Format wars

[luckykaa]

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've decided I'll buy an HD-DVD player.  People may be wondering whether I've decided there's a clear winner in the format war.  And I haven't.

So how do I know I'm not going to end up with a Betamax? 

I don't.  And I don't care.  You see, there's one very big difference between this format war and the last one.  Price.  In 1982, you could buy a Sanyo VTC5000 Betamax VCR for £299.95.  Or about £800 adjusted for inflation.  In 2008, from Amazon, you can buy a Toshiba HD30 HD-DVD player for £188.98, Or about £188.98 adjusted for inflation.  A Blu-ray player isn't that much more at £250 or so.  Buying both is a little pricey for now, but I can easily afford one or the other without breaking the bank.  It's extremely unlikely that these are going to break any time soon.

And if HD DVD fails?  The movies I buy on that format will continue to work on my existing player. 

So I'll make a decision.  I can always change my mind. 

Comments

[gaspode.livejournal.com]

And of course unlike Blu Ray HD DVD isn't region coded so you can get the disks from anywhere ...

[emperor-zhark.livejournal.com]

Of course, Warner just jumped for Blu-Ray. According to one discussion I've seen, that makes 70% of the market for Blu-Ray - and Paramount will probably jump the HD ship in about a years' time.

Luckily, my lack of a hardware budget means I can sit back and wait to see what happens.

:p

[luckykaa.livejournal.com]

But there's the point... There's no need to wait for a winner. You only need to wait until you can afford it. Buy both. I'll buy whichever looks tasty now, and by the time there's a clear winner I'll buy the other format.

I'd buy one of each tomorrow if there was a region free Blu-Ray player for less than £200.

[emperor-zhark.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I see it the other way - no need to buy yet!

As I say, no budget for it here :)