Tag: Blu-ray

Why Warner Bros. Swapping HD DVDs for Blu-ray Discs Won’t Work

April 22, 2009April 22, 2009 Bob Caswell 2 Comments

HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Warner Brothers had come up with a slick promotion to get some much needed buzz around Blu-ray. My consensus: great idea but flawed execution. Here’s how it works (and why it won’t work):

You send in the cover art sleeve (keep the disc) and the UPC from your HD DVD movies. And for $4.95 per movie, plus $6.95 S&H per order, you’ll be sent back brand new Blu-ray copies of any movies you have in HD DVD. There are a few restrictions (only 1 copy per movie and only up to 25 movies per household) but nothing really that prohibitive.

Amazon, Internet, Media, Netflix, Shopping, Sony, Tech News

Blu-ray Movies Now Affordable. Players? Not So Much.

May 29, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 2 Comments

An Amazon promotion good through June 9 has over 100 Blu-ray movies in the $14 to $20 range (with many around $14-$15). I thought this would be a good time to revisit getting into Blu-ray. The last time I checked out Blu-ray pricing on Amazon (my quick and dirty benchmark), the Playstation 3 was still the best deal.

Amazon, Gaming, Media, Tech News

Amazon Giving $50 Credit to Its HD DVD Buyers

April 9, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 5 Comments

Amazon I purchased my HD DVD player with 10 movies for $174 way back in November. Today, to my surprise, I received the email below. This is much better than the company’s first attempt at treating me as a “valued HD DVD customer” and comes after Best Buy made a similar move. In related news, Amazon also has a Buy 2 Get 1 Free Blu-ray movie promotion happening right now.

Amazon, Media, Tech News

Sony Thinks Blu-ray Will Sell Like DVD by End of 2008

April 8, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 4 Comments

Blu-ray Sony CEO Ryoji Chubachi knows something we don’t. At a press conference a few days ago, he pointed out Sony’s plan to increase Blu-ray market share to 50% by the end of the year. How is this possible you might ask? Well, apparently new Blu-ray devices to be offered by Sony will include a model integrated into an HD LCD TV with Blu-ray recording functionality.

Gaming, Media, Sony, Tech News

Amazon’s Attempt at Helping Its HD DVD Customers

March 22, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 9 Comments

Earlier this week Best Buy announced that it would offer $50 gift cards to its customers that purchased HD DVD players before February 23. Not only that, the company is giving some trade-in value for HD DVD players or movies, regardless of where they were purchased. Apparently Amazon wanted in on the good PR and has come up with its own way to hook up its HD DVD customers.

Here’s the deal I was emailed from Amazon since I’m a “valued HD DVD customer.” Links are placed exactly as they were in the email:

Amazon, Media

Best Buy Giving $10 Million in Gift Cards to HD DVD Buyers

March 19, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 6 Comments

Best Buy Gift Card Best Buy is giving $50 to anyone who bought an HD DVD player from Best Buy before February 23. The company said that customers “won’t have to do anything to receive their gift card.”

The gift cards will be mailed out automatically to all customers Best Buy can identify as having purchased an HD DVD player (like online customers or members of its rewards program). Any other customers can get their gift card with proof via a receipt or credit card. See below for full press release.

Amazon, Media, Tech News

Blu-ray in the News: High Prices & No Microsoft Love

March 13, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 6 Comments

Blu-ray Since Blu-ray became the next generation movie disc format of choice, the consumer supposedly has been better off. But Tom’s Hardware claims that prices of Blu-ray players are higher than ever and that now, in fact, is the worst time to buy.

Interesting. I’ve been tracking Blu-ray vs. HD DVD player pricing for the past year via Amazon and hadn’t noticed any recent increases. As of today, the Blu-ray players on Amazon are priced in the same range they’ve always been: the mid to high $300’s. Right now the cheapest Blu-ray player on Amazon is this Samsung for $357. I’ve seen it $20 cheaper, but I’ve also seen it more expensive.

Media, Microsoft, Sony, Tech News

Amazon Drops Price of HD DVD Player to $99, Upconvert DVD w/ Free Movies?

February 21, 2008August 20, 2008 Bob Caswell 21 Comments

HD DVD For anyone keeping score since Blu-ray won the next generation movie battle, HD DVD players are now $99. And that’s with 7 movies included. Considering these players also work well as upconvert DVD players (DVD players that convert and play regular DVDs at a slightly higher picture quality), in some ways, it’s actually the best deal on the market if you’re looking for a good DVD player.

Amazon, Gaming, Media, Sony, Tech News