While the message of this posting will be brief, the underlying issue here speaks volumes of the high definition format war.

Since the launch of the Xbox 360 we've heard the issue of BR vs. HD-DVD time and time again.  But how will a winner be defined in this format war?  The customers will decide.  You will decide.  My wife will decide.

I've had a theory since the announcment of BluRay that because of the name alone, the majority of consumers will choose HD-DVD over BluRay simply because of the name.  This theory sounds elementary in nature, but comfort and consumer confidence is what drives our economy.  I decided tonight that I would test this theory.

10 minutes prior to posting this, I posed the question to my wife:

"Do you know what BluRay is?"  I asked.

"No," she replied.

I then asked, "What's HD-DVD?  Have you heard of that?"

"No, but I would guess that's High-Definition DVD."

"Good guess," I replied, "now let me ask you this.  Let's say we just bought our first HDTV.
Would you feel more comfortable purchasing a 400 dollar HD-DVD player?  Or a 400 dollar BluRay player?"

"A HD-DVD player," She said.

"Why?"

"Because I already know what that is," She replied.


Now how many times will this same thought process happen across the United States?  How many times do you go into an electronics store and want to be badgered and educated by the sales staff as to what's what?  Not many people, and customer service certainly isn't what it used to be in most cases.  In a Google world of self-education and comfy couch 'net shoppers, people buy what they're comfortable with.  You may not be this way, but we are the minority.  The majority of consumers buy their groceries, electronics, outdoor equipment, and clothing from the same store.  HD-DVD and BluRay will be in those stores.  Which do you think people will buy?


Just a thought.