean 85% of the PS3's were purchased and being used for BD movies. Thats all I'm saying.


hahahaha
By HardwareD00d on 7/17/07, Rating: -1
"Nowadays you can buy a CPU cheaper than the CPU fan." -- Unnamed AMD executive











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