Then it is AACS and I stand corrected. I know one thing, though: that if Slysoft gurus have trouble with cracking it, that it's very nasty stuff. However, supposing it can be 100% defeated and then also assuming it doesn't end up having much competition, would that not keep the prices inflated, so that not as many people might shy away from it just because of cost? Unless there's a way to completely defeat the protection to make backups as easy as backing up standard DVDs, I don't know how many average people that aren't techies would feel up to taking multiple steps to get around the protection (assuming not a full decryption possible) and also have to end up buying more technology (HTPC) just to be able to store it.

Here is an interesting read on HD-DVD which essentially backs up the points that I made in the other thread:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...144891#thecase

Unfortunately the only way that HD-DVD can win now is if Microsoft uses a few billion of that $12.3 billion floating cash in order to subsidize costs on the A3 and they drop it down to $50-$60 and then start doing the blu-ray thing and flood the market with BOGOs. I don't think that even the most die hard blu-ray fanboy could resist at least going dual format at that point. *NOTE* I don't actually believe that would happen, I was just throwing a crazy scenario out there.

I wonder how many average joe care about Blu-ray/ HD DVD copy protection or making copy/backup?

Speaking as someone who

1) Had to let a woman go a few days ago because she was getting too attached too quickly
2) Owns 30 HD-DVDs, with 10 more coming in the mail, and
3) Is an Ohio State Buckeyes fan,

This is really turning out to be a crappy week.


Has anyone heard any statements from any of the HD-DVD exclusive studios yet? It's gotta be a drag for Paramount/Dream Works, being under contract for another year. I don't know as much about the Universal deal.

Just wondering what everyone else is going to do about Paramount, Dream Works, and Universal movies? Continue to buy them in HD-DVD, or just stick with DVD until they switch to Blu-ray?

A little off topic but, I was suprised when I checked the mail today and my replacement POTC Curse of the Black Pearl disc arrived from the US. Only called them by phone last Wednesday. Pretty quick.

I just got an email about mine today. They're just now getting around to sending it out. So, I guess it'll be here in a few days. That'll be nice to have. I just sent out my PS3 today. They should get it tomorrow so we'll see how long it takes to get that back.

Since the announcement of Warner Bros studios supporting the Blu-ray format we have not seen any level of anxiety among the HD player manufacturer about this. Many were expecting that these Manufacturers will move in rushing to saturate the market with low prices of HD player in order to get rid of present inventories. May be soon who knows?

It's still early. We're not even sure what universal and paramount will actually do yet. Although there's speculation. So, I think until it all shakes out, hardware guys are going to sit tight.

Given the fact the average consumer is really no where to be found on this issue, very few. Had the consumer educated himself/herself to these two formats, this could have been a totally different ball game. It's just like the average consumer doesn't know about the RIAA going after individuals in John Doe lawsuits, filing ex parte orders for discovery. If it's not widely reported in an easy-to-digest news show, the "average person" probably has little or no clue about particulars of HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

You hit the nail on the head there. If someone did a really good in depth review on one of the regular news shows or newspapers, that showed the practical advantages and disadvantages of the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats, I don't think that a single blu-ray standalone would've sold and only the most die hard Sony gamers would be the ones purchasing PS3s.

Yet Disney is doing a Blu-ray tour to show off what Blu-ray can do. I'm quite sure that'll have an affect on the average consumers that you're talking about...

From CDFreaks news last 24 hours:

Samsung continues to produce duo Blu-ray/ HD DVD playersHBO and New Line Cinema drop HD DVDParamount denies rumors about Blu-ray switchClick links to read more.

Look like this war of Hi-Tech and Formatting will go on for foreseeable future and no winner has emerged yet. Meanwhile the market and consumer will stay confused and wonder what to do and what approach to take.

I think the key word in the above blurb is in bold.
Honestly I hope Samsung and other manufacters do continue with the dual format. In my area the Samsung BDUP5000 is on sale for $788.00. Linky. Hopefully they will get cheaper.
Returned my Toshiba A30 for a full refund and maybe I will get a dual format later.

Paramount's contract doesn't allow them to say anything about switching if I remember right. So they have no choice but to deny any rumor. If they can find a way out of the contract, then you'll see news of them switching officially. I wouldn't rule out an official announcement from them in the coming weeks.

Interesting. But what I'm trying to say was, average consumers who bought PS3, XBox HD DVD drive and also standalone players, even if they are educated, are they really interested in backing up games and movies in BD or HD DVD format, given the media price and lots of work to do compared to CD and DVD? I don't think most 6-8 millions PS3 owners, twice of that for XBox and hundreds of thousands standalone owners bought the product for that purpose? So I think the RIAA issues you mentioned doesn't relate too much to BD/HD formats, at least not yet?

Also, even the less troublesome format, as you word it, HD DVD, its AACS needs to be decrypted some how if you want to rip it. It's not much of big difference compared to BD format, they both are rip-able once you have the right tools. And I'm not so sure that we can blame all to Sony for the BD format, since the newest copy protection, BD+, if I'm not mistaken was developed by a small group of scientist and professors in a company named Cryptography Research. Blu-ray titles that uses BD+ technology only exist in 3-5 current movies out of hundreds existing titles. From what I've read, the studios that uses BD+ are charged a few cents per discs and that's probably why not all studios use it. Finaly from my understanding, this entire DVD and BD/HD copy protection schemes are mainly targeting large scale piracy and not average consumers or college students who copy their original discs at home, or even hobbies at this technology like us (??).

Nevertheless, you're more experience in this issue so I'd like to hear your comments.

I certainly hope not. No point in having dual format when both essentially offer the same thing.

Incidentally, as much as I love HD-DVD this simple fact scares the living crap out of me since it is supposed to be the official HD-DVD news and release site:

http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect....ter=comingsoon

Was this question to hard ???

Guess who distributes HD-DVD Universal movies in South Korea ??
Okay let me give you the answer then, because it's interesting:
SPOILER
SONY !, Now that should make some people think about the whole format war.

Tell us more about it, dakhaas.

If you know the secret why don't you let's know. Giving the vague answer won't solve the mystery.