Re:Sony's dumb decision, with historical precedent (Score 1)

I am naming this post KingSkippus's dumb, inaccurate post, with historical precedent. Oh, how do I correct thee. Let me count the ways: It tried to push out its proprietary format with Betamax, and it failed miserably. Betamax came out first in 1975. JVC introduced VHS in 1976. Betamax remained the preferred home video format until 1985. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betamax/ That's 10 years. Quite a run that I wouldn't consider "failing miserably." Also, from time to time a sporting events, I still see news crews using Betamax cameras. Sony didn't push Betamax onto anyone anymore than Coca-Cola pushes its product. It tried to push out its proprietary format with the MiniDisc, and it failed miserably. Wrong again. I have many friends that used thei minidisc players right up until they purchased an iPod or Nomad or other mp3 player. One friend in particular would get tons of samples for his electronic music he created by carrying around his minidisc player with mic input. It was simply a better and smaller walkman than a portable CD player. Still is. So, just because you might not have one or have experienced one or even know someone enjoyed theirs, don't call it a miserable failure. It tried to push out its proprietary format with UMD, and it failed miserably. Last time I checked, people with PSPs are still playing them and buying games. Oh my! But maybe Nintendo failed miserably in your eyes because their GameBoy cartridges were proprietary. Now, it is trying to push out its proprietary format with Blu-ray. Maybe this is news to you (it probably is considering the uninformed world you live in), but the Blu-ray format has the following companies on its board of directors: Apple Dell HP Hitachi LG Mitsubishi Electric Panasonic Pioneer Philips Samsung Sharp Sony Sun Microsystems TDK Thomson Twentieth Century Fox Walt Disney Warner Bros. http://www.blu-raydisc.com/general_information/Sec tion-14009/Index.html/

The Blue-ray Disc standard was jointly developed by a group of consumer electronics and PC companies called the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc/ So, let's stop insulting every other company who has contributed major technical research and dollars to support a format they thing will stand the test of time. By the way, IF Sony is forcing Blu-ray on us, then wouldn't that means that Toshiba is forcing HD DVD on us, too? Or, is it OK if Toshiba does it? It's more than a little ironic, I think, that while Sony is trying desperately to convince people that they should be buying a PS3 for the Blu-ray drive, in fact, people are avoiding the PS3 specifically because of the Blu-ray drive! The PS3 is sold out. I don't recall anyone who bought a PS2 complaining that they had to have a DVD drive with their console. Maybe some people did, but I didn't hear it. The Blu-ray drive is heinously expensive. People don't want to pay over $500 for a gaming console, even if they can also watch a few movies on it. If they had sold it without the Blu-ray drive, it would be much more competitive with the Xbox 360 and the Wii. I thought the same thing about paying $300 for a PS2. I was wrong. Darn it! Oh yeah, the PS3 is sold out. The Blu-ray drive is hard to manufacture, which is causing Sony's dismal supply. If they had sold it without the Blu-ray drive, they could have made a lot more of them, and average little Timmys all over the world could have one under their Christmas tree instead of only the little Johnnys who happen to have parents that are very, very rich. The Timmys also had to count on the pocketbooks of their parents to buy them the $400 XBox 360 last year, because none of the Timmy's really wanted one without the harddrive (that was my PERSONAL experience at least). Also, a Blu-ray drive is not hard to manufacture. The blue diodes are, so this affects both Blu-ray and HD DVD manufacturers, seeing as they use the same diode. It sucks that more people weren't able to get their hands on the PS3, because it is a great system. But don't throw around misinformation to people just like yourself who don't take the time to look up the facts. http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/ hd-dvd-and-bluray-trouble-not-enough-blue-diodes-t o-go-around-197639.php/ There wouldn't be a so-called "format war" which has turned into, basically, Sony vs. the rest of the world. It's more like Toshiba vs. the rest of the world. The last time I checked there were five Blu-ray players, if you count the PS3. Two from Sony (if you count the PS3), one each from Samsung, Philips, Pioneer. Toshiba has two of their own, and RCA put its label on one of these as their player. Getting people to switch from standard DVDs to high-definition DVDs is already going to be a daunting task, since there's not that much addition of quality and people are generally happy with DVDs. This part I will concede to you: it will be hard to get people to switch, just as it was hard to get people to switch from VHS to DVD. BUT, there is a HUGE addition of quality and it you can't see that than you are BLIND! My mom can see it, why can't you? Still, I think it could have been pulled off if all manufacturers, publishers, and marketing companies were on board with a common format. Yeah, I agree. That would be nice. NOT SONY'S FAULT! As it is, though, people aren't going to invest in a new library of movies as long as there's any question over whether they'll have to throw it away. No one wants to end up being the only person on their block with a Betamax player. I recently left the home automation industry where I worked as a Crestron and AMX programmer. The customers we worked for still had vast collections of BetaMax and LaserDiscs that they integrated into their systems. They didn't throw them away. They still enjoy them. They don't care about the rest of the block. Also, I'm most certain that I'm the only person on the block who still owns a Sega Dreamcast, and I feel fine. And their squabbling in this delicate time when they should be pushing a new common format will allow alternate media delivery mechanism creep up and make both formats obsolete. (Online delivery of HD content, anyone?) Yes, yes, this sounds like a great idea! Alienate half of the US who don't have broadband. That will sell! Believe it or not, people like the feeling of OWNING the content they purchase (I'm not referring to intellectual property rights here, only the disc and case and inserts, etc.). Also, US broadband penitration is slowing. Probably not the best time to invest in this model unless you're a telco. At the same time, HDTV pentration is exploding thanks to falling prices of LCD panels. People like their sexy new thin TV. And now they can buy a spankin new movie player to go with it. http://news.com.com/Study+Broadband+penetration+sl owing/2100-1034_3-5875981.html/ Also, didn't I read an article lately about slow movie downloads via XBox 360? http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/xbox-360/360-movies-d ownload-sloooooooow-216700.php/ Read the comments please. I could go on listing items, but you get my point. I hope ONE of them will have a shard of truth to it. Everyone that said and signed on with, "I have an idea, let's use the PS3 as a launching platform for Blu-ray!" should be fired, because they just don't get it. And here I thought the PS3 was the successor to the PS2. You mean I can't play games on it? People will buy a game console that happens to also play movies, but they're not going to be force-fed a whole new movie format just to own it. The games will be on Blu-ray media because of the storage capacity. Playing Blu-ray movies is a benefit. If you think that the Blu-ray format is only for movies, then I know you haven't done your homework. And I may end up eating crow for saying it if history proves me wrong, but I think that when all is said and done, people are really going to resent Sony imposing such a high premium on their gaming for something that has nothing to do with gaming. The only reason people will resent Sony is because of the bashing they continue to receive from misinformed idiots like yourself. Man, I really hate the gaming industry for swithing from floppies to CDs. Bastards! CDs have nothing to do with gaming! They are only for playing music! It's too bad, too. Nintendo, while clever, just isn't set up to own the hardcore gamer market. OK, I apologize. I actually agree 100% with this statement. Now, go read up on the Blu-ray format and save us the headache of uninformed Sony bashing. Thank you.