Yep, that's right :)

I'll stick with HD DVD until it's dead and gone.

I love my A2 player, it plays all my old DVDs (lots of DVD±R in the bunch) and the upconversion is pretty darn good.

Of course I will have to go purple at some point but either with the PS3 or with a hybrid drive ... I'm giving myself the year to decide.

Long live HD DVD !

P.S.: I'm not die hard sold on HD DVD but I did get the player because it was cheaper. Still not disappointed on the HD DVD movies I have watched so far, the last Harry Potter is pretty awsome !

Good for you! This whole idea that BR is going to win the format war is highly debatable. I mean, we've still got Paramount and who really watches anything but Star Trek anyway! :p

-Mike

I paid more for my Pioneer Elite DV46 Standard DVD player $399 than I did for my HDA3 ($249)
The HDA3 upconverts better but not by much.

The HDA3 was purchased End of December. Should I return it? I have 30 days to bring it back to FS and get something else.

But, even a high quality DVD player with 1080i costs 125 so I'd have to replace it with something. Is it worth my gas to FS for $125 bucks? I think not.

I'll keep the A3 and enjoy it.

You also get several(7) free movies with the A3 which brings the price down even more (if you think that way).

kgeorge78,

Keeping any piece of equipment (which you can return) that has a likely chance of being obsolete in the near future is a bad decision and a waste of money. The only time it would make sense would be if you have a big library of movies already (and I'm not talking about already having 10-20 movies that you will probably watch only 1 more time in the next few years).

You are better off returning it, and using that money toward a Blu-Ray player (or a PS3 as a Blu-Ray player). All will play satandard DVD's like your HD DVD player did and they will do it well. And since you don't really care about saving $125, then spending that amount of money extra to get a Blu-Ray machine shouldn't matter.

I picked up an HD player in December for a good price, have been enjoying it, and was disappointed to hear the WB decision, as I truly feel HD DVD is the better executed format, IMHO. But I digress, there are many other threads for that discussion...

However, with all the reading on the web, I have not read anything about WB actually making a commitment to Blu... have they actually signed a contract or anything to this effect?

Just wondering if they can still change their mind if the market changes from here through May, as HD player sales were quite strong over the holidays and with the very real chance of discounted movies/players in the coming months, it is possible sales may pick up significantly. Can WB still (legally/contractually) change their mind about their Blu decision before June?


Furthermore, I do have an idea for HD DVD that is a bit radical but could potential help them greatly improve title sales and get back in the game by taking advantage of a uniquely HD-DVD feature;

Given the HDM market is miniscule compared to DVD sales, and HD DVD is the only format capable of doing combo format discs (SD on one side, HD on the other), why not work out a deal with Paramount & Universal to discontinue SD-DVD altogether and release all titles on HD DVD combo discs, and price it at (or very close to) the SD-DVD price?

Also important is to educate the general SD-DVD customer about this unique format allows them "future-proofing" for no additional cost. Once a small title library is built up (and player prices erode further), picking up a cheap HD DVD would be a no-brainer.

Of course, the big issue with this is production costs, but I would think there would be savings by consolidating your products into one format, and perhaps Toshiba/Microsoft/etc can work out some sort of funding support for x number of months to help make this happen.

A secondary concern from the studios POV is that they would be sacrificing their current double-dipping ability for SD/HD, but the PR upside of free HD would be a pretty powerful selling feature, IMHO. If HD DVD regains foothold in the market and player prices get below $100 as regular price, they could then drop the combo format and going HD exclusive since the entry price would be minimal by then. Even if you don't have an HDTV, HD players will still output to an SDTV, right?

Thoughts?

Kevin

Keeping any piece of equipment (which you can return) that has a likely chance of being obsolete in the near future is a bad decision and a waste of money.

Technically it's a waste of money to buy a BD player too.

Nice attempt at minimizing the cost difference BTW. Totally glossed over the fact it's at least $300 from an upconverter to a BD player. ;)

A nice idea, but when you consider the shear number of DVDs sold compared to HD DVDs, I doubt there are enough pressing plants to makes millions of these combos.

I love HD DVD as much as most of the format's supporters, but this battle is done. It's time now to focus on trying to make BD mainstream with the public at large.

Keeping any piece of equipment (which you can return) that has a likely chance of being obsolete in the near future is a bad decision and a waste of money.

And if you can convince enough suckers to do this then I'll be able to pick up all their leftover HD discs at incredibly low prices. Even owning 10 movies in HD-DVD you'll still be able to watch them. It's getting tiresome listening to this "quick return it now, don't waste your time" attitude. Even by the time HD-DVD will cease production there will most likely be over 1000 titles available, and probably at low prices, why not hang onto the machine and buy those titles. Re-buying them on another format (especially when you'd have to wait awhile for the BD releases) is the waste of money, not keeping the HD player.

ksargent: Great idea. I think someone else floated the "all DVDs as Combo Format", but I can't remember where / when. Makes a lot of sense from the perspective that P/DW and U DVDs will vastly outsell any HDM format. The issue is cost (production and licensing). Maybe Toshiba would have to take a hit on the licensing/royalties aspect (sort of a rebate to the studios). While I'd welcome such value in a movie purchase, I'd be very surprised to see this. Course I've been surprised recently anyway, so I'm not really one to go by... :rolleyes:

Nice attempt at minimizing the cost difference BTW. Totally glossed over the fact it's at least $300 from an upconverter to a BD player

No I wasn't trying to minimize the cost difference. The issue here isn't the difference between a cheap upconverting DVD player and a Blu-Ray player, it's the difference between keeping his HD DVD player or returning it and using the money towards a Blu-Ray player.

The "issue" isn't a single choice. There are other options, such as returning it buy an upconverter. Another is returning to stay on the sidelines for a while. The studios would love to have us jumping directly from one format to the other simply because they "clarified" the situation. That doesn't mean it makes sense for us.

And if you can convince enough suckers to do this then I'll be able to pick up all their leftover HD discs at incredibly low prices. Even owning 10 movies in HD-DVD you'll still be able to watch them. It's getting tiresome listening to this "quick return it now, don't waste your time" attitude. Even by the time HD-DVD will cease production there will most likely be over 1000 titles available, and probably at low prices, why not hang onto the machine and buy those titles. Re-buying them on another format (especially when you'd have to wait awhile for the BD releases) is the waste of money, not keeping the HD player.


Sorry, but I fail to see the positive in keeping a player that will likely be obsolete soon.

I don't know where you're getting this 1000 movies available number, and even ignoring the fact that there will NOT be 1000 movies any individual out there would like to own available on HD DVD.

The bottom line is that most movies will be available on Blu-Ray, and the people who can return their HD DVD units for a full refund right now are at a decision-making point and have the luxury that the other the HD DVD early adopters don't have (the luxury of returning for a full refund).

Maybe it's getting tiresome for you to hear the logic behind it, but I can also assure you that it's getting tiresome to hear HD DVD supporters refuse to acknowledge that the sky is indeed falling and they're encouraging people who have a choice of opting out of the format at this stage to not do it and stic with it. IMO that is very bad advice. At the very LEAST, people who can still return their HD DVD players should be told to return it and wait (even if they don't replace it with a Blu-Ray player).

Anyone who has purchased in the past 30 days probably has a small investment in software. So if they can return it, then why not? They could try and sell their titles and walk away will a small loss.

You can always get back in to HD-DVD in a few month if something miraculous happens, but you won't be able to return you hardware a month from now.

Exactly!

Why keep it when you can return it? You can always buy it again later, and if you're really hungry for high-def right now, then you can go with Blu-Ray for a small premium.

The only recent purchasers who should be considering keeping their HD DVD player are the ones either with a big library already, or the ones that got the Boxing Day deal for $100.

Sorry, but I fail to see the positive in keeping a player that will likely be obsolete soon.

I don't know where you're getting this 1000 movies available number, and even ignoring the fact that there will NOT be 1000 movies any individual out there would like to own available on HD DVD.

The bottom line is that most movies will be available on Blu-Ray, and the people who can return their HD DVD units for a full refund right now are at a decision-making point and have the luxury that the other the HD DVD early adopters don't have (the luxury of returning for a full refund).

Maybe it's getting tiresome for you to hear the logic behind it, but I can also assure you that it's getting tiresome to hear HD DVD supporters refuse to acknowledge that the sky is indeed falling and they're encouraging people who have a choice of opting out of the format at this stage to not do it and stic with it. IMO that is very bad advice. At the very LEAST, people who can still return their HD DVD players should be told to return it and wait (even if they don't replace it with a Blu-Ray player).
The bottom line is that most movies will be available on Blu-Ray, and the people who can return their HD DVD units for a full refund right now are at a decision-making point and have the luxury that the other the HD DVD early adopters don't have (the luxury of returning for a full refund).

Maybe it's getting tiresome for you to hear the logic behind it, but I can also assure you that it's getting tiresome to hear HD DVD supporters refuse to acknowledge that the sky is indeed falling and they're encouraging people who have a choice of opting out of the format at this stage to not do it and stic with it. IMO that is very bad advice. At the very LEAST, people who can still return their HD DVD players should be told to return it and wait (even if they don't replace it with a Blu-Ray player).

Your argument is flawed.

Most consumers that have purchased an HD-DVD player in the last 2 months have done so for the following 3 reasons (myself included).

1. Price
2. Price
3. Price

I purchased the $99 HD-D3 from FS this past boxing day solely because that is the entry point that is welcoming to the majority of HD electronics equipment. The player came with 2 FREE movies. I have purchased 2 more (Batman Begins and Superman Returns both @ 18.83 each), I also have 5 additional movies on the way (plus a 10.00 shipping charge).

Total cost thus far = 146.66 not including taxes... less than half the price of the next relativley affordable BD player.

For me, getting into the HD market was cheap. HD DVD's demise is not going to happen overnight. At the end of the day when BD is on the mainstream of all, I still have a player that can play an upconvert my regular DVD's and still enjoy the HD discs I already own, as seeing one should only intend to purchased discs that they intend to watch again and again.

By the time I'm ready to purchase a BD player, it'll probably $99 as well.

I hate to return things to be honest. I'm in business and I would hate to have people take advantage of me.
But.....................

I spend alot of money at futureshop and If I return, I would surely purchase something of higher value.

Your argument is flawed.

Most consumers that have purchased an HD-DVD player in the last 2 months have done so for the following 3 reasons (myself included).

1. Price
2. Price
3. Price

I purchased the $99 HD-D3 from FS this past boxing day solely because that is the entry point that is welcoming to the majority of HD electronics equipment. The player came with 2 FREE movies. I have purchased 2 more (Batman Begins and Superman Returns both @ 18.83 each), I also have 5 additional movies on the way (plus a 10.00 shipping charge).

Total cost thus far = 146.66 not including taxes... less than half the price of the next relativley affordable BD player.



No it's not flawed. If you read the post I made just above yours, you proved my point: The only people who it might be worth it for to keep the HD DVD palyer are the ones who got it for $100 on Boxing Day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hate to return things to be honest. I'm in business and I would hate to have people take advantage of me.
But.....................

I spend alot of money at futureshop and If I return, I would surely purchase something of higher value.

You're not taking advantage of anyone. People who return TV's to Costco after 6 months are taking advantage for the system. You on the other hand are simply making a return within a reasonable return period for a valid reason.

Obviously the final decision is yours... I just gave my advice, especially since your HD DVD player didn't only cost you $100.

259 + taxes.

The only problem is there is nothing at futureshop I want. I dont want a BlueRay (I have PS3).

I think It might go towards a evga 8800GT 512 MB.