Just out of curiosity, whats the power consumption like on these Kuros? I mean I get it that it is the best picture, and cheaper than the new top of the line LED LCD TV's by about 20-30%. But isn't power consumption still pretty high when compared to LED LCD or LCD? And depending on how long you plan to own one of these sets, that will end up costing a pretty penny?

I am thinking of LED LCD or KURO, since they seem to be the best options out there and OLED is still I would say 3-4 years out at best to be in the size and prices that are reasonable. But from what I can gather I am still leaning towards LED LCD....at least for now.

I know a lot of people want to discount digital downloads saying that not everyone has broadband internet and stuff. But the fact of the matter is if you have cable TV, you can just use the Video on Demand service to watch in HD or SD. You don't have to have broadband!
Yes, I know that the quality isn't as good as Blu Ray, but aside from people like us who care a lot about this stuff, most people could give a rats ass. No one cares about lossless audio! These are things that we as early adopters care about. The average Joe doesn't even have an HDTV yet. HDTV adoption is starting to pick up now with low prices, but how long has HDTV been around? I know I have had my set since 2003, but i seriously know a TON of people that don't have an HDTV set. Just like everything else, if mass adoption is ever to happen, prices need to drop all around! Money talks period! If plasmas and LCDs were still $10,000 a pop, HDTV adoption would not be anywhere near what it is now. Its pretty simple, just lower the damn prices!

I would like to see BD succeed, but they aren't doing themselves any favors with their current strategy. Its becoming more apparent with all the options that are available now (and weren't when DVD was coming out) that BD will not be the next DVD. Which is fine, it doesn't have to be!!

On a side note, I have had Netflix/Blockbuster Online for about 3 years now, and to tell you the truth I have not bought a DVD or BD since. Actually, I lied, I bought 1 BD (Batman Begins) for $20, but seriously nothing else.

whats better than Bose for Ipod docks?? Can't seem to find any.

Wow TT, that was quite the response. I have to stay you pretty much hit everything on the head there. And while many on this forum will simply flame you for not supporting the BD camp all the way, this was probably one of your best posts.

Is it a shock to anyone? I mean lets be honest about everything boys and girls, HDTV adoption is NOT THERE YET!! So don't expect Blu Ray to come on like gangbusters yet. They said about 35%of the sample had HDTV, right? Isn't that about right about the number of how much HDTV adoption is right now in America(Some may say that is a bit generous)?

So basically, Blu ray can have all the BOGOs and try to inflate their true sales numbers, but in all honesty, BD sales are nothing compared to SD sales. Now if those darn Blu boys can get their act together and lower the damn price, things may change pretty quickly. At least within the "35%" of HDTV owners that is. I for one would be all over a BD player if prices were at least half of what they are now. Oh and they would have to be profile 2.0 and not take over a minute to boot up and load a disc too( and no, I DON'T want a PS3!). Also, don't give me 5 craptacular movies that I would not buy EVER! Just lower the price, and I will see you there.

And I understand that they don't want to lower prices and take a loss on players upfront, but isn't that why they charge $30-$35 for a BD disc, while SD counterparts can be had for $10? So do what those game companies do, and take a loss and you will make up for it on disc sales. I mean last time I checked, those CE companies (not all, but most, or at least the big players) that were making BD players, are also members of the BDA that collect royalties, no? Just my 2 pennies.

I understand that Sony doesn't want to undercut other manufacturers too much, but the fact of the matter is that they are. And when the PS3 is the only 2.0 BD player out there now, AND it is cheaper than most non 2.0 BD players out there now!

The 80GB DOES sell well, but believe you me, it is most definitely not because people want Motorstorm. And the 40gb doesn't sell because of Spiderman 3. If Sony can pack in a super computer Cell processor, multimedia center, with a HDD, Spiderman 3 (or Motorstorm), 5 free BD movies (titles which suck) and wifi for $399, then surely Sony and all the other BD manufacturers can make a BD player for $199 or less. How about don't give us 5 free BD movies from a selection of crappy movies and lower the price. Or how about give us our choice of ANY 5 BD movies. Don't pack in extra crap and make it seem like you gave us a great deal. If it was such a great deal, then you wouldn't have to pack in all this extra junk in the first place. And now with their biggest competitor out of the picture, they have a cartel/monopoly for HDM, and have less incentive to bring prices down. i just hope that that isn't the case.

I know that Sony isn't the only company behind BD, but they are one of the biggest (30% with 4-5 more companies splitting the remaining 70%)), if not the biggest. player behind BD.

I agree that Toshiba made a bunch of mistakes in this "format war", from securing studio support, having msft price the HD DVD add on at $199, not teaming up with more CE companies, not lowering prices sooner, and the list goes on and on. But I don't really care about that. I just like most of you, are HD enthusiasts, and will follow the HD content. While I was hoping the HD DVD won out, I knew that they had the chips stacked against them. I did think that HD DVD was a much more consumer friendly format in terms of price.


I do however disagree that a slow price drop is better for the industry. With the slew of competitors that BD faces now(AppleTV, HD VOD, VUDU, Internet D/L & streaming content), it has a short window of opportunity to establish it self as the format of choice. The longer it waits to complete its product (profile 2.0) and lower its price to a reasonable range($199), its chances of succeeding SD DVD dwindles. And according to recent reports, Sony is making a profit off of PS3 or very close to it. So instead of giving us shit we don't want or need, like a bigger HDD, Motorstorm (I would have bought it if i really wanted it thank you) and keeping the price out of reach for the majority of consumers, just lower the damn price. Stop dragging your feet! Lower the price and get the install base first before thinking of getting in the black.

While I do see a difference in BD vs up converted DVDs, you won't find me dropping $400+ for a BD player anytime soon. With HDTV adoption still at 25-35% depending on who you ask (and this is in the US, I bet it is lowering in every other country). People are still watching analog cable here! So to thinking that the consumer will jump in and pay extra money for a BD player, when it took them all these years to throw down the $$ for an HDTV, you are dreaming. Not to mention that the difference in a lot of BD movies to its SD up-converted is still not night and day to most people. You get the biggest difference in CGI(Pixar, Dreamworks), special effects heavy movies(10,000 BC, Transformers), but not so much on your average movie ( mostly comedies, chick flicks, dramas, etc.) does not benefit so much. I'm not saying that I can't see the difference, but is price tag worth the difference? Not now, not yet. And for the majority of people SD DVD is good enough.

So hurry the F*** up and lower the prices, and complete the spec. You can count the boatloads of money from royalties in the years to come.

I've said it before, and I will say it again: If Sony can make a state of the art, bleeding edge cuper computer AND and BD player for $399 and still turn a profit, can you Blu ballers seriously tell me that no one(Sony included) can make a BD player under $199? Or at least a somewhat reasonable price? With the cell processor (ironically from Toshiba) being a big chunk of that $399, it wouldn't be too far fetched to say that it is possible.

Once again Sony and BDA, instead of BUYING movie studios outright and making back alley bribes with WB and Fox, make an AFFORDABLE (not cheap!), COMPLETE (profile 2.0), and FULLY FUNCTIONING(enough with the shitty Sammys that don't read all discs, etc.) HDM player that is not a video game machine (PS3) and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I will gladly jump on that boat once it gets there. Oh, and if it can up-convert well too that would be nice. I don't think I am asking for too much, am I?

I don't think BD discs being $30 is that big of a deal, cuz personally, I haven't bought a DVD in ages. I just rent from Netflix or Blockbuster online. Anyways, I think I got off on a tangent there, but just lower prices and make a half way decent player, and people will be forming a line to hand you buckets of cash. I will be on that line if/when that happens.

Not worth it yet. Why pay a premium for something that isn't widely used. Wait until there is actually any 1080p content to be had other than HD DVD or BD. And even then, the difference between 1080p and 1080i is not night and day. There is a difference, but it isn't a big difference. Unless you plan to get a huge TV (+60') or sit two inches away from the screen you will not benefit from 1080p. I have a 1080p set, and kinda feel like I was taken for a ride and bought into the marketing hype. I should have gotten a bigger plasma for cheaper instead of my 1080p LCD Sammy. Just my opinion.

BD is not replacing DVD until HDTVs take over, and even that is a few years off, so in short BD isn't taking over anytime soon. Those 40% that you said don't have broadband, don't have HDTVs, so I don't see what your point is there. Even less people have HDTVs than braodband, and that is by a pretty wide margin. So, once again, BD is not taking over DVD for at least 10 years.