Making the Switch to Blu-ray

The time has come to dust off my DVD rack and start fresh.

It appears that Sony has won the high-definition war. Toshiba has dropped their format out of the running and it looks like Blu-ray will take over as the accepted step up from DVD. While Blu-ray discs aren't yet flying off the shelves at the same rate as DVDs they are no doubtably picking up steam. Consumers can now buy Blu-ray with confidence now that Sony controls the entire market. I too have jumped on the Blu-ray bandwagon and have decided that it's time to clean house and embrace the new format.

I've been an avid DVD collector for roughly eight or nine years. I make it a habit to pick up the DVDs of films I enjoyed in theatres and would rather buy a movie than rent one. My collection is a humble one peaking around 150 flicks but I'm proud of the titles I've accumulated over the years. However, I feel it's time to let the majority of my collection go in an attempt to kick start my library of Blu-ray discs.



As of now roughly half of my DVD collection has been listed on eBay. I'm mostly selling the titles that can be replaced on Blu-ray or one's that I'm not very inclined to keep. I'm holding on to all my box-sets and my favourite films but I'll probably end up selling those as soon as I pick them up in high-def. I understand these eBay auctions won't make me anywhere close to the amount of money I spent on these DVDs over the years but that's just the way things work. I figure I'll make more selling them now than I would if I waited; the sooner the better. Selling my collection looks like a good idea right now but could easily backfire.

For starters, who says Blu-ray is going to be the format of the future? Sure, Sony has beaten HD DVD but who's to say another format, say digital downloads, won't come in and steal the spoils? I would hate to sell all my DVDs and end up with a sizable collection of discs from a a format no longer supported. While I'm confident that Blu-ray can stick around for the long haul I still have my doubts.

Has anyone else sold off their entire DVD collection yet and embraced Blu-ray disc? Where did you sell them? How many titles did you sell? Am I making a poor decision by selling my DVD collection? Post a comment and let me know.

You can view and bid on my eBay listings HERE.

Cheers.

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Cloverfield Blu-ray Speculation

Is Paramount overlooking the extras as it rushes to pump out a Cloverfield Blu-ray disc?

Paramount was well into the HD DVD development of their 2008 blockbuster hit Cloverfield and the studio was aiming for an April shelf-date. Over a month's work was put into HD special features including new story content and viral campaign back story. It now appears that these features may never see the light of day.



Due to the death of Toshiba's HD DVD format, and the end of their exclusivity agreement with Paramount, the movie studio is now scrambling to release Cloverfield on Blu-ray disc. However, Paramount plans to keep their original release date of April this year. Many are speculating that, due to time constraints, the disc will be a bare-bones affair with no special features to be found. Paramount is putting all of their resources towards bringing the film to Blu-ray and rumour has it they don't have the time to port over any additional content.

If this rumour is true it is a very disappointing one. I loved Cloverfield when I saw it in theatres but would probably refrain from buying a disc without any extras. I'll wait for the double-dip with all the special features if there is one.

Paramount may be trying to cash in on a double-dip with a special edition Blu-ray release somewhere down the line. Maybe the studio is simply waiting for Blu-ray 2.0 so that they can get the most out of their film. Whatever the case a bare-bones Cloverfield Blu-ray disc won't be a good thing. The movie is priority, don't get me wrong, but additional content can make or break a great DVD release.

Paramount plans to release Cloverfield on Blu-ray in April. Stay tuned to MediaZEALOT as we'll keep you posted on whether or not this rumour is fact or fiction.

Cheers.

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FILM: Sony names Blu-ray as winner over HD-DVD

Sony's Blu-ray for-the-win?

SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America) today realeased a few bits of information hoping to swing the Blu-ray/Toshiba HD-DVD war. Sony says that since the release of their gaming machine, the Playstation 3, Blu-ray Disc has undergone "tremendous growth in consumer adoption."

Sony stated that:

-Blu-ray has outsold HD-DVD in cumulative sales.
-Blu-ray titles outsold HD-DVD titles by more than two-to-one during the first week of January 2007.
-Blu-ray titles outsold HD-DVD titles by more than three-to-one during the second week of January 2007.



While some sites are stating that these tidbits of information declare the winner of the media war, I still believe that it's far from over. First off, Sony didn't release cumulative sales numbers, only the fact that they were selling more. The battle could be neck and neck or it could be a landslide, we're not sure. Second, the other stats released by Sony are VERY specific, and don't mean much when you look at the big picture.

I'm yet to pick sides in the HD-DVD/Blu-ray media war, I'll wait until the dust has settled and pick the victor. Until then I'll sit on the fence.

Cheers.

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