HD DVD disk amnesty - Should studios replace your disks with BR?

[99semaj]

Originally Posted by stampeder

I wonder if buying a second HD DVD player on clearance is a good way to future-proof your purchases of all those anticipated cheap movies? You could use your original player and then bring out the other one if the first one fails.

Another thought is whether you should try to legally backup your HD DVD movies to cover yourself against disk wear and tear. Once it dies, you'll probably never find a replacement disk.

Since the studios created this whole mess (the question of which format would dominate was never really in the hands of the consumers), I think the proper thing for them to do would be to announce a disc amnesty.

Consumers should be able to mail in their HD DVDs for a BD equivalent free or at-cost.

[roguechameleon]

The consumer chose to get involved, knowing that a format war was ongoing. I am one of those consumers and accept my fate.

I suggest you do the same.

[jvincent]

The idea of some kind of trade-in program has been floating since WB switched.

From an industry standpoint it would be a huge positive PR move since it would allow those that bought HD-DVD to recoup some of their investment.

Given the negative press and senitments that the format war has generated it might not be a bad idea.

[TECHNOKID]

All along the fact that consumers were not consulted or involved in the decision was a big grief for me. Now, how about teasing the devil? 99semaj, what you propose makes sense and why don't you make it official with one of those petitions? I think all of theses companies that had led this war to this end result without consumer approval or insight deserve to spend the big $$$$ to make it right to consumers. I feel that many consumers outside of this forum will follow suit and this should therefore be the consumer voice and power and should teach the involved companies to think twice next time around they make such decisions without consulting in some way their consumers when making such decision as that do affect consumers and not to say the response these companies will get from consumers in the future.

The consumer chose to get involved, knowing that a format war was ongoing. I am one of those consumers and accept my fate.

Consumers had every rights to get involved and companies involved should of had the decency to seek consumers approval (after all, aren't they the ones buying their crap). It should of been the decision of consumer that decided the faith of the format not theirs and should suffer the consequences of it not the consumers. Having studios and all of the other involved that decided the faith of the format pay dues to consumers that chose otherwise is simply logical as far as I am concerned after all, isn't the main reason those hungry companies exist??? Do you really think as a consumer we have to be cheeps? Don’t you think you or we have a say in the manner?

[i hate tv]

I am one of the people who chose to sit on the sidelines, instead of gamble with my entertainment funds
We have HD from satellite, but with the fear of owning a "BETA" HD-DVD or "BETA" Blu-Ray player when one winner was declared has made us decide to wait this out
Those that bought into one or the other technology did so (hopefully) knowing that their box of choice may and up being the loser
Should I feel bad?
Ummmm, I guess a little bit, especially if they were unaware of the compatibility issues between the 2 technologies
I don't feel bad though for those that chose to have the newest toy on the block, and now feel "cheated" because they chose wrong...
The fat lady hasn't started singing yet, but I it looks like the curtain is rising
Hopefully one will die, so I can join the 1080P dvd club

[TECHNOKID]

We have HD from satellite,

Anyone that has HD transmissions at home can favor rentals through their providers in the mean time and this should speak to studios also.

I don't feel bad though for those that chose to have the newest toy on the block, and now feel "cheated" because they chose wrong...

Many of us of knew what they were getting in to and chose the proper time to pick their units while pricing was low and at the same time showed support... I wish more people would of done so as the end result could of been different if consumers had voice their own positions instead of simply sit on it waiting for companies to make their decision for them.

Anyway, for now I am out shopping for my next HDDVD player as don't feel as a loser or that I chose wrong on the opposite, I feel as one that dare stand for his position and do not wait for others to chose what I buy!

All of that said, simply wish me happy shopping!

[zyad]

Originally Posted by TECHNOKID

All along the fact that consumers were not consulted or involved in the decision was a big grief for me. Now, how about teasing the devil? 99semaj, what you propose makes sense and why don't you make it official with one of those petitions? I think all of theses companies that had led this war to this end result without consumer approval or insight deserve to spend the big $$$$ to make it right to consumers. I feel that many consumers outside of this forum will follow suit and this should therefore be the consumer voice and power and should teach the involved companies to think twice next time around they make such decisions without consulting in some way their consumers when making such decision as that do affect consumers and not to say the response these companies will get from consumers in the future.


Consumers had every rights to get involved and companies involved should of had the decency to seek consumers approval (after all, aren't they the ones buying their crap). It should of been the decision of consumer that decided the faith of the format not theirs and should suffer the consequences of it not the consumers. Having studios and all of the other involved that decided the faith of the format pay dues to consumers that chose otherwise is simply logical as far as I am concerned after all, isn't the main reason those hungry companies exist??? Do you really think as a consumer we have to be cheeps? Don’t you think you or we have a say in the manner?

I don't buy into this "consumers weren't involved" idea.
Consumers spoke with their $$$. It doesn't matter who was paying off who (on both sides). Blu-Ray outsold HD DVD pretty much since inception.

[99semaj]

Originally Posted by zyad

I don't buy into this "consumers weren't involved" idea.
Consumers spoke with their $$$. It doesn't matter who was paying off who (on both sides). Blu-Ray outsold HD DVD pretty much since inception.

You're correct in saying that BD outperformed the other guys almost from the get-go, but there is a widely-held belief that the final decision was really based on royalty-sharing agreements between the studios and the format proponents.

I share that belief. The fact that BD was the stronger performer merely made it easier to spin to the public.

[Fstevens]

I don't think we will see any trade-in program as suggested but interesting that when you purchase the movies Con Air, The Rock and Crimson in Blu-ray you can get a $10 rebate if you have the SD movie of the same title. Is a similar program for Blu-ray/HD DVD a possiblity?