Many newspapers and television have talked about the two format wars of the next generation of DVD. This can be understood: the two formats are the world's well-known technology and film and television companies: Microsoft, HP, apple, DELL, Intel, SONY, Toshiba, Samsung, twentieth Century Fawkes, universal, Warner Brothers, paramount, MGM and so on.
After 18 releases of two formats of DVD devices, the problem still exists. Should ordinary users care about them? The answer to most of the consumers is "not yet." The two camp is still fighting for users' attention and money, some of which have announced preliminary success. Matsushita recently said that the blue light format it supports will become an undisputed champion. )
From now to 12, no one is sure whether the two formats are still in, so the occasional movie user is not investing in the two format DVD playback device. More importantly, many users think that the old DVD is quite good.
Film companies and hardware makers in the two camps have great hopes for their formats, but in the light of the scarcity of discs and players, the public posture of blue light and HDDVD over the past year is ridiculous.
For example, Warner brothers said the "300 warriors of Sparta", the best - selling next generation DVD film so far, sold 250 thousand disks in the first week of its sale.
At an industrial conference last week, Microsoft (HDDVD), SONY and pioneer (blue light) revealed that 65% of the "Sparta 300 warriors" were sold, with 65% in blue light and 35% for HDDV.
However, compared with the sale of more than 5 million DVD discs by Spartan 300 warriors, the sale of the next generation of DVD discs is simply not good enough. In terms of hardware, DisplaySearch's digital reality, only 5% of the DVD players sold in September were HDDVD or Blu ray players.
At present, both groups are selling their technology vigorously, but in fact, consumers can not get the benefits of HDDVD or Blu ray technology, because they do not have full HD 1080P TV.
"If you don't have a high-definition TV, then the sales of the new generation of DVD will be very different," said PaulErickson, research director of DisplaySearch. The benefits of the new generation of DVD depend mainly on 1080P TV, and now the sales momentum of 720P TV is still strong.
Luckily, the sale of HD TV is very good now. NPD group figures show that in August, 8 of the 10 televisions sold in the United States were high-definition televisions. The popularity of 1080P is also increasing. DisplaySearch's survey found that last year's 40 - inch and above - size LCD TV sales increased by more than 40%, and the TV's image was more than the 1080P resolution TV.
But, in its 2007 high definition video report, NPD points out that 73% of HDTVs are now satisfied with the quality of DVD, and they don't feel that they need to change their existing players.
Basically, DVD is good enough for most users. Many consumers already have the DVD machine. Even if not, the price of an ordinary DVD machine is much cheaper than that of HDDVD or Blu ray. Although the prices of two new players have been declining over the past 9 months, their average prices are more than 390 dollars above the average DVD.
JoshMartin, an analyst at Yankee Group, said: "DVD is the victim of its success. It's a great technology.
