Blu-ray Trumps HD DVD: The Aftermath

Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:11AM EST

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Want a refund from Toshiba now that it's pulled the plug on its own format? Good luck. Also: HD DVD prices plummet, Universal and Amazon go Blu-ray, and more.

Toshiba nixes refunds: So, HD DVD early adopters - think you deserve a refund now that Toshiba has killed the format? Think again. Valleywag reports that the company (and big-time HD DVD backer) won't be accepting refund requests (although it will continue to support existing HD DVD players). Here's the quote: "There is nothing wrong with the products so we aren't accepting returns from customers ... [Customers] understood that there were two competing formats and understood that one of them would probably prevail ..." Good point, actually. In my case, I bought the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive knowing full well that I was taking a gamble. I lost. End of story.

Universal goes Blu-ray: Not a shock, but Universal went ahead and made it official: The studio (the only one to exclusively support HD DVD from the beginning) announced that it will start churning out Blu-ray versions of its new releases and catalog titles. No word on how long it will continue to press HD DVD discs. The move leaves Paramount and its subsidiary, Dreamworks, as the final HD DVD-only studios. Neither movie house has made any official announcements, but expect that to change shortly. Update: Paramount just got official about going Blu-ray.

Onkyo drops HD DVD: Confirming pretty much a foregone conclusion, Engadget HD reports that Onkyo, one of the few manufacturers besides Toshiba to make HD DVD players, has followed suit and dropped the format.

LG stays with HD DVD: Or at least with dual-format Blu-ray/HD DVD decks, according to High-Def Digest. The manufacturer, which was the first to release a Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player, said that "at this present moment in time, it is necessary to provide a player which supports both formats and therefore create simplicity and convenience for the existing HD DVD consumer." Very true, although it's not clear whether LG will produce more combo players, or will simply continue to support its existing players (its latest, the BH200, arrived in stores late last year).

Amazon hearts Blu-ray: The giant online retailer just went the way of Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Netflix, announcing that it will now "more prominently promote Blu-ray hardware and software products on its Web site." Amazon will continue to sell HD DVD products, however. Indeed, I'm waiting for a mega HD DVD fire sale in the wake of the 50 percent discount offer that began last week.

HD DVD prices plummet: Sharp-eyed readers at Engadget HD found Toshiba's HD-A3 HD DVD player on sale at Circuit City for $99, including 7 free movies. Of course, it's just the beginning of sharp price cuts across the board for HD DVD. Taking a quick look at eBay, I found HD DVD players going for well under $100, with the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on selling for about $50.

Comments on Blu-ray Trumps HD DVD: The Aftermath

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  • 26 Posted by mythril_bladed_k on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Actually there is something greatly wrong with the product. They had just forced everyone to switch to Blu-Ray. All that money wasted when you bought those games. I think we got jipped big time. Now, companies won't be making HD-DVDs, so we just bought a 6 lb. paper weight. and lacour, try less than 2 years buddy.

  • 27 Posted by jalves9836 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    i really don´t remember any advertising from sony or toshiba mentioning that what you bought had a 50% change of becoming garbage (let's face it, no movies, no use for the thing) in a few weeks. i haven't bought neither but still think it's bad to do this. The worst part is that the final decision was not consumer based but rather bought by sony. People should really think twice before buying gadgets.

  • 28 Posted by mick987g on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why not wait and download it from the internet. Maybe put it on a flash drive?

  • 29 Posted by zerobeholder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Something to consider. Microsoft was backing the HD DVD drive. Also, since it is closer to the standard DVD architecture and uses similar firmware HD DVD is also overall cheaper to produce. HD DVD drives are faster than Blu-Ray drives. This set of threads has only dealt with multi-media disks that movies sit on. The dynamic for data storage has been completely overlooked. In summary Blu-Ray does have a higher capacity but sacrifices speed and is more costly. What I wouldn't be surprised at is HD-DVD to show up on home PCs. The home movie market is clearly lost. But, Microsoft is big in it's niche.

  • 30 Posted by danielivan7 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am glad to see Toshiba take it in the shorts and I am surprized that the american society has forgaten that Toshiba obtained the secret for the silent submarine drive (from us) through industrial espionage and proceeded to sell it to the chinese. I guess a full page add in the New York Times begging our forgiveness did the trick?! Anyone that buys any Toshiba product deserves no mercy, let along a refund!

  • 31 Posted by zamranjohn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    People who are looking for refund is a idiotic move. It was gamble every body knew that. Now that you lost you want your money back ? lol. If you were smart enough you would have waited for the winner.

  • 32 Posted by my_simms on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't recall there being any refunds for betamax or lazer discs when they went out of vogue. This shouldn't be a suprise. Let the buyer beware. That's as true today as it ever was. Personally I'm perfectly happy with my old-fashioned DVDs.

  • 34 Posted by onepersonsjunk on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have never had any sympathy for early-adopters. Prudence suggests waiting a few years to see if a technology or format has staying power. But too many lemmings buy into the hype and think there is some cachet to having the latest gadget the moment it comes out. It's all well and good if you can afford it, but if you're complaining about it later, then maybe you spent money you shouldn't have. Don't let rabid, knee jerk consumerism and the products you buy define you as a person. Think more, buy less.

  • 35 Posted by rockmax_exe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    What a BOOST! PS3 users once again rejoice! There was never a doubt in my mind.

  • 36 Posted by traci.hochstatter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with the "Old school DVD", screw both of those other formats!

  • 37 Posted by mrmassage232@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    polyester06--- ahhh men Brother/sister. The only reason I'm considering a Digital format for my tv is due the "over the air" digital changeover next year. I watch the commercials. I say let the advertisers pay for my entertainment. REFUND...lol anyone remember Video Disks? the LP record sized video disk that lost to VHS and BETAMAX. Betamax? look it up on wikipedia---Yea even the VCR had to beat out something you youngsters. Trivia---- Betamax was supposed to beat out VHS becasue of size of cassett and quality of tape... but...low cost won the war. Look at old advertisements where a vhs move was $20 and a Beta tape that would last 5 times longer and take up less space was $25.

  • 38 Posted by carolhertle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to know can both old and new version of dvd be played on the Bllu-rays as well as t he old Hd

  • 39 Posted by remsoh_nod on Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:54PM EST Report Abuse

    Will a standard definition DVD play on a Blu-Ray player?

  • 40 Posted by doobieskooby on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Microsoft got greedy like they always do. you buy one thing you have to buy 34 other things just to get that on thing to work. they could of easily put a HD-drive in all the xbox 360's and won the war but they wanted to make the extra buck and sell it HD-drive separately.

  • 41 Posted by jdwellsrn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's no news that Sony and Toshiba have fought for supremacy for years. Laser Disc, Betamax, minidisc... Sony always fell short. With the PS doing so well each time it came out, it was only a matter of time before they dominated. I went blu ray in anticipation (specs were better) that it would prevail. HOWEVER, I like the 360 better than my PS3 for gamin and kinda chuckle knowing that Gates missed a goldmine with that one.... :( Still waiting for a writable UMD though.... COMON SONY!!!

  • 42 Posted by hurreprint on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I for one am glad Blu-Ray prevailed as the victor. However, I feel that HD-DVD had better interactivity and features than Blu-Ray. I own a PS3 and a Sony BDP-S300. For those whom are thinking of getting a Blu-Ray player. Take my advice and buy a PS3, the loading time is very fast compared to the slow loading BDP-S300. Also you can get firmware updates via the internet on the PS3 (PS3 also has HDMI 1.3) Like others have mentioned, WAIT for the Blu-Ray Movies sales on Amazon (sign up for email alerts @ dealnews.com) you can Blu-Ray Disc Movies for as low as $14.00 each.

  • 43 Posted by simeycook on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    "Buyer Beware" - we all knew that only one format would survive. Some of us went for the HD DVD - well it's still a pretty mean format, and upconverts standard DVDs really well. So not much lost really - still plenty of HD DVDs out there too. Many people got them at discount too - $299 for mine, with 10 free HD DVDs - so the net cost was minimal. (the DVDs I got were valued at around $200).

  • 44 Posted by j_litwin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am thinking that now the format war is over the prices of blu-ray will also come down. HD is the technology of the future. regular dvds will eventually be phased out to the blu-ray technology more players will come out that play both regular dvds and blu-ray. Pricing of HD tvs have already started to fall as well in part due to the cable companies being required to stop analog signals and go more to digital and hd.

  • 45 Posted by amain2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    I will not buy any of them, as soon as you do, it will be outdated and something new will be here to replace it, and ofcourse, like the sony playstation, sega and nintendo products, you'll be screwed inside of a year. It's just a dang video for cryin out loud. I personally dont want to see the actor/actresses pancaked on makeup.

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