Quote:
tcarcio wrote:
 I also support HD DVD and really only did so because of the arrogance of Sony and blu ray supporters that I met on some other forums. But I think it will be very hard to keep HD going unless Toshiba comes up with something soon. If Microsoft would put an HD DVD drive in the XBOX that would be huge,IMO. Also,Sonny, That article about Paramount was just opinion based and Paramount came out earlier today and said it was untrue and they plan on backing HD DVD for some time to come. |
This was a shock to the HD DVD community.
I talked to my brother yesterday about the recent events. He too is format neutral but said he's done... he said he won't buy another HD DVD because, his words, "It's over".
I honestly can't see anything Toshiba can do at this point. Short of a miracle, what can they do? I'll preface this by saying this is my opinion so nobody reads into this as anything other than that...
The one thing Toshiba could do is slash player prices again and get the A3 to $100. The problems with that are first consumers that are watching this unfold most likely are going to see that as dumping their inventory. It could get some unaware consumers to buy, but then you have the stores, are they going to even continue carrying the players? As it is right now a lot of places (that I've been to) don't carry the players right now anyway. Best Buy and Circuit City of course do, but my local Walmart and Target don't. My local Sams is BD exclusive already, so no players there and doubtful there ever will be now. So that's the first problem and hurdle Toshiba would have to jump... convincing not only consumers it's not a dead format and just and inventory dump, but also to convince stores to stock the players. I think whatever is in stock is what will be sold and stores not carrying HD DVD players already most likely aren't going to be interested in them at all now.
The 'miracle' would be everyone coming out and saying they will release on both formats, or a major studio (or two) announcing they are leaving Bluray for HD DVD, and I just don't see either of those things happening. Again, that's just my opinion and thoughts.
I do wonder what will be done for those people that bought HD DVD players over Christmas, I suspect nothing because the manufacturers will say it's not their problem or fault. I honestly don't see any re-embursement programs being done, why would Sony or Toshiba? I know a few pretty upset people right now, and some are talking about returning players.
So what do we do? As much as people don't like this situation or want to hear this, the only thing we can do is accept it unless something really major happens. Right now that doesn't seem very realistic though. Here is what I personally am going to do... The players I have upconvert very well so I am happy there. Not so happy that new content most likely won't be available now, but there are still are a ton of movies on HD DVD that I don't have and if this truly is the 'end', they should start dropping in price soon. I'll buy them even though it's a dead format if the price is right. I'll just have to accept that if there is anything new coming out I want I have to buy it on BD.
My friend is up visiting and he said we (as in us on these forums) are in a niche and more aware and sensitive to technology and events like this. He on the other hand said he's glad it's over (if it is) and also said most average consumers won't even realize what happened because they don't follow things as close as we do. So when they finally decide to get a player, it will be what brand of BD player not what format to think about.
Toshiba says HD DVD isn't dead yet, and as we've seen in the past year it's been a wild ride at times, but this is major. Even so, I think we should also wait to hear what Toshiba is going to say. They have to respond soon so let's wait to hear what they say before calling it officially dead- mortally wounded maybe...