Reply #43: DVD is perfection for most people. Blu-ray will be a niche in that market.

[onehandle]

Meanwhile bandwidth is spreading out and storage is getting cheap, cheap, cheap.

And Every media company who can, is pushing buy and rent by demand.

Blu-ray discs are twice as expensive (or more) than DVDs and we are in a recession while technology keeps developing.

I think that by the time that the recession is over, set-top boxes will have hit blu-ray in the jugular. Except maybe for videophiles.

I think Blu-ray is the LaserDisc of our time. I still have a couple of hundred of LaserDiscs. Watch one once in a while.
(I have the Star Wars trilogy on LaserDisc and refuse to buy Lucas's new crap on DVD. Remaster the original films, George.)

I am pretty close to a videophile. I have a big-ass HD Sony and have viewed an upscaled DVD, Apple TV HD, and Blu-ray on it.

Let's say that Blu-ray is rated a 10. I would rate Apple TV an 8 or 9. And an upscaled DVD a 6 or 7. All depending on the title.

Most people (including often me) are happy with to blown away by an upscaled DVD.

The thing I really like about set-top boxes are minimal menus, no commercials, and nearly instant play.

I think the convenience alone will make downloadable media the champ sooner, rather than later.

The fight between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is over. Now it's all physical media against downloadable media.

I obviously don't have 56k. Few people do and the dial in numbers are being dropped like hot potatoes.