Thoughts from your average joe.

[bowl-o-rama]

just curious why you'd post how much money you make.

[Malanthius]

just curious why you'd post how much money you make.

Already answered this. To show where i stood as a consumer and to how it applies to my spending habits. Nothing more.

[zaphod]

Beleive me I was SERIOUSLY tempted. I would love to be able to get hold of Serenity and Batman Begins or the Bourne movies in High def.

But I think two formats is going to kill high def media. I dont see a way that they can both exist together. I think if this pointless war hasnt been settled by Christmas 2008 that they will both fail. and unfortnalely I think that is becoming increasingly the more likely outcome. I think the biggest thing stopping mass adoption is this silly little war.

No offense intended, really, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people here seem to believe that a few hundred early adopters with lots of disposable income on their hands going purple or not will decide the future of HDM or the outcome of this dick-measuring contest ... sorry, 'war'. If you like those movies and have the money, just do it. Don't worry, the influence on the outcome of this tiff will be nil. Meanwhile, you get to see all the great stuff you like in hidef, and as far as I'm concerned, that's what it's all about.

Oh and Malanthius, welcome to the madhouse

[DaveS1138]

No offense intended, really, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people here seem to believe that a few hundred early adopters with lots of disposable income on their hands going purple or not will decide the future of HDM or the outcome of this dick-measuring contest ... sorry, 'war'. If you like those movies and have the money, just do it. Don't worry, the influence on the outcome of this tiff will be nil. Meanwhile, you get to see all the great stuff you like in hidef, and as far as I'm concerned, that's what it's all about.

Oh and Malanthius, welcome to the madhouse

I can completely respect your opinion. And I agree with you in part that I dont think it may make a big difference at the moment, espcially after the SONY rep's comments today about the D**k Measuring contest being a stalemate I think the HD-DVD side have made a very strong push to come back from the dead in this race (before the Paramount buyout I was starting to think HD-DVD would fail over Christmas).

But I'm still not sure it will make no difference. Maybe after Christmas I will re-evaluate again and if it still looks like both sides are going to just kill each other off make the plunge and get as many HD-DVD discs as possible before they both fail. I really think that 3-4 years from now we may be back to upconverted SD-DVD and wishing this had all played out differently.

However, Serenity in particular I would love in HD It really wouldn't take much to push past my stuborness at the moment and go purple.

One problem is that I would prefer a 1080p player for HD-DVD (Yes I know the arguments from both sides on if that actually makes a difference or not) and they are still not cheap. Also with HD-DVD now having been offered at $98 I would feel bad going back to paying $200 for a 1080i model. The sale may be great for a weekend of sales but it makes people less likely to buy when they are back to their regular price.

[JLee]

I feel like I'm in the same boat as the OP. I consider myself a gadget-geek, but in my case, I can't afford to be an early adopter to everything I want.

I live in the midwest, married with one child and another on the way, have a mortgage, 2 cars (neither paid off), and definitely don't make $100K.

However, I have an HDTV (a 42" Samsung DLP, about 2 years old now), a 360, a Wii, a PSP, a PS2 (pretty much any game console you can think of).

I've wanted to jump into the HD realm for a while, but couldn't justify the cost. I'd like a PS3, and while I have the extra $400 right now to go get one, I could also use that extra money for Christmas shopping, fixing the washing machine that just sprung a leak last night, etc.

However, when I saw the A2 for $98 at Wal-Mart, my decision was made. That's too cheap to resist. In addition, I bought Planet Earth ($66 at Wal-Mart), Transformers ($29 at Target), Casino ($18 on sale at Best Buy) and Bourne Supremacy ($20 price match at Best Buy), plus I get 5 free movies. That's $231 for a player, 8 movies and a TV box set (I didn't see the $199 Best Buy deal until it was too late).

I have heard the argument that the people who are buying these sub-$100 players "don't care as much" about HD as the true "early adopters." That's absurd. We're still not in mass-market mode for HD players, be they Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. At that low of a price point, I feel comfortable finally jumping in - it doesn't matter what I can afford to do, it matters whether or not I feel the value is there for my money. At this time, I feel like HD-DVD offers far more value for the dollars spent.

I will get a PS3 at some point, so I really don't care so much what format "wins." I've already spent the money on the HD-DVD player and movies, so worst case scenario is I have a dedicated Planet Earth and Transformers player.

I'm just happy I can watch movies in HD.

[Rking4441]

Congrats and welcome.

[Malanthius]

I feel like I'm in the same boat as the OP. I consider myself a gadget-geek, but in my case, I can't afford to be an early adopter to everything I want.

I live in the midwest, married with one child and another on the way, have a mortgage, 2 cars (neither paid off), and definitely don't make $100K.

However, I have an HDTV (a 42" Samsung DLP, about 2 years old now), a 360, a Wii, a PSP, a PS2 (pretty much any game console you can think of).

I've wanted to jump into the HD realm for a while, but couldn't justify the cost. I'd like a PS3, and while I have the extra $400 right now to go get one, I could also use that extra money for Christmas shopping, fixing the washing machine that just sprung a leak last night, etc.

However, when I saw the A2 for $98 at Wal-Mart, my decision was made. That's too cheap to resist. In addition, I bought Planet Earth ($66 at Wal-Mart), Transformers ($29 at Target), Casino ($18 on sale at Best Buy) and Bourne Supremacy ($20 price match at Best Buy), plus I get 5 free movies. That's $231 for a player, 8 movies and a TV box set (I didn't see the $199 Best Buy deal until it was too late).

I have heard the argument that the people who are buying these sub-$100 players "don't care as much" about HD as the true "early adopters." That's absurd. We're still not in mass-market mode for HD players, be they Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. At that low of a price point, I feel comfortable finally jumping in - it doesn't matter what I can afford to do, it matters whether or not I feel the value is there for my money. At this time, I feel like HD-DVD offers far more value for the dollars spent.

I will get a PS3 at some point, so I really don't care so much what format "wins." I've already spent the money on the HD-DVD player and movies, so worst case scenario is I have a dedicated Planet Earth and Transformers player.

I'm just happy I can watch movies in HD.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Average Joe's across the planet I believe are also smart shoppers. When I was younger I jumped right on to the Panasonic DO. That system with a few games cost me a grand to start! Could I afford it? Obviously. I bought it. But I realize now It was kind of foolish spending on my part. I guess my priority's have changed. I do not believe I was part of the mainstream consumers back then.

This is why I think it was very smart for Toshiba to do this right now. That's how you penetrate a market that's going nowhere. Right before the biggest shopping days of the year you create a buzz. Then it starts the frenzy. Next thing you know you have a bunch of owners out there with shiny new players that have to have a new HD movie for their players. Guess what's going to be on their Christmas wish lists this year? Mines the Matrix Trilogy for starts!

I think if Sony COULD have matched this they would have. So it's either financially they couldn't, or pride wouldn't let them. I'm going to guess the latter. They have been known for having a pampas attitude from what I've read.

JLee, Movies look great don't they?! And has buying the A2 brought back that excitment you had when you got your first DVD player? It has for me. Looking for all the sales and deals. Picking through the release list for your first must haves. Now if we can just get an end to this war so Sony and friends can start releasing on to HD DVD!

[JLee]

JLee, Movies look great don't they?! And has buying the A2 brought back that excitment you had when you got your first DVD player? It has for me. Looking for all the sales and deals. Picking through the release list for your first must haves. Now if we can just get an end to this war so Sony and friends can start releasing on to HD DVD!

Yeah, it's outstanding. I bought my first DVD player in 1999 (with student loans!), and my first movie was the Matrix.

Popping in Transformers the other night gave me that same feeling as when I first watched that Matrix DVD - sure, I like the movie, but the experience was awesome!

Now I have the Ocean's movies on order as well as the Bourne Ultimatum, and I'm probably going to pick up the Bourne Identity after work. That is, if I haven't reached the limit of my wife's patience yet.

[Malanthius]

On a side note. Just to be fair. I see the PS3 @ $399.00 being a good deal. Especially with the free movie deals. But I also think that they had their chance and blew it. Did you all read the post where 360 sales beat PS3 in Japan for the first time? Was this confirmed? If it's true then PS3 will die a slow death. I never thought I'd hear the day of an XBOX beating a PS machine in Japan.

Also, I had a friend and one of my brother in-laws ask me if I heard about Blu-Ray over the weekend. They have seen all the commercials on TV. So the Disney/Blu-Ray Ad campaign seems to be working. Of course I educated my friend on the differences and similarities between the Blu vs HD formats. He went with the A3 player from BB. Brother In law didn't buy one. But he's always last when it comes to tech toys. He usually gets my hand me downs!

[Malanthius]

That is, if I haven't reached the limit of my wife's patience yet.

That's the real trick isn't it?