Format wars
Jan. 5th, 2008 06:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luckykaaAs 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.
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.
