Study: Consumers Prefer HD DVD Over Blu-Ray

[Ruined]

Study: Consumers Prefer HD DVD Over Blu-Ray

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=19223

An analysis of online discussions on next generation DVD formats HD DVD and Blu-Ray gives the early edge to HD DVD. Cited as reasons are the lack of consumer trust in Sony, as well as gamer displeasure with selling Blu-ray in association with PlayStation 3.

Cymfony, a market influence analytics company, issued a Consumer Opinion and Trends report, "A Blue Christmas for Blu-ray," examining consumer market perception of next-generation high-definition video platforms HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

According to the study, positive discussions about HD DVD are 46% higher than Blu-ray, with over twice as many post authors stating being "impressed with HD DVD" versus "impressed with Blu-ray". Negative Blu-ray conversation indicates lack of consumer trust in Sony, as well as gamer displeasure with selling Blu-ray in association with PlayStation 3, according to the research.

 

[RobertR1]

There's a new "study" like this every month with conflicting results. We'll all be here to see what happens. CES should be interesting........

 

[pcchen]

I think the information is not very useful. Most consumers don't post in internet discussion forums (at least not actively). So saying consumers prefer HD DVD over Blu-Ray from the statistics of internet discussion forums doesn't seem to be very persuasive.

IMHO the biggest advantage of HD DVD is the name. Telling anyone "this is a HD DVD player" it would be instantly recognized as a better, high definition DVD. However, what is "Blu-Ray?" It requires explanation.

Another advantage of HD DVD is the back of DVD Forum. It enables hybrid disks which is compatible to both DVD and HD DVD. A Blu-Ray disk would require permission from DVD Forum to do so, and, the technical difficulties prevent it from happening anyway.

The cost advantage of HD DVD is also good, but not as significant. The ability to share the manufacturing equipments is nice, but it's not really that important.

On the other hand, the advantages of Blu-ray are mostly technical, including the larger capacity, the hard, anti-scratch coating, etc. Whether PS3 is an advantage remains to be seen. Considering the current production rate of PS3, it doesn't seem to be a big advantage, if at all.

Although some people argue that a "hybrid" player means the consumers have lost (for being have to pay for both formats unnecessarily), I still think this is the most probable outcome.