I'm not worried
I bought an HDA2 in Dec 2006 for $350 - I have been enjoying it since then, and have only purchased 7 HD DVD's
I know that didn't help the HD DVD adoption, but I have been renting HD DVD from Rogers and Blockbuster

So - for $350, I have an HD capable player and an excellent upconverting SD DVD player

I am still not convinced that HD DVD is dead, but even if it is, I will look at BR later on next year (2009)

Blu-ray or HDDVD, both are going to suffer the same fate as VHS tape. It will likely happen sooner too, since technology companies have discovered that changing media and formats is a quick way to sell the same content over and over.

-Mike

Clavin 940: There is no basis for class action lawsuits.

Are you a lawyer or a judge?

I would think there is no basis for a class action lawsuit. I am not a lawyer or a judge but my best friend is a lawyer. yeah I feel sorry for me to...

I do not remember signing an agreement when I bought my HD-A1 stating that the HD-DVD format will live forever. I knew full well when I bought it that I was an early adopter. I rolled the dice...yet to see the outcome though.

Clavin 940: There is no basis for class action lawsuits.

Are you a lawyer or a judge?
Nope I am not either. I really don't think you have to be either as well to feel that a class action lawsuit doesn't have any merrit.

Nevertheless in the litigious society that we have, I could certainly be wrong about that, but I don't think so. I agree with Quicksilver. Plenty of things I have bought over the years haven't gone anywhere. I just keep on truckin. Remember ReplayTV? Damn I loved that box, but TiVO ftw.

If there's a basis for anyone--and this is a big if--it's for recent adopters. 4th quarter sales for both formats broke their previous records. Longer term adopters had much more of a chance to enjoy the format before the entire landscape was changed by one company's decision. Great cracks in the earth opened up, swallowed HD DVD, and then closed back up, as though nothing happened. Right after Christmas to boot. The timing is just awful for many, many recent HD DVD buyers. Still not saying a class action lawsuit has merit as I'm not a lawyer. Just saying there's a vast gulf between being getting a red player a year or more ago, and just last month.

Just saying there's a vast gulf between being getting a red player a year or more ago, and just last month.

Why is that? Because a rumour came about about Warner going Blu and Warner issued a press release saying that they currently didn't have a plan to go exclusive either way?

Plans change, circumstances change. At that point in time there may very well have been no plan to go either way. There are no promises, no contracts established, nothing to say they would *never* go to either side, therefore there is no difference between a year ago and now for people.

It's a bizarre reality.

Now that the holiday sales are over, I know 9 people who have HD-DVD players and none who have Blu-ray (except one PS3 owner who doesn't use it for movies).

I was just in an HMV here in Toronto, and I'd say the HD-DVD section was noticeably larger than Blu-ray. In the time I was there, two people checked out with HD-DVD and none with Blu-ray.

Yet, Bluray wins. Go figure.

Why is that? Because a rumour came about about Warner going Blu and Warner issued a press release saying that they currently didn't have a plan to go exclusive either way?

Plans change, circumstances change. At that point in time there may very well have been no plan to go either way. There are no promises, no contracts established, nothing to say they would *never* go to either side, therefore there is no difference between a year ago and now for people.

Relax. Read my post again. Not just the last line.

Relax. Read my post again. Not just the last line.
I am relaxed. I read your post. You also sumarized your entire post with that last line that the landscape was much different for people purchasing in the last month vs a year or more ago to back up your initial line/assertion which said that if there was any merit for a lawsuit it would be for recent adopters. I maintain that there was no legal reason for there to be a difference.

It's a bizarre reality.

Now that the holiday sales are over, I know 9 people who have HD-DVD players and none who have Blu-ray (except one PS3 owner who doesn't use it for movies).

I was just in an HMV here in Toronto, and I'd say the HD-DVD section was noticeably larger than Blu-ray. In the time I was there, two people checked out with HD-DVD and none with Blu-ray.

Yet, Bluray wins. Go figure.

Yes, it really is bizarre, isn't it Helmut? How in the world can the war go in BD's favour when Helmut knows 9 people with HD-DVD and saw two people checking out with HD-DVD?!?!

Can James tell us again how HD-DVD supporters are more sensible?

I am relaxed. I read your post. You also sumarized your entire post with that last line that the landscape was much different for people purchasing in the last month vs a year or more ago to back up your initial line/assertion which said that if there was any merit for a lawsuit it would be for recent adopters. I maintain that there was no legal reason for there to be a difference.

And when did I say otherwise? Notice the word I bolded? I guess I did a poor job of conveying my point, but I thought I emphasized the "if" quite well.

The part that was especially confusing to me was the line you quoted, as it can't really be refuted. There is a vast gulf between being getting a red player a year or more ago, and just last month. The denial didn't help of course, but you'll note I didn't mention it.

Still, what I wrote is no different that saying:
If recent adopters have no case, then longer term HD DVD owners have absolutely no case.

To be clear, I wasn't justifying a lawsuit. The thread included some quotes from rather long term owners (A1 and A2 owners), and I was merely indicating that their situation was nowhere near the same as a recent adopter. Nor do I think it's right to lump all HD DVD owners into the "early adopter" category. OK?

Nor do I think it's right to lump all HD DVD owners into the "early adopter" category. OK?

Everybody who has bought into a technology that has yet to reach mainstream acceptance can be considered an "early adopter".

Everybody who has bought into a technology that has yet to reach mainstream acceptance can be considered an "early adopter".
The one unique thing about early adoption of HD DVD was that the brief $99 price point that moved a ton of players was not your normal "early adopter" price.

True but it only happened because of competition.

True but it only happened because of competition.
Agreed. But at that price point, people tend to forget they're still early adopters and the risks are still very much there.

And when did I say otherwise? Notice the word I bolded? I guess I did a poor job of conveying my point, but I thought I emphasized the "if" quite well.

.
.
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Still, what I wrote is no different that saying:
If recent adopters have no case, then longer term HD DVD owners have absolutely no case.

This line you have re-written actually does not mean the same thing as your initial assertion, but I really just want to address your original post. I do understand what you were saying with that original post. I know you aren't saying a suit is justified. For a second, let's assume that neither one of us feel that a lawsuit is warranted.

Where we differ is that your assertion is that one group may have more merit than another (ie. more recent purchasers have more merit than a year+ old purchasers). My assertion is that both groups have equal merit. That is either they both have merit or neither has merit. I have not seen anything transpire in between the year ago purchasers and month ago purchasers that would change that merit. That's all I am saying.

It'll be a cold day in He__ when I go buy a 400 dollar blue ray player or a PS 3.
Maybe Sony and WB should give everyone 200 bucks who want to buy their products and watch their mostly krap movies.
Shows how both sides (formats) care about their customers.
Maybe the writers stay on strike for a real long time and half these morons lose their jobs and join the real world.
I'll let everone know when that cold day is cause when the war is over if anyones left I'll be buying that Blue Ray cause I gotta have the tech stuff.
But for now thy can kiss my A__!!!!!!!!!!

Tell us how you really feel Bob... :rolleyes:

Bigscreenbob - doesn't it get pretty cold in Cranbrook in the winter?