http://www.dvdreview.com/news/

The Break-Up is going to be the first officially announced 30GB/9GB combo disc. Does anyone else think titles like King Kong and others will be the same?

I can slightly understand newer movies coming out like this but not older ones like Animal House.

This could be the first serious fuck-up on HD DVD's side. The price difference is a problem.

So the idea here is to get someone like me who hasn't bought an HD-DVD player but might to get me to pay an extra $10 for the easy hardware upgrade? Meanwhile forcing the early adopters to pay an extra $10 for a side they'll NEVER use and not get a nice label on one side?

I think the studios' reasoning behind the combo DVDs is NOT for those looking to buy a HD-DVD player in the future, but for those with an HD-DVD player already who would also want a standard version of the movie for use on their laptops/portable DVD players when they're traveling/not at home.

I think two discs makes more sense. Probably cheaper too (than a combo).

With Amazon's 10% discount, combos come in at $23. That's not bad but 99.95% of people don't know that or don't want to do that.

"NEVER use"?

Unless all HD DVD owners have:

1. Replaced all of their DVD players with HD A1s, or
   
2. Purposely decided to buy both the HD DVD release of a movie AND the SD version, or
   
3. Decided that the ONLY place they want to watch ANY movie is in their HD-equipped home theater

I don't think I'd say "NEVER". I could easily see myself using the SD side of some movies when I'm in my office, or in the DVD player in the bedroom, or even if we are going somewhere where there is no HD player available. I see it as a nice, if somewhat pricey, transitional solution (depending on the title, of course).

Guess I just thought if you were going to buy an HD-DVD player and then an HD-DVD you'd, I dunno, use them together

I think I did suggest it was a transitional solution, but I was speaking more from the standpoint of someone who would eventually upgrade hardware (as I am).

Really, though, would you miss the SD side if it wasn't there? What if there was a 3rd SKU with just a HD side for a few $ less than the double, would you just get that anyway?

Hmmmm.... I think this thread went in a direction I wasn't predicting. I know most people here are tired of the combos but I was just making a point that this is the first HD DVD/DVD combo that is 30GB/9GB when the previous ones were only 15GB/9GB. Personally I could care less about the combos but I wish they didn't cost more even if it is only a couple bucks on Amazon.

I would fall into that category.
That's not counting seeing a movie in a theater of course.

Has anyone said they wouldn't want to "use them together?" Nope. But what about the times when you and your HD DVD player aren't together?

Now that is an option I think the studios should consider. After all, they do still continue to release titles in SD-only format. It would make sense to at least explore the option of producing three SKUs (SD-only, HD-only, and combo), and let the market decide which is more preferred.

If they did that, I would probably still opt for the combo on certain titles, if it is only a couple of dollars different (as it is at Amazon), and if they are able to release everything on 30/9 discs.

Not exactly sure where Universal falls in the HD/BR war, but would it make even more sense for them to only release 30/9 combo discs? Forget SD or HD only.

Make everyone buy the same thing and slowly build an HD library for the SD users. Inflate the HD attachment rates and bring in more studios.

As much as people like to think the PS3 is going to be a huge BR trojan horse, media would go a lot further if people are getting future value out of the discs.

I'm sure this has been discussed before, sorry if so.

That makes sense, but only if the combo disc is only a bit more. Right now, retail combo discs are $30 - $40. It makes no sense to buy a movie at that price. If anything, the combo HD/DVDs should be cheaper than regular HD-DVDs. Don't even make DVDs. Just release big movies on HD/DVD combo discs.

Completely agree. It forces the issue.

the reason I buy the HD DVD version of a movie is because I don't want the dvd version anymore. So why would I want them together?

Amen!

I like the combos, but not the extra cost. However, I did buy Animal House and I do like the fact I can watch it on my laptop or portable player if I want to. At the Amazon price I will probably not be bothered too much.

Most of these movies were all pretty popular when they came out on DVD. So, unless you're buying the movie just to have HD content, you most likely already have it on DVD. If you want to play it on your laptop, at a friend's, whatever, just take the DVD version. That way you don't have to worry about messing up the HD DVD side.

Or in the minivan for the kids.