Is Sony's Blu-ray Disc technology
set to suffer the same fate as Betamax VCRs? Quite
possibly, judging by the news from
International
Herald Tribune that Toshiba - Sony's deadly rival in the
high-definition disc-player war - is licensing its HD DVD
techology to Chinese manufacturers for low-cost production.
Although
the parallels between the Betamax vs VHS war aren't precise, it's worth
remembering that it was JVC's decision to widely license VHS
that ended up being the deciding factor.
The
one certain result of Toshiba's licensing decision is
that set-top HD DVD players will be available at massively
lower prices than Blu-ray players.
Confirming
that prices of HD DVD are going to become very
affordable, the
AV
Science Forum
is reporting that Chinese manufacturer Fuh Yuan has signed a deal to
make two million HD DVD players for the giant supermarket
chain Walmart
(owner of ASDA in the UK).
If HD DVD is
pitched at affordable prices and Blu-ray stays out of reach of the
masses, then the Toshiba system looks certain to grab
the lion's share of the worldwide market for hi-def players and win the
current formats war.
About the only thing that
might keep Blu-ray Disc in with a shout is if it,
too, gets licensed to the Chinese - and at an affordable rate.
If that doesn't happen, Blu-ray
Disc might stagger on
for few years but looks sure to eventually go to the wall as Betamax
did.
Thoughts? Share them with us in the
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I take it that this means ALL duplication has to go through Sony? That in itself could kill the format as it could be considered a closed market...
All duplication does not have to go through Sony. There are already some which are non-Sony controlled and new ones coming up from what I have read.
These will do adult material without any hassle.
But right now, I think all replication facilities are pretty much nearly upto capacity.Quote
BluRay needs a different production process so new plants or production lines are needed. Obviously no-one is going to build these without a vested interest, and as Sony are already a large disc manufacturer, they are bound to be the first/main duplicator of BluRay titles. At least initially, unit volumes rise of course and it becomes financially viable for other producers to invest in the new systems.Quote
Economies of scale enforces education about, “The Limits of Greed”, something that perpetual income kleptos still have wet dreams about and witness the “Digital Rights” free-for-all grab. Only from the twisted minds of the demoncrazy crowd can such immoral ideas be promoted and established as normal. Including tidbit remittances of plundered loot perfumed as “Acts of Charity”. One reason why you cannot bake a $1 bread loaf but can buy them everywhere. Yes, sony-san still have enough petty cash to replay the VHS-Betamax game but all these kleptos are looking to the wider picture for if the trick can be pulled, they’ll get got another 10-odds years of easy Viking plunder. The “market” is just brainless fashionites looking for an answer to their existence, your latter-day “god” seekers. Humans who have no absolute maturity have no logic but plenty of rationalities and long may Tosh plunge the knife to teach kleptos everywhere that the dumb market too can smell stench once their nose is switched on. Looks like another sort-of US-China spat where the sophisticated developed, but immoral persona, counters the demonised naïve low-lifes. But then, they haven’t count on tradition, have they, and tradition matters most when you need to stop immorality.Quote
Another interesting analysis.
Not sure whether I prefer this one or the other one (http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?p=1044506#post1044506), though.
:confused:Quote
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