Apple on Blu-Ray, Touch Screen Displays, Netbooks

[SactoGuy18]

However, while MacOS X is built on a open platform, much of its code "above it" is still very proprietary--it's not a true "open" operating system in the same sense that Linux or some BSD variants are.

I still think we did not see Blu-ray on the Macbooks and Macbook Pros due to power issues, especially with the power consumption of the system when the GPU has to decode h.264 video and the power consumption of Blu-ray optical drives that can fit into notebooks. Because iMacs and Mac Pros don't have this issue (not to mention a lot more space to fit in circuitry to support full HDCP!), I still am expecting Apple to show at Macworld SF in January 2009 iMacs and Mac Pros with built-in Blu-ray drives.

 

[overcast]

However, while MacOS X is built on a open platform, much of its code "above it" is still very proprietary--it's not a true "open" operating system in the same sense that Linux or some BSD variants are.

I still think we did not see Blu-ray on the Macbooks and Macbook Pros due to power issues, especially with the power consumption of the system when the GPU has to decode h.264 video and the power consumption of Blu-ray optical drives that can fit into notebooks. Because iMacs and Mac Pros don't have this issue (not to mention a lot more space to fit in circuitry to support full HDCP!), I still am expecting Apple to show at Macworld SF in January 2009 iMacs and Mac Pros with built-in Blu-ray drives.

Oh yeh, that's it, you figured it out. Let's chalk it up to "power consumption" again. LOL. You're right, NO other laptop manufacturer has figured out the Blu-Ray drive power consumption quandary yet.

 

[Spymit007]

Iron Man did well because it appealed to the only demographic that, thus far, has bought into Blu-ray: gamers. It does not appear to have taken off in any serious way outside of the gaming community.

If your statement is correct, I must be in the minority because I am not a gamer, I am someone who sees the value in viewing television or a movie in 1080 resolution. Also, a few of my friends who are also not gamers but have invested in HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and nice speakers must be in the minority as well. That's the danger with making such blanket statements. Not everyone can be pigeon-holed into a certain group to satisfy someone's argument.

To me, it seems logical that Blu-ray wouldn't take off in the gaming community but rather the audio/videophile community who yearn for the best home theater setup. Again, I'm basing this only on my own personal views and what I see around me in that most of the people who I know who have invested in Blu-ray are not gamers.

 

[Adjei]

*bangs head on desk*

How can the customer see benefits of an HD television WITHOUT an HD SOURCE?

Dude it's irrelevant, most consumers are not concerned about the HD picture, to them, there is not that much of a difference between HD and SD. The only reason that they have bought into the idea is because the prices have come down, larger television sizes, and effective marketing to convince consumers that there is a difference to watching HD.

 

[Adjei]

Do not wasted your time.. I bet he's not old enough to have a job or buy HDTV.. We all know that if you walk into any store that sells TV, all you see is HDTV no SDTV.. Also he has no clue about any thing because High Internet Providers are now adding caps on how much you can download (bandwidth).. That means if you have VOIP thats not by the Internet Provider that cuts into your bandwidth use long with streaming, downloading large files (no kiddy lol) and playing online games..

Downloading is not going be the best way no matter how you look at it.. Blu-ray is the way to go because it be safer and cheaper in the long run.. I am sorry but I am not going to pay more just to download HD movies or SD for that matter...

(for Adjei) Oh and every local channel is in HD here where I live long with SATHD or Cable HD... Oh it only cost $10 more to get HD channels or free it you use over the air. HD channels are there from Cable and Sat and $10 to get HD is cheap...

So you need to be old enough or have a job in order to know what HDTV is?

 

[Adjei]

i would like to give adjei an award...
biggest fanboy ever?
i mean i saw u in many threads always pro apple and u never doubt or criticize apples decisions...
and i dont think that mediums like dvds or blue ray will just vanish in 5years.
didnt some people say that books would vanish due to computer and internet and its nowhere near that...
and remember dvd used to be expensive as well... blue ray discs price will drop drastically within a year

Thanks for the award.

 

[Adjei]

I really, really hope that Apple releases a netbook tomorrow so I can watch your fanboy attitude change tomorrow about how netbooks are so great, etc.

I wouldn't give a damn and won't be buying one, I don't need to be squinting like my eyes to browse the web like I do on the ipod touch.

 

[peharri]

If your statement is correct, I must be in the minority because I am not a gamer

That's correct. You are in a minority. I hate to point it out, but look at the last couple of week's Blu-ray sales figures to figure out how much.

Two weeks ago, Paramount released Iron Man. This was one title to add to the thousand or so Blu-ray titles out there. It, unlike many BD discs, was released at the same time as the DVD version - in other words, sales were not artificially high because people were replacing old DVDs

Blu-ray's sales jumped 150%. That is to say, around 70% of all Blu-ray discs sold that week were copies of Iron Man.

One title.

And not a generic "appeals to everyone" title either. A blockbuster perhaps, but just a standard superhero movie. Many people saw it, but the numbers who want to buy it, full price, as soon as it comes out are relatively small.

Now think about that again. That week, people were replacing their old DVDs with BDs. They were buying other recent releases. But despite that, it was a minority of people who bought anything other than Iron Man. Iron Man sold more copies than every other movie put together.

So yes, if you're not a 15-25 year old gamer, and you're into Blu-ray, you are, very much, a minority. Worse still, you're a minority of a minority, 'cos Blu-ray owners aren't exactly a large group at the moment.

To me, it seems logical that Blu-ray wouldn't take off in the gaming community but rather the audio/videophile community who yearn for the best home theater setup. Again, I'm basing this only on my own personal views and what I see around me in that most of the people who I know who have invested in Blu-ray are not gamers.

90% of all Blu-ray players are Playstation 3s. The highest install base of Blu-ray is amongst gamers, many of whom don't even care.

I'm sure if you did a survey of HD DVD owners, you'd get the audio/videophile community dominating. But trust me, audio/videophiles are not that interested in frickin' Iron Man. Blade Runner, 2001, Planet Earth... yeah. Generic Comicbook Adaptation - no. Not what you get into HD for.

 

[Spymit007]

Well I think everyone has made interesting and compelling points for and against Blu-ray. I'm not going to dispute any facts or figures or try to come up with my own other than what I've already posted. I'll just end by summarizing what I think will happen in the long run.

Although people can buy a DVD player now for under $100, in the long run, most people who can afford it, won't want to buy yesterday's technology. When their current DVD player breaks or they simply want to get a new player for any reason, they'll opt for the Blu-ray player. Don't forget that Blu-ray players are backwards compatible with DVDs so there is no need to replace an existing DVD collection.

Prices on Blu-ray players and discs will continue to fall, making them more accessible and desirable to the mainstream. Yes, I am a minority now but it feels like our numbers are growing. I can't think of any reason not to think that this will be the case. Again, we're all just going to have to wait and see.

 

[Cave Man]

So yes, if you're not a 15-25 year old gamer, and you're into Blu-ray, you are, very much, a minority.

Yeah, I sure don't fit this group. But I sure make more money than most 15-25 year olds and, unfortunately, can afford this expensive Blu-Ray crap.

But I gotta tell you, that 1080p coming from my Sanyo projector sure is nice, especially in DTS.

 

[cherry su]

If you decode it properly, Jobs left us a clue...

"a nascent market that’s just getting started, really."

becomes...

"a......ce........r...t...a.................in...t...............y."

You just have to know how to read these things.
Steve's clever. Tricky. Devious.
A run-of-the-mill type genius.

You really know how to read between the lines…erm…letters!

 

[captnfun]

Well, it helps that the price of Blu-ray players have finally dropped well under US$300. You can get the excellent Sony BDP-S350 for under this price from several different retailers.

Also, the price of Blu-ray discs are much less expensive, as noted by the much lower prices of recent BR two-disc releases such as Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

I would not be surprised that at Macworld Expo in January 2009 we see the first iMacs and Mac Pro desktops sporting Blu-ray drives, especially now that both the next-generation iMac and Mac Pro machines sport graphics chips that fully decode h.264 video with full HDCP support. Apple didn't provide Blu-ray support for their notebooks probably due to chipset cost issues and the fact current BR reader drives that could fit in a laptop still consume too much power.

I think when Apple does include Blu-Ray it will come out across the board. An "Apple goes Blu' event or something like that. MacWorld could be possible, but Blu-Ray would need a record setting Holiday season to get Steve to chomp on his words that soon.

We know that the slimline drives exist because they are in the new Sony Vaio TT, seems like a modern graphics chipset like the NVidia should be able to handle the tasks of Blu-Ray. Seem like the Issue is software.

Is there anything else preventing apple from throwing in the optical drive and having it work?

 

[phornak]

I think when Apple does include Blu-Ray it will come out across the board. An "Apple goes Blu' event or something like that. MacWorld could be possible, but Blu-Ray would need a record setting Holiday season to get Steve to chomp on his words that soon.

We know that the slimline drives exist because they are in the new Sony Vaio TT, seems like a modern graphics chipset like the NVidia should be able to handle the tasks of Blu-Ray. Seem like the Issue is software.

Is there anything else preventing apple from throwing in the optical drive and having it work?

No.

Blu-Ray - "It’s great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we’re waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace."

When Apple first introduced an iPod with a color screen there were similar remarks during the keynote to address the fact there was no video support. The remarks referenced complex licensing etc. Soon after there was video available on the iPod. The Macbook and Macbook Pro updates were great but I think they have to save something for January. Sony and even Dell have overcome all of the obstacles for using Blu-ray in laptops and Apple will too. Eventually it will be the standard due to the upper range of it's storage capacity (50GB).