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Is Blu Ray the Laserdisc of the 21st Century?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantstephan.klose
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Registered: June 27, 2007
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I am just asking this question because it seems a little like Blu Ray follows in the steps of the Laserdisc Format.

Back in the 90ties we had VHS. Then Laserdisc was introduced. Great Picture, even better sound (still better than any DVD). Yet it was never widely accepted, especially because the hard and software was way more expensive than VHS. It always remained an enthusiasts medium.

Now we have Blu Ray. It won the war against HD-DVD. Will it ever dominate the DVD market though?
Now there is a DVD Player (one at least) in almost every household. You can get pretty much every movie on the format.
Then you have Blu Ray. Perfect Picture and perfect Sound. Will people spend the extra money?

I am doubtful. There are signs though. Like the Prices of Movies on Blu Ray in the US. They all hover around $20. That's acceptable. It is not acceptable to the typical DVD Collector who buys his movies for a maximum of $10.

Even the players are cheaper then the first DVD Players. If you take a typical Blu Ray Player, the Samsung BD-P 1400. That one is now $299. I remember ten years ago the 2nd DVD Player released by Panasonic, the A-350 went for about $1200.

But, people are used to the cheap prices now.

What do you think on this subject?
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 Last edited: by stephan.klose
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Blu-Ray can "forcibly win" at any moment. It's merely a matter of the biggest studios to start releasing less and less DVD editions to force the transition to blu-ray, but that would be a last resort measure.

If, however, you look to the numbers of blu-ray adoption, you'll see they're growing a lot more than DVD did upon its inception, so yeah, I predict a safe, staedy increase of blu-ray. Mainly when the el cheapo player brands from China arrive to the market, that's when the boom will be, and I know a lot of people waiting for that (either because they want an el cheapo, or because they're waiting for the effect it will have in the major manufacturers' prices).
With every passing hour our solar system comes forty-three thousand miles closer to globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules, and still there are some misfits who continue to insist that there is no such thing as progress.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Stephan.klose:
Quote:

(...)
I am doubtful. There are signs though. Like the Prices of Movies on Blu Ray in the US. They all hover around $20. That's acceptable. It is not acceptable to the typical DVD Collector who buys his movies for a maximum of $10.
(...)


Your numbers are a little off, but I understand your point.  That is where I am sitting rigt now.

Not counting sales, DVDs are around $20 and Blu-rays are around $30.

As for sales, on release day I can get a DVD title for $16.99, the two-disc version for $22.99 or the Blu-ray version for $29.99.  Which do you think I am going to buy?

I have a Blu-ray player and, because of the pricing, I still buy DVDs.  Now, if Blu-ray had the same type of price cut on release day as DVDs did, I might change my mind.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
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Like Stephan, I have my doubts that bluray will be able to get a big enough foothold in the market to oust DVD.
The general public just don't seem that interested in the increase in quality as it's just not as extreme a jump as it was from VHS to DVD. The only way bluray is going to take off is to compete with the pricing of DVD hardware - and that's going to be a very difficult task!
Personally I think DVD was just too good of a success in terms of market penetration and public acceptance - any format that followed it was going to have a really hard time.
Here in the UK most people don't have HDTVs or high-end amps with 8 speakers, they look at the differences between DVD and bluray and they shrug. If this indifference isn't tackled soon, I think bluray will remain a niche format.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKatatonia
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Blu-Ray won't replace DVD anytime soon. There are still many households out there that do not have an HDTV, or really care. And a lot of those people (right or wrong) still love buying their fullscreen editions of DVD's.
Corey
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I guess it depends on where you shop...

Vantage Point ... 17.95
Cloverfield ..... 16.95
Rambo ........... 19.95
Batman Begins Limited Ed. Gift Set ... 29.96

I could go on and on.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributornorthbloke
Registered: March 15, 2007
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And how much were the DVD versions being sold at the same shop?
I used DVD Pacific for these comparisons:

Vantage Point DVD: 20.66 (Spec Ed: 22.85), Bluray: 27.04
Cloverfield DVD: 20.32, Bluray: 29.29
Rambo DVD: 20.31, Bluray: 26.47
Batman Begins Gift Set DVD: 27.07, Bluray: 34.99

It's not the cost of the bluray discs that's stopping people from changing. It's the comparitive cost with DVDs (hardware and software) - only when that is addressed will the general public consider changing.
 Last edited: by northbloke
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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Quoting northbloke:
Quote:

(...)
It's not the cost of the bluray discs that's stopping people from changing. It's the comparitive cost with DVDs (hardware and software) - only when that is addressed will the general public consider changing.


Exactly.  I am going to Best Buy tomorrow, to buy 'Vantage Point'.  My choices are:

Standard Edition: $16.99
Two-disc Edition: $22.99
Blu-ray Edition:    $29.99

Why would I spend extra when there is a perfectly good DVD version for much cheaper?  Especially when some of the free 'collectibles' are only available with the DVD edition?  Last week I bought 'The Spiderwick Chronicles'.  They gave away a free book with purchase...but only with the DVD edition.  The book wasn't available with the Blu-ray edition.

At the very least, the Blu-ray needs to be the same price as the Two-dic Edition and any promotional giveaways have to be included.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
 Last edited: by TheMadMartian
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Well, the #1 issue is you're over paying Best Buy prices.

I buy most of mine at Amazon where I get free 2 day shipping (no additional gas or tax cost).

All WB titlles I buy at the Warner store, where I get their already marked down prices, plus whatever discount code is available (20-30% off; buy 2 get 1 free [was great for the Dirty Harry set around $70]) which also includes free shipping on orders over $50, and they deliver before release date with UPS shipping. So, again no gas cost or tax on top.

The other nice thing about Amazon is:

A) Pre-order Price Guarantee .. You get the lowest price from the time you place the order to the time it ships, no matter if it keeps going up and down.

B) Post-order Price Guarantee .. Get refunds on anything if the price drops up to 30 days after they ship your item. You can get multiple refunds anytime the price drops.


Due to the above, I only buy TV series in SD unless there's an HD version announced. To my eyes, I can tell when I am watching upconversion or straight HD, and there's no going back!
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAscended_Saiyan
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The answer to the title of this thread is...doubtful.  Most respected data on the matter re-enforces that answer.  I do wonder what the common thread is between these people raising these types of questions.  What might that common thread be?  Humm, I wonder.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited Registrantnuoyaxin
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While it potentially can happen, I think Blu Ray has a few advatanges over Laserdisc, such as:

It's backwards compatible. While the VHS didn't fit into the laserdisc player, DVD will play in the Blu Ray machine.

Pricing of Blu Ray is slightly better than laserdisc (is it not). Anyway, now that the war is over, prices seem to come down and I have the feeling some retailers (like Amazon) strongly support the new product.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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Quoting NewEnglander:
Quote:
Well, the #1 issue is you're over paying Best Buy prices.


I was just using Best Buy as an example as that is where I usually go.  All my local retailers are fairly close in price and that is where most consumers are going to buy their DVDs.

Quote:
I buy most of mine at Amazon where I get free 2 day shipping (no additional gas or tax cost).


I checked the prices for 'Vantage Point' at Amazon.

Standard Edition: $16.99
Two-disc Edition: $22.99
Blu-ray Edition:    $26.99

So, yes, they are better than Best Buy, but not by much.  I can still get the standard DVD for quite a bit less.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMark Harrison
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I can't argue with anyone who prefers to pay less at this point.  But I've taken the other approach.  Instead of spending less on my movies, I go for the Blu-rays (or HD DVDs), but buy fewer of them.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
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Quoting Mark Harrison:
Quote:
I can't argue with anyone who prefers to pay less at this point.  But I've taken the other approach.  Instead of spending less on my movies, I go for the Blu-rays (or HD DVDs), but buy fewer of them.


I don't know that I could buy any fewer than I already do.  I have been doing this for quite a while now and still haven't broken the 1000 DVD mark. 
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorNewEnglander
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Like I said, I bought Vantage Point at Amazon for $17.95. $1.00 more than they sell the single DVD edition for. It all depends on when you order. Amazon seems to be the lowest on everything the day before they will ship. Using their pre and post order guarantees will always save you money as well.

Best investment I ever made was Amazon Prime!
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributortweeter
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Quoting ya_shin:
Quote:
Pricing of Blu Ray is slightly better than laserdisc (is it not). Anyway, now that the war is over, prices seem to come down and I have the feeling some retailers (like Amazon) strongly support the new product.

Looking at the 150 or so LD i still have in LDProfiler (an Access DB) the average price i paid was $28 and change for stuff bought between 1987 and 1998.  I bought from a few mail order houses primarily but there wasn't near the competition there is today for DVD/BD.

A better price comparison would be LD vs. VHS.  When i started buying LD most VHS was still priced much higher because they were being sold to rental houses and not direct to consumers.  LD should have won on price but could never really break thru and eventually they started selling the VHS direct to consumers at much lower prices (and most of them had VCRs) and LD never had a chance.

BD will probably make it but it won't be till prices of discs and equipment drop.  You need a player and a TV to appreciate the improvement unlike DVD which was just so obviously better than VHS (and LD) and only required a player to get much of that improvement.
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 Last edited: by tweeter
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