Study: HD DVD's Exit Hasn't Helped Blu-ray

[gadgtfreek]

Study: HD DVD's Exit Hasn't Helped Blu-ray

News & CommentaryStudy: HD DVD's Exit Hasn't Helped Blu-ray
NPD Group says sales fell from January to February.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (May 1, 2008) -- Despite the end of the format war, Blu-ray standalone players have not generated much enthusiasm from consumers.

That's according to a new report from the NPD Group, as reported by the Associated Press.

Toshiba announced in mid-February that it would pull the plug on HD DVD at the end of March, ceding victory to Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war.

But NPD says sales of standalone Blu-ray players (not including Play Station 3 consoles) fell 40 percent from January to February in the U.S. Blu-ray sales increased two percent from February to March. (The AP reports that NPD did not release exact sales numbers.)

Not surprising, we all know most HDDVD only people enjoyed the cost difference and that wont change until the $399 avg comes down.

The only thing HDDVD's exit really gave us is studio support, which will hopefully lead to better sales and some lower prices on players. I think now that all studios are in the game, some people will get into players soon.




Here's another:

Blu-ray player sales sink as 2008 begins... except for Sony's PlayStation 3 - Engadget HD

 

[chicagofilms]

That's from Jan-FEb. Sales for EVERYTHING go down during that period, after the x-mas season.

 

[gadgtfreek]

That's from Jan-FEb. Sales for EVERYTHING go down during that period, after the x-mas season.

Now, don't go thinking rationally.

 

[BobMurdoch]

It will take 12-18 months until sales take off.....

There are no price incentives right now, and few are buying. You MIGHT get a few people spending those stimulus checks, but the affluent who might use it for something "frivolous" aren't getting the checks. The rest are going to use it to fill their gas tanks or pay the mortgage....

 

[gadgtfreek]

I agree, I really dont think we'll see any big jump until around turkey day, and thats ONLY if they get some good pricing.

 

[bhelms]

Bingo! My entry price is the same as it always was: ~$250. If there are any remaining compatiblity issues, I'd like to see them resolved as well. Is that the "2.0 standard" I'm looking for...?

 

[gadgtfreek]

Bingo! My entry price is the same as it always was: ~$250. If there are any remaining compatiblity issues, I'd like to see them resolved as well. Is that the "2.0 standard" I'm looking for...?

Im hoping/thinking youll have a $250 2.0 player in 11-08.

 

[vurbano]

I agree, I really dont think we'll see any big jump until around turkey day, and thats ONLY if they get some good pricing.

Of what year?

 

[BobMurdoch]

2009 at this rate

 

[nonrev]

2009 at this rate

For 2.0

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Bingo! My entry price is the same as it always was: ~$250. If there are any remaining compatiblity issues, I'd like to see them resolved as well. Is that the "2.0 standard" I'm looking for...?

+1 -- about the entry price.

 

[John Kotches]

Can't you get a PS3 for $300? That does a bit more than a standalone player for a nominal price difference.

 

[darrencp22]

Can't you get a PS3 for $300? That does a bit more than a standalone player for a nominal price difference.

But we dont want a PS3 I have no desire to play PS3 games. I boughtmy HD-DVD player well before the downfall at $170, get me a player at that price and i'll jump on board. Until then they geeks can play with their toys alone.

 

[dfergie]

All the PS3's around here are $399

 

[allargon]

All the PS3's around here are $399

$300+tax if you apply for (and are approved for) a SonyStyle credit card. You can't even get a used one that cheaply on E-bay after shipping is factored in.

 

[enoree]

My price point is $200, I already have HD-DVD for under $100 and lots of cheap HD-DVD movies to watch, so I will wait on BD to get real on price, I don't think they can pull a "shortage" excuse on BD players as a reason for high prices.

 

[John Kotches]

But we dont want a PS3 I have no desire to play PS3 games. I boughtmy HD-DVD player well before the downfall at $170, get me a player at that price and i'll jump on board. Until then they geeks can play with their toys alone.

I understand your point of view except that the PS3 is a quite good Blu-ray player.

 

[John Kotches]

All the PS3's around here are $399

I must be thinking of the closeouts of the lower capacity consoles.