Now that it appears that BluRay has won the format war for high-definition video storage, many consumers are feeling left out in the cold, having purchased expensive HD DVD format high-definition video players. But luckily, some of these early adopters may soon get some relief, as several “big box” retailers are preparing to offer cash credits to consumers who purchased HD DVD players through them.
Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and now even Amazon.com are offering $50 credits to early adopters who backed the losing format in the “high def war.” Amazon’s offer will be available through April of 2009, and applies to purchasers of HD DVD players bought before February 23rd of this year.
News.com is reporting that Amazon is concerned about protecting their relationship with consumers, though it also makes good financial sense to offer HD DVD buyers a discount, as they will likely need to purchase a new player in the very near future. Toshiba and other manufacturers of HD DVD players have announced they will stop producing the units, ensuring that the HD DVD format will all but vanish within the next year, and new video titles available in the format will become increasingly hard to find.
Still, many consumers are feeling that they have been “hoodwinked” by the format war, and resent spending hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars on a soon-to-be extinct format. The $50 credit to consumers may go a long way toward smoothing over some of the bad feelings HD DVD purchasers have, but there’s no denying that many early adopters (who purchased HD DVD technology at premium prices) are sure to be left feeling bitter about the experience.
Also, a $50 credit is not very much consolation to someone who has spent $2000 on a state-of-the-art HD DVD system. At the end of the day, what Amazon and the other retailers are offering is very similar to the IRS’s “stimulus package” to taxpayers: it’s nice to have, but it’s not going to make a lot of difference in any family’s long-term financial situation.
Back in the 1980s there was a similar format war between Betamax and VHS. As we all know, VHS won out, and the Betamax format (though clearly technically superior) was resigned to the dustbin of history. Oddly enough though, working Betamax machines often command astronomical prices on auction these days. Could it be worth while to hold on to your HD DVD player for 10 or 20 years in hopes of auctioning it off for big bucks? You never know. But one thing is for certain — in 10 or 20 years and HD DVD machine will be a rarity indeed.
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