Well we all knew the #1 reason HDDVD is supposed to be better than bluray (besides the obvious naming advantage) is pricing. Because the HD and DVD standards are so similar and there production so similar we were told that the retooling to get the HDDVD out to market would be minimal and eventually negligible. It appears that this might end up being true but perhaps just not soon enough. Universal Studios has announced that their HDDVD’s will be getting a 5$/disc reduction in cost. The downside… you’ll have to wait till August 8th to see this reduction and by that time the war will have already started down a crazy slippery slope.
Titles that were formerly $34.95 will soon retail for $29.95 (though you’ll probably be able to find them cheaper), with hybrid HDDVD movies from the studio going for $35. All and all if i’m buying a HDDVD disc i’m going to be buying the hybrids that way no matter where i go i can watch it, whether it be at home on a HDDVD A1 player or at my buddys house on his regular DVD player.
I have to give it to HDDVD this is a huge advantage, it has been discussed a few times before on different technical spec forums. The fact of the matter is while HDDVD’s hybrid discs are extremely easy to make the tooling process and general manufacturing and technical aspects of the Bluray discs make them extremely hard to put forth a hybrid DVD. And i hate to say but in my book Backwards compatability with DVD is going to be a HUGE factor and if i was toshiba and universal i’d be pushing the hybrid disc’s in every way imagineable i’m suprised we haven’t seen any commercials on TV talking the hybrid advantage up, what a shame.
Source: Engadget / Inhouse
