Via Techmeme this AM: Target to go Blu-ray only for players.
- BGR calls it a death blow to HD DVD, citing BlockBuster’s move, and $500 Sony Blu-ray players as contributing factors.
- Joystiq advises gamers to skip Microsoft’s crazy XBOX360 HD DVD player + 5 discs deal.
- DailyTech points out how bizarre and contradictory Target’s PR is on this – hello Target? Only selling players in one format is restricting choice no matter how you cut it.
- NewTeeVee rightly points out that the format war is stupid and no-one cares anyway.
My take? Upscaling DVD is carrying me until widely available broadband downloads make “formats” pointless. That being said, certainly HD DVD looks to be on the ropes, with “free disc” ploys being a sign of desperation, and Blu-ray actively locking down channel partners. I’m willing to bet that Blu-ray will take this battle and keep Sony solvent for a few more years.
07/27/2007 @ 5:00 pm
“Upscaling DVD is carrying me until widely available broadband downloads make “formats†pointless.” Couldn’t agree with this statement more. I’ve got a 1080p upscaler that keeps me quite content, and I hope it to, considering how much I’ve invested in the “now obsolete” SD-DVD format. I’ll likely be skipping all this HD/BD hoopla for some time as well.
07/27/2007 @ 5:44 pm
HD DVD still has the cheaper players, but if major retails decide not to sell them, the future does not look too bright for the HD DVD camp.
07/27/2007 @ 6:29 pm
i disagree..upscaling doesn’t even come close to an HD DVD or BD with a decent transfer. Sony is doing the same free disc offers as toshiba, so i don’t think one company is more desperate than another (don’t forget PS3’s arent flying off shelves) Target will still sell HD DVD discs. Who do you know that will plan on dropping $500 bucks on a BD player from Target?
07/27/2007 @ 8:39 pm
You’re right on the money Brian.
If upscaling is not much better than true HD formats on your system, you just don’t have a good enough system.
Since I’ve gone BD I can’t imagine settling for just upconverting.
07/27/2007 @ 9:06 pm
Well, ultimately I guess its just a matter of priorities. I’ll accept that upscaling isn’t close to true HD, but my key point is that its good enough. I have a 32inch Samsung LCD at 720P in a small living room – and it looks plenty awesome for me! Someday, once I’m fabulously wealthy (still waiting), I’m looking forward to building a great setup – until then, its upscaling for me!