Start Shopping For a Blu-Ray Disc Player

ballparent · Post by **ballparent** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:49 am

We've looked at these and the picture quality is great although they're still a little pricey.....but I wonder if I'll be able to find a combo machine that has Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS components. :shock:
Wal-Mart picks Blu-ray over HD DVD By MARCUS KABEL, AP Business Writer
Fri Feb 15, 6:28 PM ET

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has picked Blu-ray over HD DVD in the market battle for the format of high-definition video.

The nation's largest retailer said Friday it has decided to sell only Blu-ray DVDs and hardware in its 4,000 U.S. stores and no longer carry rival HD DVD offerings.

The announcement comes five days after Netflix Inc. said it will stop carrying rentals in Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD format and instead go exclusively with the rival Sony Corp. technology favored by five major movie studios.

Toshiba and Sony have been vying to set the standard for high-definition DVDs and players. The stakes are high because the winner will also get a boost in sales of DVD players needed to read the new format.

Several large retailers have come down on Blu-ray's side, including Target Corp. and Blockbuster Inc.

"We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," Gary Severson, head of home entertainment for Wal-Mart's U.S. stores, said in a statement.

Wal-Mart said it will phase out all HD DVD offerings by June. Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs membership warehouses will continue to sell standard definition movies and DVD players as well as converter technology.

Sony has taken a considerable lead in the format rivalry in recent months, gaining the endorsement of The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures, News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Viacom's Paramount Pictures, which also owns DreamWorks SKG, and Universal Pictures, a unit of General Electric, have opted to release films only in HD DVD.

Still, many consumers have held off on buying a high-definition DVD player until the dominant format is decided.

ballparent · Post by **ballparent** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:01 am

It's just wrong when the format of my movie player changes before I ever figure out how to program the one I have.

mohawkbaseball#1 · Post by **mohawkbaseball#1** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:49 am

ours cost about $500 but the picture is GREAT

IHSTiger81 · Post by **IHSTiger81** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:02 am

PS3's are Blu-Ray and the picture is awesome.

Philos_Finest · Post by **Philos_Finest** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:43 am

IHSTiger81 wrote:PS3's are Blu-Ray and the picture is awesome.

I agree

orange-n-brown 365 · Post by **orange-n-brown 365** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:57 pm

I've been seeing blue ray and I wondered what in the world it was heck I am out of the loop I just moderized my parents last year with a DVD player and they are still trying to figure it out they had just figured out the VCR :shock:

RamRodBulldogs44 · Post by **RamRodBulldogs44** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:58 pm

IHSTiger81 wrote:PS3's are Blu-Ray and the picture is awesome.

I agree with both of you! It's a game machine and you can watch movies. plus it is amazing.

ballparent · Post by **ballparent** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:00 pm

RamRodBulldogs44 wrote:
IHSTiger81 wrote:PS3's are Blu-Ray and the picture is awesome.

I agree with both of you! It's a game machine and you can watch movies. plus it is amazing.

OK, went surfing for prices and found a Sony Blu-ray machine on the Walmart site for $369.00 and they have the PS3 which is also Blu-ray for $399.00. Not shopping yet but when I do I'm thinking I might as well get the PS3.

orange-n-brown 365 · Post by **orange-n-brown 365** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:12 pm

good lord another gadget to buy!!