[pooka]

I'm beginning to think a Toshiba exec molested you as a child. That or one ran off with your wife. Your age is hard to determine from your posts.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Super Mario 

Aside from blowing undisclosed amounts of cash on movie execs Toshiba is desperately flogging their crap at low cost now. Combined HD-DVD playback devices still won't match combined Blu-ray devices being shipped as standalones, in PCs (ratio is 7:2) and with consoles

The low cost Chinese player path for HD DVD was made public in 2005... before either format even launched.

BTW, I find it interesting that after it was made clear that HD DVD was truly going this route, Blu-ray announced that it had gotten Funai on board to make cheap Blu-ray players. It would seem that the BDA is "desparately flogging their crap" at low cost now too... or at least trying to get there, because they know people won't bite with their high-priced standalones, and the PS3 hasn't been living up to the hype.

[Super Mario]

It would seem that the BDA is "desparately flogging their crap" at low cost now too...

Eug you be running circles around your own fud now. Toshiba created HD-DVD and is selling own brand cheapo players. Sony is not selling known down price Blu-ray players.

PS3 hasn't been living up to the hype.

60% increase in PS3 sales last month in the US. Believe it when I say I'm going to bump every bizarre post you made when the post-Xmas sales figures come out and you'll be making a million and one excuses why HD-DVD still needs more time. It won't catch up in retail sales when it is already down 3 to 1 from 2 to 1 a month ago.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Super Mario 

Eug you be running circles around your own fud now. Toshiba created HD-DVD and is selling own brand cheapo players. Sony is not selling known down price Blu-ray players.

Indeed, cuz they can't. That's why they got Funai on board after all.

60% increase in PS3 sales last month in the US. Believe it when I say I'm going to bump every bizarre post you made when the post-Xmas sales figures come out and you'll be making a million and one excuses why HD-DVD still needs more time. It won't catch up in retail sales when it is already down 3 to 1 from 2 to 1 a month ago.

The PS3 is still in last place by a large margin. And why did the PS3 sales increase? Price.

Toshiba understood the significance of price in 2005. Sony is starting to understand this... in 2007.

[Super Mario]

PS3 sales are up 135%

Console Wars: PS3 Sales Surge 135% Since Price Drop, Sony Seen Laughing on Way to Bank - Gizmodo

Crediting a strategic price cut and a strong E3 showing, Sony is gloating over its latest figures: PS3 sales are up 135% since the July 9th announcement of the $499 price tag. With Xbox 360 sales dropping, new firmware updates enhancing the basic functionality of the system, Blu-ray pushing hard against HD-DVD and a growing lineup of original titles including the exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4, the PS3 seems determined to become a serious console competitor before the year is over.

More
Sony: PS3 Price Drop Boosts Sales 135% : Next Generation - Interactive Entertainment Today, Video Game and Industry News
TG Daily - Lower price sparks PS3 sales to jump 135%
PS3 Sales Increase 135% Since $499 Price Debut - PlayStation 3 News
PlayStation 3 sales increase by more than 135% - Gaming Age
PS3's two-week sales figures surge 135 percent - PlayStation 3 News at GameSpot
Full Speed Ahead! PS3 Sales Increase By More Than 135% - Playstation 3 News

[Eug]

^^^ Thanks for proving my point. Price is key.

[Super Mario]

Originally Posted by Eug 

The PS3 is still in last place by a large margin. And why did the PS3 sales increase? Price.

Doesn't matter what place it is in console wise. It doesn't matter one bit (example, PS2 still outsells X Box, 360 and PS3). We're talking about machines to play Blu-ray discs and that is the topic of this thread. Wanna run more circles around your fud and cry like a baby some more?

^^^ Thanks for proving my point. Price is key

Can be. Would you rather pay for a HD-DVD stand alone that plays a losing format or buy a console that plays next gen games and the winning format?

[Super Mario]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Toshiba understood the significance of price in 2005.

I had to come back to this. Toshiba saw the significance of price early on and have the losing format. It's a bizarre comedy-horror show you can't see there's something wrong with HD-DVD just from that example.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Super Mario 

Doesn't matter what place it is in console wise. It doesn't matter one bit (example, PS2 still outsells X Box, 360 and PS3). We're talking about machines to play Blu-ray discs and that is the topic of this thread. Wanna run more circles around your fud and cry like a baby some more?

Yeah, the PS2 is an impressive piece of hardware with a great software catalogue, for the price. The PS3... well... isn't. Its price is getting better, but it seems that its chance to win the Blu-ray war is over. Going forward, the war is about standalones, cuz that's what non-gamers want in their living rooms. If you don't believe me, try and compare the PS2 and Xbox numbers combined to standalone DVD player sales.

Can be. Would you rather pay for a HD-DVD stand alone that plays a losing format or buy a console that plays next gen games and the winning format?

The format battle isn't about you and me, FYI. It's about the general public, and it's the same general public who aren't gaga over gaming machines. Sony advertised the PS2 as the ultimate media centre way back when. We all know what happened there. Sony is pushing the PS3 now as the ultimate media centre too. I suspect the same thing will happen. Non gamers (who are the majority of movie watchers) will just say "meh", gimme a simple but functional standalone... for a lot less money.

Originally Posted by Super Mario 

I had to come back to this. Toshiba saw the significance of price early on and have the losing format. It's a bizarre comedy-horror show you can't see there's something wrong with HD-DVD just from that example.

I think this is the exact arrogant attitude that the BDA had in 2005, and why they're now suffering for it. I still find it rather telling that Panasonic threw a fit when LG decided to make a hybrid player. LG saw the writing on the wall. Without the lock on consumer electronics companies that the BDA tried to get, it can't fleece us on hardware pricing. It seems Panasonic is unwilling to compete on price.

Meanwhile studios like Paramount and Dreamworks have realized this that the format with the superior mature spec (HD DVD) actually has compliant hardware, and good standalone sales.

OTOH, BD is still stuck at the neutered Profile 1.0 with expensive hardware, with no 1.1 player in sight for the rest of 2007... and still expensive.

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Meanwhile studios like Paramount and Dreamworks have realized this that the format with the superior mature spec (HD DVD) actually has compliant hardware, and good standalone sales.

OTOH, BD is still stuck at the neutered Profile 1.0 with expensive hardware, with no 1.1 player in sight for the rest of 2007... and still expensive.

I can agree with that, to a point, but the honest question I want to know is, why aren't they selling more content with these big advantages?

[Dakarʒ]

I have a crazy theory about that - that people willing to spend more money on a BD player are also more willing to throw more money into buying BR discs.

[starman]

Originally Posted by Eug 

^^^ Thanks for proving my point. Price is key.

If PRICE is the key, then why is Blu-Ray, more expensive across the board, winning?

[sek929]

I think it boils down to the name.

Blu-ray sounds a hell of a lot cooler than HD DVD....to many damned Ds.

[*TL]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Toshiba understood the significance of price in 2005. Sony is starting to understand this... in 2007.

The lowest-priced HD player this time last year, IIRC, was about $500, and for a player that couldn't even do 1080p to boot. Prices on BD players have been dropping steadily. There's no reason to believe that BD won't be able to compete on price by Q4. (Compete, not beat, which is all they need. Anyone dropping $1200-2000 on an HDTV and buying into a new format isn't price-sensitive enough where $100-200 matters.)

How definitive can price be when Toshiba's been dropping prices and lowering forecasts for how many players it thinks it will sell this year?

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ 

I have a crazy theory about that - that people willing to spend more money on a BD player are also more willing to throw more money into buying BR discs.

But... but... but... the "attach rate" for HD discs is so much higher!

[Super Mario]

Originally Posted by Eug 

I think this is the exact arrogant attitude that the BDA had in 2005, and why they're now suffering for it.

What planet are you from?!?!?!

I asked you why is it that Toshiba's "sell cheap since 2005" idea/strategy hasn't paid off in more HD-DVD sales and your answer is that Blu-ray is now suffering because they're winning the next gen war.

BD is still stuck at the neutered Profile 1.0 with expensive hardware

Neutered my butt. Customers want to watch movies not click on silly menus that launch a web browser. Interactive features were the least attractive and least used feature of DVDs. I sincerely hope they go away. All we need is movie, extra scenes, deleted scenes, interviews, language tracks. Not Java games and wallpaper downloads.

Too funny yo. Now you're going to come back with your but but but but but... for another 56 pages.

[Graviton]

The mouth breathing in this thread is deafening.