Why HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Have Already Failed

Audioholics,.com has an article up entitled 10 Reasons Why High Definition DVD Formats Have Already Failed.

The list makes some compelling arguments about how the format wars currently going on between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are going to end up making them nothing more than niche players like DVD-Audio and SACD.

Personally, even as a fan of new technology, I’m not interested in either format because I can’t find enough compelling reasons to go with a more expensive format than DVD right now.

Sure, we’re told about how great the technology is and how much more space for content the discs have, but I already see DVDs with plenty of space left over because the studios tend to avoid extra content whenever possible outside of hideously expensive “collector editions” released several months after the original disc.

Video of the Day: Nap of the Earth Flight

YouTube has a stunning video posted of low-level jet flight that ought to raise a few hairs on the back of your neck.

If the part where the pilot is checking his map while flying at two hundred miles an hour less than a hundred feet of the ground over the african plains doesn’t bring a sense of thrill, then nothing will.

Consumerist: Price-matching With Online Stores

The Consumerist has a short little rant from one reader who complains that his local CompUSA refuses to price match online competitors.

According to Rick, the CompUSA has Linksys NSLU2 network storage drives for $100, whereas popular online-only retailer Newegg advertises the product at $83.99.

Most brick-and-mortar retail stores have price matching policies that only allow matching offers made for products advertised and available from other local retailers, which the writer of the Consumerist rant obviously doesn’t agree with. The article then goes on to state: “Brick and mortar’s will become ash and dust unless they step up and match or beat online undercutters.”

The only problem is that no one at the Consumerist bothered to check that realistically, the in-store deal is better if we’re talking about comparable service. Yes, the product is $84 at Newegg, but even with next-day shipping, the total comes to $102. So for a few dollars more in sales tax, Rick will be able to go home immediately with his product, rather than wait one (or more, as Newegg doesn’t always immediately ship your orders) day to get what he’s already looking at.
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