http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...30446720070925

NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Sales of next-generation DVD players are not seen as likely to take off for another 18 months as consumers are still waiting for prices to fall and for the battle over two competing technologies to be resolved. Referring to the high-definition DVD format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray, Forrester Research said in a report on Monday that while the two camps have "been fighting what seems to be a war of attrition for consumers' hearts and minds," few consumers are warming to either type of device.

Sony Corp backs the Blu-ray standard against Toshiba Corp's HD DVD.

Hollywood and electronics manufacturers hope new high-definition DVDs, with better picture quality and more capacity, will revive the slowing $24 billion home DVD market.

But the format war has curbed adoption in a way reminiscent of the Betamax-VHS videotape format battle of the early 1980s, experts say.

Forrester analyst J.P. Gownder stood behind his company's view that Blu-ray would eventually win out over HD DVD, but he said the Blu-ray camp needs to cut prices.

A stand alone Blu-ray player sells for about $500, while HD DVD players cost about $400, and prices are expected to drop further as the holiday shopping season nears.

Gownder said Blu-ray's content advantages are somewhat diminished since the recent decision by Viacom Inc's Paramount studio to commit exclusively to HD DVD. HD DVD hardware prices have also dropped into consumers' preferred price range, he said.

"Weakened by these developments, Blu-ray needs to offer a viable hardware model at the $250 price point by Christmas 2007," he said in the report. "The Blu-ray camp must also stave off further studio defections, and employ more aggressive promotional tactics to counter HD DVD's recent momentum."

Forrester said typical owners of high-definition televisions are not willing to pay more than $200 on average for a new HD DVD or Blu-ray player.

"Failure to alter strategy would open up Blu-ray to a possible upset defeat at the hands of HD DVD," Gownder said.

$299 (MSRP) is "about $400"???

The writer of the article is clearly biased in favor of BD. Where's the balancing quote from the HD camp?

I'll take the over.

Yet another HD-DVD fan making a comment that has no basis in fact other than the assumption that the quoted cost is somehow biased in favor of BD. Honestly, AVS HD-DVD fanatics are trying to make the same accusation. Get over yourself.

I agree.

I thought the clever phrasing of this one line alone revealed the writer's bais quite well.

Forrester research is an independent entity. The fact they support the belief that BD will win out in the end does not mean they are somehow a mouthpiece of Sony.

Are people not allowed to comment on how a person's writing reflects a possible bias? I thought thats what studying literature and analysis is for. I also reported your post for a personal attack. Furthermore, your injection of AVS HD fanatics is totally pointless and just shows your own bias.

Actually this Forrester guy is pretty complimentary of HD DVD and reflects a lot of the problems people have with Blu Ray - the cost.

I would like to know how this person got to a $400 average for a HD DVD player.

You're right, but their choice of phrasing is subtle enough that some won't notice it, and it's hard to believe the author and his editor missed that. It's like saying Jack in the Box backs the Jumbo Jack standard against Burger King's Whopper.

One format isn't the standard, the standard is high definition. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are different forms of media that both meet the definition of that standard.

Forrester wasn't responsible for the "standard" comment. The Reuters reporter was.
Most likely a reporter who doesn't understand what is going on, but I definitely think it smack as bias.

For a "war" that was supposed to be over by now, it sure seems that Blu Ray blew the big Sony investment of mortaging the PS3 to it.

I'm starting to believe it's never going to be over. That's why I'm (somewhat) patiently waiting for the Samsung Dual Player that's supposed to be coming out as soon as October but possibly not until December. This looks like the winner I'm looking for to (over)spend my hard earned cash.

Best Buy lists the A20 and A30 for $400, the XA2 is several hundred dollars more. Those models are the ones that are comparable to the current Blu-ray standalones. He also didn't say they average is $400, he said they cost about $400. He probably would have been better off saying they start at $300, but he stills gets the point across regarding a price difference. Sharp's new Blu-ray player can be had for $400 and the Sony for $450, so both sides could say there is an inaccurate starting point. Regardless, the main point of the stated prices was to demonstrate HD-DVD's advantage in that area.

Ask me if I care if you reported my post and show me where it was that I made a personal attack on anyone here? I made a comment about AVS HD-DVD fanatics. Get over yourself.

No the point is that the writer disregarded the cheapest HD DVD player, the $238 A2 which would place it close to the $200 sweet spot.
That stinks. Why do you think the Forrester guy said Blu Ray needed a $250 player - its because an HD DVD one already exists.

Somebody can get high def (albeit not 1080p) NOW for the price that is supposedly close to the consumer sweet spot.

I don't care which models are comparable to the Blu Ray players, the fact is that HD DVD offers a solution now for $230 that will get you in the HD game. Its not HD-DVD fault that Blu Ray's prices are high.

Everything I have read here by HD-DVD fans smacks of making something out of nothing from an innocuous comment by an independent research firm when there is nothing there.

Go ahead, keep making the generalizations.
Most, if not all, of the criticism is labeled at the Reuters writer, not the comment from Forrester

This "HD DVD zealots" and "Blu-boy" crap needs to stop.

Comments like that aren't helpful. You can disagree without being obnoxious.

It's true that the failure to mention that HD-DVD players are currently available sub-250 is a mistake that does a disservice to those following the format war only loosely. Many could read this article and easily think "Oh, so HD players are all still 400 or so. Guess I'll keep waiting." Obviously not those who are actively looking, but those aren't the people that need to get into the market to make it take off.

I wonder what "further studio defections" they are talking about ....

I think that was a hypothetical. Might not have been referring to any studio in particular...just the idea.

Instead of opening your mouth and spouting out drivel and nonsense, you might have bothered to see that I own and support BOTH FORMATS.

I hope Adam sees his way into suspending your ignorant ass before you make more ridiculous comments.