Netflix Goes the Blu-ray Way
Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:22AM EST
See Comments (20)
The movies-by-mail giant says that from now on, it will only buy Blu-ray discs, and that it expects to "phase out" its inventory of HD DVD movies by the end of the year. Talk about a nail in the coffin.
The news is the harshest blow for HD DVD since Warner Brothers announced it was jumping ship and going exclusively with Blu-ray. It's sure to have a chilling effect on already dwindling HD DVD player sales, and while Netflix still has a few hundred HD DVD titles for rent, HD DVD viewers will eventually be left with Blockbuster (which has by-mail HD DVD titles for rent) and local video stores (which may or may not have HD DVD movies on their shelves). Indeed, I've been renting my share of HD DVDs from Netflix, and I have several upcoming titles in my "Saved" queue; now it looks like I'll have to rent "I Am Legend" somewhere else—or just get the DVD version, until I give in and get a Blu-ray player myself.
OK, HD DVD fans, what's your take on Netflix's decision? And for those of you on the fence, how does the Netflix news factor into your decision?
Related:
Press release
Comments on Netflix Goes the Blu-ray Way
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2 Posted by striz923 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:45PM EDT Report Abuse
the better product is winning. This is not saying that HD-DVD is bad, but it is better if companies can focus on one. Just be glad this war was over faster than the VHS-Beta one.
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3 Posted by scottiecordes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse
Unfortunately, technology winners and product obsolesence do force consumers to buy a product. Has anybody tried to get a VHS tape lately (or Betamax for that matter)? 8-Track? Vinyl record? Laser Disk? I am sure this announcement will trigger the usual Red Vs. Blue back and forth. With that said, to #1, engaging in illegal activity is not a good answer. You only risk getting caught, and it's not like a company like Sony is going to feel it in their pocketbooks. This quote WAR unquote, should never have happened in the first place.
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4 Posted by marks_email01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:08PM EDT Report Abuse
Good riddance. About time this stupid format war was over. Extra costs for dual-format players and catalogs at your video store only get passed on to the consumer, not to mention the risk of shelling out big bucks for quickly obsoleted equipment. I feel for poster #1, but this is exactly the reason I exercised my choice as a consumer by refusing to buy any hi-def stuff until this was all sorted out.
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5 Posted by juicemonkey01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse
I find it funny that #1 is complaining about HD-DVD losing the war and how they are now adopting the "screw the world" mentality. If it is that big of a deal then in the future don't be one of the first to buy an emerging technology in the middle of a format war. You had to know that there was a chance that HD-DVD wouldn't win and that you may be on the losing end. Well that is exactly what happened and now you want to whine about it. I don't think anyone except for other HD-DVD owners are going to shed a tear for you.
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6 Posted by officerdebra on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse
before reading any other comments and reacting only on the Netflix news.....it's blu-ray for me.
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7 Posted by jen122584 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse
I don't see how its a choice by the consumers of what to buy. All of the movie production companies and movie rental stores have picked sides. With all of the movie companies going blu-ray what sense would it make for anybody to buy a hd player if all the movies will be comming out in blu-ray only now. And the people who bought HD players (including me with a xbox 360 hd player) will be stuck with a player for nothing basically. I agree that blu-ray is better since they don't scratch as easily but then again its nicer to be able to have dual sided discs so that you can watch the movie on a regular dvd player if you don't have a hd player in every room of your house.
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8 Posted by therealmikekosh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:04PM EDT Report Abuse
Sony sux.
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9 Posted by danbfree on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse
HD DVD was the natural progression of the DVD format... It is much easier to burn/produce and is NOT that much inferior to Blu-Ray at all. Sony simply used it's financial might to win the battle. They refused to agree on a format with everyone else so they simply could charge all the royalties they want. Sounds like a monopoly to me. They weren't content in overcharging consumers for their AV products, they feel they have to control the entire experience. Sad.
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10 Posted by danbfree on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse
" agree that blu-ray is better since they don't scratch as easily..." Where did you hear that? it's actually the other way around. Blu Ray disks have a higher chance of becoming unplayable if scratched.
1 Posted by questholiday74 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:24PM EDT Report Abuse
It is terrible that the customer (who is suppose to be right) is being forced to purchase a blu-ray player. This country was founded on the idea of freedom of choice. Now a days its starting to feel and look like the people don't get a choice. I own a HD-Player and I love it. Reading that most of the companies are running to Blu-ray only tells me that Sony can buy any company whenever they want. Sony started off buying the NFL lincense now they are buying the movie studios. Soon I won't be able to choose my food or anything, society is turning into mindless robots. I will now just download my movies illegally so that no company makes a profit. I refuse to be forced to buy a blu-ray movie.