How To Figure Out Who Will Win The HD DVD Format Wars
We’ve made a lot of fun of the HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray format wars, and rightly so. After all, it’s very entertaining to point out the parallels to VHS vs. Beta, and — more ominiously — SACD vs. HDCD (everybody say “huh?”); the troubles getting product to consumers and the possibility of no backwards compatibility with older HD TVs.
Obviously, watching high-definition films in the privacy of your own home is such a perfect 21st century idea I guess it’s no wonder that more than one consortium of evil multinational technology and entertainment companies had it at roughly the same time.
Given the entry price and the possible instant obsolescence of one of the formats (there probably won’t be a long slow agonizing Beta-style death for the loser this go-round), I’m staying on the sidelines until the market declares a winner. Who will that be? I have no idea; which is why I’m staying on the sidelines.
However, I have just come across a theory which is so simple and logical that I have to pass it on: follow the porn.
Oh. Duh. Of course!
The point being that the adult entertainment is all about early (and often) adopters, and Hollywood knows that. They’ll be watching.
And so, who has the early lead with the porn industry? Blu-ray got an early lead when one of the leading studios cast chose it. That lead may or may not last, ahem, all that long, especially since the choice was contingent on the now-delayed Playstation 3 being out by now.
So, oops. It’s still anybody’s game, but least it’s not quite as impenetrable anymore.
Technorati Tags: HD DVD, Blu-ray, Porn, Digital Playground
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2 Comment(s) so far
1. Kirk wrote on April 27th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
I think the recent LA Times review of a new HD DVD player did a pretty good job of raising the overriding issue with these new formats. They noted that unless you have a newer TV and a big screen (as in a set manufactured within the last 18 months with a minimum 36 inch screen) you won’t notice much of a difference in picture quality.
Right now HD DVD vs. Blu Ray is looking an awfull lot like SACD vs. HDCD.
Unless of course the studios get on the ball and start using the extra capcity for really innovative stuff.
2. Tim wrote on May 1st, 2006 at 4:21 pm
I’m betting on blu. Fpr starters. I like the color. Also, it has the perfect inbuilt porn-crossover name. Remember, they used to be called blue movies.