Yeah, most studios would probably like to go back to the higher prices that DVDs used to sell for (except maybe Warner, who has always pushed for lower, "impulse item" pricing). Especially at first, where they won't make money with high volume sales. And having them priced higher than a regular DVD is sound business sense anyway, as the new discs should be seen as having a higher perceived value, to go along with their higher quality. I think it would be a stupid idea to have them priced the same as regular DVDs right off the bat. The only people who will be buying them for the first year or so will be early adopters, and they would have no problem paying a higher price for these.

As for the Blu-Ray cases, I kinda like them. Lets face it, they have to be different from regular DVD cases, and blue is only natural.

I dont mind the blue, but of the few people who have complained - what are you expecting? how would YOU market and design these disc to differ from their non-HiDef incarnation?

I like the fact that both appear to be the same case, just different colors. At least if both formats stick around for a while they will look similar on the shelf.

I'd have made them much shorter than DVD cases, more like CD case size. But kept the casing black. Like the Nintendo DS game cases essentially.

Would be easily distinguishable and save a lot of room on adjustable shelving by being able to get in a couple more rows.

If so - that's better than I thought it would be.

I don't think there is anything wrong w/ the cases - the color makes them easily identifiable w/ the technology. And if they are smaller than current cases - kudos to them.

I'm not in love with the color or the thing sticking off the top that serves no purpose other than to display the format. But, I also understand the challenge of making sure that these are distinctive at retail -- and this certainly fits the bill.

I'd like to see a close-up shot of the hub that holds the actual disc. Is it a reasonable clasp like the alpha/amaray cases, or something that'll break easily?

I'm just happy that they're slimmer. I've always felt that keepcases were much too chunky. Slimmer cases = more shelf space to hold my movies. That's a good thing.

Well, at least with them being slimmer, that's less of a chance the disc would be loose and get scratched.

as always though, I'm mainly concerned with showing off the disc rather than its packaging.

I don't mind the color, but I wish they would have designed the case to be slimmer, like the ThinPak style. I am getting really sick of the amount of wasted space in most DVD cases. I want to maximize storage space, not showcase (usually non-existent) spine artwork.

Looks like those light blue cars or tools aimed at women. Maybe it's a ploy to get both genders interested. I mean, we'll still buy them even though they are atrocious, right?

Do we really need a Blu-Ray release of Hitch?

Maybe Sony made Hitch to spotlight how good HD can look.

I dont mind the blue. matches my furniture

I don't quite agree with that. For hardware, yes, but for software, I'm willing to put money on it that people want it for as little as possible.

I don't like the thought of paying $5+ more for movies than we're paying now.

DW

I'm not crazy about the packaging either; regular dvd is far better. But, true, packaging never determines whether or not I buy a movie.

Paying $5 more is about my limit - anything more than that is just too much. But even I wanted to replace my collection, I only own around 200 DVDs so it's not too bad.

Where did you buy your furniture...IKEA?

sounds like someone is a huge Smurfs fan

Apparently, the HD-DVD cases aren't any better.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=28907

Oh well, there's always next generation. Maybe they'll come out with a better solution by then.

The red looks much cooler.

With the size capacity greater, will there ever be the need for a 2-disc set? If so, has anyone ever saw a 2-disc thin pak?

I'm sure there will be.

I'm sure there will be as they'll utilize as much disk space as possible for picture quality... just like they do now.

Eva Mendes in 1080P

You gotta be kidding me. I cannot believe they designed the HD-DVD cases with the top part being wider than the rest of the case. As if the feet on the bottom weren't bad enough, who makes these stupid fucking decisions?

I'm convinced there is a Stupid Fucking Decisions Department at evey major company that every idea is ultimately funneled through. It's made up of all the employees who are promoted to management so they can stop fucking up the product.

For standard DVDs, you mean? Sure... Some TV shows have been coming out w/2-disc thinpacks. They just add an extra hub to the left of the case (where the insert would usually go). Basically putting one disc on each side so it makes a DVD sandwich when you close it. Works great.

If they end up going with tht design for HD, then the secondary market for cases will experience a huge upswing in business. No matter what they decide to do to these cases, they need to be able to stack side by side no taller than a SDVD. Idiots.