Blu-ray movies, in the high-definition DVD format, currently cost around $25 when regular DVDs cost half of that. All that is about to change. The recession has hurt DVD sales, but it hurt the premium Blu-ray sales most. Tons of movies and TV shows on Blu-ray disks are languishing in warehouses. The Powers That Be have decided that after Christmas, the prices of many Blu-Ray disks will be lowered to $10! If you’ve seen Blu-ray movies, you know that the high-def detail is amazing. The factors that held me back from buying a Blu-ray player were the outrageous prices for Blu-ray DVDs and the high prices of the players. Now that the pricing will be affordable and the player prices have come down (Wal-Mart is selling a Blu-ray player for $79), I’ll be buying a Blu-ray player soon. I have an LG Blu-ray player pictured above, but I’m not recommending any particular brand right now. I’ll do more research and check some Blu-ray players out before I buy. But, I’ll let you know which brand I’ll be buying during the after Christmas sales as soon as I make a decision. You should think about buying a Blu-ray player, too!
George is like Circe, tempting us to more and more purchases.
Close your eyes and cover your ears, people!
😉
I’m just trying to do my patriotic duty to stimulate the economy, Jeff!
My hesitation is in the ability to rent blue ray DVDs from Netflix and our library. We don’t buy movies so does it still make sense? Is this an interim technology which will give way to direct loads of any movie onto your TV from your cable system. We are the people who bought eight track and similar missteps. So we have grown more cautious. My ears are open-for the moment.
As the price falls for Blu-ray disks, I predict a decline in the production of “regular” DVDs, Patti. I think Blu-ray will become the dominate DVD format so it makes sense to adjust now.
I don’t think I’ll be getting a Blu-Ray player because I think a big-screen TV is a pre-requisite and, unless my lotto number come up, that’s just not a top priority right now. On another blog, someone asked about movies that just screamed for the Blu-Ray treatment and one of the comments (not mine) was that buying a Blu-Ray player now is like buying a nuclear-powered buggy whip–a lot of technology for a dying form.
Patti–I still have an eight-track player (no eight-track tapes though) which is part of a large floor-model stereo system I got for high school graduation (1975). I still have a lot of videotapes too (I can’t upgrade everything to DVD). I suppose eventually I’ll be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
I bought my daughter a 24″ flat screen HDTV for $249, Deb. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have hi-def TV or to play Blu-ray movies.
Lots of interesting comments on an interesting topic (and here I am posting silly things like Christmas story collections on my blog today). Oh well.
I don’t have blu-ray and won’t soon. At least I don’t think I will. It depends on my Sony television set. The thing has an excellent analog picture, works great, seems like it will never give out. I bought it ten years ago and it may last another ten. I have a really hard time replacing something that works just fine, whether it’s a TV, automobile, telephone or toaster. When the ol’ Sony starts to give up the ghost I’ll shop for a replacement, and it will be flat screen, HD, 1020p (or more if there’s a newer, higher standard), with all the bells and whistles. That’s when I replace my CD player with Blu-ray. That’s also when I’ll have to deal with the two major issues I’ll have: space and wiring.
The cabinet in which the present set resides will not accommodate a 52″ flat screen. It’s a Craftsman-style piece of furniture not made for such a device. So it goes… where? I don’t know. This isn’t a big house. Then I have to figure out where to put the new TV. Then I have to figure out how to run the juice and wires to that location unless it’s where the current one is. As the saying goes, sufficient unto the day.
Deb – I don not believe DVD technology is a “dying form”
Patti – Netflix rents Blu-ray disks now.
You’re right about the domino effect that kicks in when you change something like your TV or stereo, Rick. There are plenty of considerations. Like you, I hate to abandon something that’s still working fine. Our Toshiba 32″ TV is rock solid and about as old as your SONY. I would hate to part with it, but the prices of HDTVs and the falling prices of Blu-ray players and disks is making the transition irresistible. And the viewing experience is far superior!
We don’t have any 8 tracks – indeed, we never did – but I still have a box in the closet with over 500 45’s dating to the late 1950’s. The first record I ever “bought” was “The Chipmunk Song” in 1958 – that’s “bought” in quotes as my mother got it for me. The first records I remember buying myself were in 1961-62.
I used to record my own 8-track tapes, Jeff. The process is similiar to “burning” an audio CD. A hi-fi store was willing to let anyone use their recording equipment provided you bought the blank 8-track tapes from them. I used to spend a whole afternoon recording songs off a dozen different vinyl albums. That was hi-tech back in the day…
Jeff – the first record I ever bought was “Tequila” by The Champs. I got rid of all my 45 rpm records years ago, and really don’t miss them, mostly because there’s no good way to play them. There are so many oldies collections on CD that I have most (at least the A sides) of what I did then anyway. My album vinyl has gone the same route.
I’ve got too many DVDs to switch now.
Blu-ray players play conventional DVDs too, Beth. But you might want the hi-def format for your future movie purchases. I plan on switching.
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