Blu-Ray > HD DVD

[imtheoneandonlyD]

Originally Posted by ericn1300

Neither format comes out a winner in the face of down loadable content. Why would I buy a player and then pay again for a hard copy of content when I can just download it? Blu-ray didn't come out ahead, Sony just chooses to continue with a technology that will be obsoleted soon while the HD people made a wise market decision to get out of the business while the getting is good.

If you think digital distribution is going to knock out blu ray anytime in the near future your just living under a rock. I would much rather buy a dvd than buy and download a movie. I bought the 360 hd dvd player last fall for the bonus' alone. 179.99 for the player, got king kong and 300 for free upon purchase and another 5 HD dvds for free through MS(perfect storm, chronicles of riddick, constantine, 4 brothers, and The Rundown). So that was 7 free movies, and on top of that, with the recent news about blu-ray coming out on top, Bestbuy sent me a $50 gift card because they are no longer servicing the drive. Im not mad at all the hd dvd lost. I can now pick up a ton of hddvds for next to nothing.

While im not saying digital distribution will never happen. Because in my lifetime(23) im sure it will. But right now...not close. To many people in the US dont have high speed internet coupled with an hd tv. It just wouldnt make sense to force the issue on everyone.

[Oz]

You can already download 1080p HD releases.

[Damien]

Not to mention they didn't say what kind of download. Those eliminating the idea of paying...see?

Never the less, movies will become like music, though not as soon as their game is just starting in comparison. Give it time though. All things will be through the internetz!!!1!!!111

[VR43000GT]

While downloading in HD will happen no doubt, Blu-Ray will continue to persist. Just like people still by CD's. To say Blu-Ray will be beat out by downloads is a bit obtuse.

[imtheoneandonlyD]

Originally Posted by Oz

You can already download 1080p HD releases.

I know you can already dl full hd movies...hence xb0ox live marketplace. But those movies are a bit large. I have no doubt that digital distribution WILL happen. Just not anytime soon. The HD space and bandwidth are just not here right now. Sure some people(VERY FEW) could download a full hd movie in a timely manner, but most of us cant.

[Oz]

Originally Posted by imtheoneandonlyD

I know you can already dl full hd movies...hence xb0ox live marketplace. But those movies are a bit large. I have no doubt that digital distribution WILL happen. Just not anytime soon. The HD space and bandwidth are just not here right now. Sure some people(VERY FEW) could download a full hd movie in a timely manner, but most of us cant.

Come on dude, what are you talking about. Japan and Korea have built FTTN networks pushing 30-50 MBps synchronous, they can almost stream 1080P already.

Even if you can only get a meagre ~6 MBps DSL or Cable connection, you can probably get it overnight or within a day of starting the download - still pretty reasonable compared to ordering it from a catalog and getting a physical disk posted to you - which would surely take at least a day.

OK, no one can realistically stream a 1080P movie yet, but it won't be very long at all until someone can. Probably when the uptake of IP6 goes crazy and Jumbo Frames are approved for use on the internet.

[imtheoneandonlyD]

Originally Posted by Oz

Come on dude, what are you talking about. Japan and Korea have built FTTN networks pushing 30-50 MBps synchronous, they can almost stream 1080P already.

Even if you can only get a meagre ~6 MBps DSL or Cable connection, you can probably get it overnight or within a day of starting the download - still pretty reasonable compared to ordering it from a catalog and getting a physical disk posted to you - which would surely take at least a day.

OK, no one can realistically stream a 1080P movie yet, but it won't be very long at all until someone can. Probably when the uptake of IP6 goes crazy and Jumbo Frames are approved for use on the internet.

Im not saying it wont happen. But right now a very small percentage of people would be able to actually use the feature. Look at how many people actuall have cable or higher for internet. Then look at the amount of those same people that have HDTVs. Its not a large percentage at all.

[ericn1300]

For the bandwidth impaired some satellite TV providers can now download up to 5 movies to your DVR overnight. Much more convenient than pay per view, you can watch them over and over and whenever you want to for up to a month for a fee but you have to rent the equipment also.

[Moppie]

I've just started working in online book, cd and DVD retailing.

CD's are dead, sales are going down, and will not go back up.
With in 5 years they will be a specialist item only, like vinyl records.

DVD's will not be far behind them, as soon as delivery speeds are up to the task, they will go the same way as the CD, only in much less time.