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[Tedesco!]

I just received my 5 free Blu-ray movies. Evidently, two movies I wanted ( it was ages ago, I can't remember what I asked for ) were not in stock, so they sent me Happy Feet and The Guardian as replacements. No complaints, they were free after all.

 

[OokieSpookie]

I just received my 5 free Blu-ray movies. Evidently, two movies I wanted ( it was ages ago, I can't remember what I asked for ) were not in stock, so they sent me Happy Feet and The Guardian as replacements. No complaints, they were free after all. Looks like I'll be taking the replacements to Wal-Mart for something a tad more current.

Yeah, not terrible for free.

 

[Xisiqomelir]

You know, importing seems to be a great solution for anyone who refuses to go dual-format.

Someone should compile a master list of "exclusive" titles for both formats that you can pick up on the other side via import.

 

[jvalioli]

What kind of video cable comes with the Toshiba HD-A3? The box isn't helpful at all and all Amazon.com said was A/V cable. Normally I would trust a device that advertises HD to come with an HD cable, but the PS3 has me spooked. I can't open the box because it is a gift for my parents.

 

[VanMardigan]

For whatever reason, the standalones come with composite cables. You'll need to supply component, hdmi, optical, etc. depending on their setup.

I just received my 5 free Blu-ray movies. Evidently, two movies I wanted ( it was ages ago, I can't remember what I asked for ) were not in stock, so they sent me Happy Feet and The Guardian as replacements. No complaints, they were free after all.

I hope they don't do this to me. I already own Happy Feet. I hope they send me Babel or something else instead. I didn't like the choices they had, but I don't want a movie I already own.

 

[SUPREME1]

What kind of video cable comes with the Toshiba HD-A3? The box isn't helpful at all and all Amazon.com said was A/V cable. Normally I would trust a device that advertises HD to come with an HD cable, but the PS3 has me spooked. I can't open the box because it is a gift for my parents.

Comes with A/V dude.

I wash shocked myself. I expected HDMI..

But the TV I got it for (In-laws TV) only plays 720p, so whatevs..

 

[orio7]

Comes with A/V dude.

I wash shocked myself. I expected HDMI..

But the TV I got it for (In-laws TV) only plays 720p, so whatevs..

You can't do 720p with composite...

 

[OokieSpookie]

What kind of video cable comes with the Toshiba HD-A3? The box isn't helpful at all and all Amazon.com said was A/V cable. Normally I would trust a device that advertises HD to come with an HD cable, but the PS3 has me spooked. I can't open the box because it is a gift for my parents.

Call monoprice and order one.
Worst case scenario you end up with an extra hdmi cable and are out a few dollars.

 

[Beer Monkey]

You know, importing seems to be a great solution for anyone who refuses to go dual-format.

Shit, with the extra expense, after a handful of titles I'd have spent more than the $100 I spent on my A3. Fuck that. :lol

 

[user friendly]

Milestone reached over Black Friday shopping weekend
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 12/3/2007


DEC. 3 | The Blu-ray Disc Assn. is touting a new milestone passed over the Black Friday shopping period, noting that player sales since launch reached 2.7 million units through Nov. 24.

Like the HD DVD camp’s recent claims, the figure encompasses both Blu-ray-capable gaming devices and Blu-ray set-top players.

Through October, there had been 2 million units sold of the Blu-ray-enhanced PlayStation 3. That arguably gives Blu-ray set-tops a 700,000 piece of overall format unit sales. But the picture is muddied somewhat by the likely gangbuster PlayStation 3 sales in November due to the introduction of the relatively cheap $399 PlayStation 3. November console sales will not be available from the NPD Group until mid-December.

It’s tough to calculate specific gains for Blu-ray set-tops, as many of the manufacturers have not released sales information on their players to this point.

Still, the 2.7 million sold is a clear achievement over the HD DVD side, which pushed its installment base to 750,000 units following widespread holiday retail sales, notably including $99-priced players at Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Although not as steeply priced-slashed as rival HD DVD, many Blu-ray players also were sale-priced at retail. Several chains were offering Samsung and Sony Blu-ray players at $399, $100 below their $499 list prices.

The BDA last week also trumpeted its continuing lead in Blu-ray software sales, which in the weeks leading up to Black Friday had been outpacing HD DVD titles by a two-to-one ratio. During the Black Friday period, BD titles made up 72.6% of all high-def purchases, with HD DVD totaling 27.4%, according to Nielsen/VideoScan figures cited by BDA.

The fact that BD software remains the sales leader in an environment of heavy HD DVD player discounting is especially heartening to the BDA.

A statement from the group noted, “Despite the $99 HD DVD fire sale, Blu-ray movies were flying off the shelves in this crucial holiday shopping period.”

According to the BD camp, total BD disc sales in the U.S. since launch topped 4 million units in November, about the same time HD DVD software sales passed just 2.5 million units.

To date in the U.S., 18 of the Top 20 high-def releases are Blu-ray, according to the BD camp.

According to Media Control Gfk International figures cited by BDA, BD movies control 73% of the European market, outselling HD DVD by a three-to-one margin, and BD holds a 95% share of the high-def recorder market in Japan.


Link

So BD standalone players are now at approx. 700k, vs. 750k HD DVD players.

BD unstoppable?

 

[Alcibiades]

What that article is actually saying, is that by piecing information from the BDA and NPD figures, we can conclude that:

700,000 = BDA stand-alone total + PS3 sales from Nov. 4 - 24th.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

A statement from the group noted, “Despite the $99 HD DVD fire sale, Blu-ray movies were flying off the shelves in this crucial holiday shopping period.”

These guys have a future in forum flame wars and trolling.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

What that article is actually saying, is that by piecing information from the BDA and NPD figures, we can conclude that:

700,000 = BDA stand-alone total + PS3 sales from Nov. 4 - 24th.

So, roughly 500K? I don't follow the game sales threads, but is that a reasonable guess?

 

[user friendly]

Yeah, they just approximated it. I'd like to see some numbers released by each manufacturer but that won't happen until the BD standalones are ahead of HD DVD's.

 

[jvalioli]

Call monoprice and order one.
Worst case scenario you end up with an extra hdmi cable and are out a few dollars.

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[KZObsessed]

If there are any other UKers, Play.com and Amazon.co.uk are doing a Buy 2 Get One Free deal.

The selections aren't great, but there are some high profile movies there. Spiderman + POTC Trilogy work with it on Play.com

Play.com
http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/3-/124809/2-/Promo.html?ob=rating&cpage=1

Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&plgroup=1&docId=1000124583&plpage=1

 

[YYZ]

Is there going to be a PotC trilogy in North America?

 

[Beer Monkey]

You'll know the war is over when BD stops mentioning HD-DVD in their PR. As long as you do that, you admit there is a fight. And the longer they do it, they actually perpetuate the format war. All this talk about the battle just makes the regular consumer stay the fuck away. :lol

The biggest thing I'd worry about, if I were BD, would be that 360 adds an internal HD-DVD drive to the Elite. That would be a very harsh blow. Given the dominance of the 360 in North America, and the propensity of that consumer to buy software, it could be very, very bad news for them.

Honestly, my money is still on BD in the long run just as it has been since day one (though I see the battle lasting much, much longer than I originally expected...and maybe having only losers and no real winner). But lots of things can change. I'm so happy to have gone multiformat recently, the only chumps I can see in this battle are single-format fanboys and the two hardware factions themselves. As a multiformat movie fan, I really feel that I am the only real winner for the next couple of years.

 

[Fëanor]

You'll know the war is over when BD stops mentioning HD-DVD in their PR. As long as you do that, you admit there is a fight. And the longer they do it, they actually perpetuate the format war. All this talk about the battle just makes the regular consumer stay the fuck away. :lol

One way of putting it.:lol

 

[OokieSpookie]

You'll know the war is over when BD stops mentioning HD-DVD in their PR. As long as you do that, you admit there is a fight. And the longer they do it, they actually perpetuate the format war. All this talk about the battle just makes the regular consumer stay the fuck away. :lol

The biggest thing I'd worry about, if I were BD, would be that 360 adds an internal HD-DVD drive to the Elite. That would be a very harsh blow. Given the dominance of the 360 in North America, and the propensity of that consumer to buy software, it could be very, very bad news for them.

Honestly, my money is still on BD in the long run just as it has been since day one (though I see the battle lasting much, much longer than I originally expected...and maybe having only losers and no real winner). But lots of things can change. I'm so happy to have gone multiformat recently, the only chumps I can see in this battle are single-format fanboys and the two hardware factions themselves. As a multiformat movie fan, I really feel that I am the only real winner for the next couple of years.

The biggest thing that I think blu needs to worry about is that Elvis will return and have a show with Pavarotti advocating peace between all formats.
Likelihood is about the same...

 

[YYZ]

err, it's pretty much impossible for Microsoft to do that. At most they're making a small margin of profit on the 360 and they already sunk a billion into the RROD fiasco. They haven't had a profitable year since the XBOX1 launched (I'm almost 100% sure). The last thing they're going to do is try to make the console more expensive for themselves and/or the consumers. Microsoft already has many sources for revenue, BD is more important to Sony than HD-DVD is to MS.

 

[OokieSpookie]

Just got my Pirates of the Caribbean :At World's End home.
Now to veg out.

 

[StoOgE]

err, it's pretty much impossible for Microsoft to do that. At most they're making a small margin of profit on the 360 and they already sunk a billion into the RROD fiasco. They haven't had a profitable year since the XBOX1 launched (I'm almost 100% sure). The last thing they're going to do is try to make the console more expensive for themselves and/or the consumers. Microsoft already has many sources for revenue, BD is more important to Sony than HD-DVD is to MS.

the billion dollar loss was written off this year to get it off the books, but actually covers total potential liabilities for the life of the console. if rrod is fixed by falcon they can actually bring those previously reported losses back as profit in a later quarter.

also, the home entertainment division is going to be profitable this year despite the write off.

 

[Duke Togo]

So who's winning?

 

[OokieSpookie]

It warms my cockles that even in jest people would look to a game system to save hd-dvd whose biggest catch phrase is that game consoles are bad.
The bottom line is though that Microsoft does not care about the format race.
They are making strides to have a firm footing in hd on demand content, the best thing that they could do for hd is mark the add on down to $99.

 

[YYZ]

Anyone know if Mr. and Mrs. Smith blu-ray is unrated/uncut or is it the theatrical?

 

[Dahbomb]

What that article is actually saying, is that by piecing information from the BDA and NPD figures, we can conclude that:

700,000 = BDA stand-alone total + PS3 sales from Nov. 4 - 24th.

200K BD standalone players sold in Nov? That sounds like a pretty hefty estimate for standalone BD players. I think this would go to show that the PS3 might actually have broken the 500K mark this November which would put them on par with what the 360 did last year. Although sales talk of games should be in the gaming discussion but I am sure 99% of the users on GAF even on the off-topic board are into gaming as well.

 

[Alcibiades]

200K BD standalone players sold in Nov? That sounds like a pretty hefty estimate for standalone BD players. I think this would go to show that the PS3 might actually have broken the 500K mark this November which would put them on par with what the 360 did last year. Although sales talk of games should be in the gaming discussion but I am sure 99% of the users on GAF even on the off-topic board are into gaming as well.

I should clarify, the 700,000 would be the TOTAL number of Blu-ray players since June 2006, in addition to whatever PS3 sold between Nov. 4-24th.

Also, it's not like BDA numbers (where did the numbers come from anyway? manufacturers? tracking services? one or multiple sources?) have to line up with NPD numbers, so we're not even sure if it makes sense to use both to make assumptions, but it probably gives an indication...

 

[VanMardigan]

If the BD standalones had sold in any decent way, we'd have heard about it the same way we always do from the HD DVD group. Until one of the manufacturers puts out a press release, I'm going to assume sales remain at the same pace as before.

 

[.hacked]

So who's winning?

Blu-Ray is in my house (anime has put it on top).

 

[Solo]

You must own a good 80% of HD format movies released so far. Do you just buy everything that comes out or something?

EDIT: based on the number of seals still on your DVDs, I can answer my own question.

 

[Naked Snake]

http://xs122.xs.to/xs122/07491/IMG_1680.JPG
http://xs122.xs.to/xs122/07491/IMG_1684.JPG

Blu-Ray is in my house (anime has put it on top).

Holy shit.

 

[VanMardigan]

Damn, that's thousands of dollars on each format and they're both a year old only. Heck the anime and box sets like Heroes and Star Trek alone must cost a ton to purchase. Impressive collection. I only have about 25 HD DVD movies and 2 Blu Ray discs (though 4 more are on the way).

 

[BobTheFork]

You must own a good 80% of HD format movies released so far. Do you just buy everything that comes out or something?

EDIT: based on the number of seals still on your DVDs, I can answer my own question.

I was going to say that im impressed, but yeah then I saw the sealed titles. Do you buy them to support BD?

 

[.hacked]

Blu-rays I don't get to watch as much because my GF does not have a player yet (I gave her my old Xbox so we can watch the HD DVDs when I am at her place).

Out side of anime I don't buy normal DVDs anymore.

 

[DJ_Tet]

Damn, that's thousands of dollars on each format and they're both a year old only. Heck the anime and box sets like Heroes and Star Trek alone must cost a ton to purchase. Impressive collection. I only have about 25 HD DVD movies and 2 Blu Ray discs (though 4 more are on the way).

He got Star Trek for free due to a cashier error


I'd love to have the ST set, but at $120+ a season it's too expensive for me. Even when it comes with 29 episodes. Hopefully I can pick it up on sale down the road.


Does the ST have the original episodes on there as well, or only the ones with updated special effects? I'd love to be able to watch both but I fear it only has the redone episodes.

 

[.hacked]

just the new eps, for the old ones you have to go with the old sets.

 

[DJ_Tet]

That's what I thought. That sucks for the collector in me. Definitely won't pay full price for these

 

[.hacked]

yeah msrp is like $200 way too much. I had no idea it was so much when I picked up the set. I thought it was going to be like $60-$90 like Heroes, Smallvile and BSG.

Nope it is $180 at BestBuy, going to wait till season 2+3 are out and buy them at the next DeepDiscount DVD sale.

 

[Oni Jazar]

If the BD standalones had sold in any decent way, we'd have heard about it the same way we always do from the HD DVD group. Until one of the manufacturers puts out a press release, I'm going to assume sales remain at the same pace as before.

Sales always go up for just about all consumer products in November and December. Tis the season.

 

[Beer Monkey]

Does the ST have the original episodes on there as well, or only the ones with updated special effects? I'd love to be able to watch both but I fear it only has the redone episodes.

My understanding is that it has the updated effects only, and is the version with all shots in 4:3 windowbox (as opposed to the XBLM versions with new 16:9 effects shots or the stretchvision version that Asia will supposedly get).

I should have the first HD-DVD of the set from Blockbuster.com soon, I will post impressions.

 

[VOOK]

The HD-DVD selection here in Australia is pityful, luckly my order from Amazon came.

Matrix in HD is awesome.

Quick question, whats up with all the different sized cases, my Transformers is one size, my AU HD-DVD are all thick and my US ones are thin and more glossy. Why can't we have consistency

 

[Silent_Echo]

Thinking about getting a Blu-Ray player. Should I wait until I have a 1080p set, or will I notice enough of a difference over my upconvert DVD player at 720p?

 

[DJ_Tet]

My understanding is that it has the updated effects only, and is the version with all shots in 4:3 windowbox (as opposed to the XBLM versions with new 16:9 effects shots or the stretchvision version that Asia will supposedly get).

I should have the first HD-DVD of the set from Blockbuster.com soon, I will post impressions.

Hmm, sounds like it's just like the Star Trek episodes that aired in primetime in the US. As far as the price, it's a lot, but people forget it's 29 45+ min episodes. It's still too much, but there is a LOT of content. I'm a pretty big original series fan, and will likely add these discs eventually but I'd love to hear some impressions. As a fan, I'd prefer just a cleaned up HD version without the new effects, but it is what it is.


Not that there is a TON of continuity in the original series, but you renting brings up an interesting point. Apparently the episodes are not in broadcast order on the discs, so the first disc won't necessarily have the first x amount of episodes. I'll be interested to hear if this matters to someone not familiar with the series. From my memory, it seems that most episodes were self-contained, so it shouldn't matter much. Surely the two part episodes were grouped together on the discs.

 

[Zombie James]

Who's Rob Enderle?

 

[RaidenZR]

For anyone who cares, there's a new Amazon Buy One Get One Free for Warner Blu-Ray titles.

 

[Oni Jazar]

Thinking about getting a Blu-Ray player. Should I wait until I have a 1080p set, or will I notice enough of a difference over my upconvert DVD player at 720p?

Yes I only have a 32" 720p set and the difference is very apparent.

 

[Christoff Yurievich]

He got Star Trek for free due to a cashier error


I'd love to have the ST set, but at $120+ a season it's too expensive for me. Even when it comes with 29 episodes. Hopefully I can pick it up on sale down the road.


Does the ST have the original episodes on there as well, or only the ones with updated special effects? I'd love to be able to watch both but I fear it only has the redone episodes.

wait, what? what kind of error gives you a box set that expensive for free?

 

[Jeff-DSA]

How is the Battlestar Galactica on HD-DVD? I've never seen an episode of the show, and I've heard good things, so I figured if I were to check it out I'd go with the HD version. This won't be one of those things where I pick it up and realize that I'm missing some content that was exclusive to the DVD set or something, will it?

 

[pel1300]

Thinking about getting a Blu-Ray player. Should I wait until I have a 1080p set, or will I notice enough of a difference over my upconvert DVD player at 720p?

1080p is mostly hype.

Yes you will notice a difference.