It's a double no, *if* this TOTAL MISINFORMATION will stop.
"...consumers are having a tough time finding a value proposition in the format, which doesn't look phenomenally better than upscaled DVD in most eyes."
Cite me the study that says that please, as I notice a total lack of link there. Yes, people have said that here and there on the Internet. But for every one of those, there's two or three who say they're nuts and Blu-ray does, indeed, look phenomonally better.
But the larger problem is this adage has been expanded to all consumers in general. This is MISINFORMATION. It's not been tested, nor proven true. But you say it over and over people begin to THINK it's true. Kind of like the news that "Joe the Plumber isn't even named Joe!" when it's actually his middle name, and what he goes by... but it's been repeated over and over and over and people start thinking it's true.
Saying Blu-ray is niche is like saying it is like Laser-Disc. I don't ever remember Laser-Disc being prominently displayed in big box retailers and in ads on a regular basis like Blu-ray. The Blu-ray movie shelves are the first thing you see walking in the Best Buy by my house with huge signs. I would call that mainstream already.
I also don't ever remember movie releases saying "on VHS and Laser-Disc next week" whereas every movie home release commercial is "get it on DVD and Blu-ray hi def" now.
For all intensive purposes, DVD vs. VHS was a two horse race when the economy was doing well. Blu-Ray beat HD DVD, but still faces up-conversion, downloads and tanking economy.
Just because Blu-Ray has mainstream presence in retail, doesn't mean it's mainstream in the living room.
If it doesn't make up some serious ground in the next six months, it probably won't eclipse DVD until downloads and on-demand do so first.
Blu ray is most definitely going to be niche. In the movie 'I am Legend', which I think was set in the year 2012, Will Smith, or whatever his movie name was, frequents the local video store and not once is a blu ray banner or blu ray disc seen. Obviously, by 2012 the format is dead or just a tiny niche. Case closed :)
The Chromebooks are here, starting with Samsung's Series 5, a cute little number that promises instant-on access, 3G connectivity, and long enough battery life to web surf with the best of 'em.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
short answer: yes. long answer: no, but only if you ask people on an HD-centric website.
It's a double no, *if* this TOTAL MISINFORMATION will stop.
"...consumers are having a tough time finding a value proposition in the format, which doesn't look phenomenally better than upscaled DVD in most eyes."
Cite me the study that says that please, as I notice a total lack of link there. Yes, people have said that here and there on the Internet. But for every one of those, there's two or three who say they're nuts and Blu-ray does, indeed, look phenomonally better.
But the larger problem is this adage has been expanded to all consumers in general. This is MISINFORMATION. It's not been tested, nor proven true. But you say it over and over people begin to THINK it's true. Kind of like the news that "Joe the Plumber isn't even named Joe!" when it's actually his middle name, and what he goes by... but it's been repeated over and over and over and people start thinking it's true.
-Pie
Saying Blu-ray is niche is like saying it is like Laser-Disc. I don't ever remember Laser-Disc being prominently displayed in big box retailers and in ads on a regular basis like Blu-ray. The Blu-ray movie shelves are the first thing you see walking in the Best Buy by my house with huge signs. I would call that mainstream already.
I also don't ever remember movie releases saying "on VHS and Laser-Disc next week" whereas every movie home release commercial is "get it on DVD and Blu-ray hi def" now.
@THizzle7XU
For all intensive purposes, DVD vs. VHS was a two horse race when the economy was doing well. Blu-Ray beat HD DVD, but still faces up-conversion, downloads and tanking economy.
Just because Blu-Ray has mainstream presence in retail, doesn't mean it's mainstream in the living room.
If it doesn't make up some serious ground in the next six months, it probably won't eclipse DVD until downloads and on-demand do so first.
Blu ray is most definitely going to be niche. In the movie 'I am Legend', which I think was set in the year 2012, Will Smith, or whatever his movie name was, frequents the local video store and not once is a blu ray banner or blu ray disc seen.
Obviously, by 2012 the format is dead or just a tiny niche. Case closed :)