saitti.org

I’ve been getting quite a lot of feedback to my two-part rant about the format war. Since it’s obvious some people have difficulties in comprehending written text, I’d like to clear things up a bit.

Let’s do this the old-fashioned way, by the numbers.

1) I’m format neutral. I’m aware some readers have a difficult time believing and accepting this, but it’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. I have seven Blu-ray players and seven HD DVD players. I have 291 HD DVD titles and 296 Blu-rays in my ‘library’. I’m a fanboy of High Definition audio and video; I’m a fanboy of both formats - and neither, in some cases.

2) If you find bias for either format in my rants, you’re not thinking straight. You’re probably interpreting the text through tinted lenses and find pretty much everything I wrote offensive and an insult to your chosen format. Do you send angry emails to Nielsen or Forrester Research for publishing reports that paint your chosen format in less than perfect light? (If you do, you’re an idiot.)

3) In my rants, I laid out the facts and the reasoning behind my statement of “If Blu-ray wins, the consumer loses”. Since this was obviously more than enough to get blood boiling, most missed my main point while climbing the barricades: I love both formats to bits and don’t want to see either format die out. I firmly believe there’s room for two competing HDM formats on this planet. (Why not three? Bring on HD VMD!) I also believe competition between the two camps is good for the consumer. What I don’t believe, however, is that killing one format is enough to get the masses off their arses and into stores to buy HD players and media. I’ve seen way too many bleak polls and analyst reports to believe that.

4) What I probably should have written: “If either format dies, the consumer loses”. Then continue with “…but if we’re forced to make a choice, we’re slightly better off with HD DVD.” No, stupid, I’m not comparing technical specs. Blu-ray as a whole has too much ‘excess baggage’ hidden behind the scenes. It’s too crucial for Sony as a company. It’s definitely less consumer friendly of the two formats with its draconian DRM and region coding. Also, what the hell is Pioneer doing, releasing a slow-as-molasses Profile 1.0 player 18 months after format launch with a price tag of 1600 Euros?! The mind boggles.

5) Format zealots: I hate you all. The worst thing, by far, caused by the format war is the rise of format zealots, foaming-in-the-mouth fanboys who abandon all reason and logic in defence of their chosen format. What’s in it for you, fanboys? Is it the bragging rights and infantile “HA HA, my format won, yours lost, nyah nyah!” shouting once the other format is killed off? Do you think you’ll get a nice big check in the mail and a pat on the head? 72 virgins…? Whatever the reason, fuck you very much indeed.