Quoting Calidain:

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However DVDs themselves were wonderfully priced from the very beginning, unlike some of the ridiculously priced BDs out there now!!!

At least here they cost twice as much as VHS. Pretty much the same as BR costs now.

Quoting nolesrule:

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How soon we forget the history of DVD.

...or CD, which was made by Sony & Philips.

...or the much critizied MD (cause usually people that didnt use one thought it was supposed to replace CD), which was The best portable player for a decade.

Quoting Bill Hunt:

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I was thinking last night about how HD-DVD fans must be feeling right now, in the wake of Warner's announcement of their intent to go Blu-ray only later this year. We've gotten more than a few e-mails from them over the last 24 hours, as you might imagine, and they're understandably feeling a bit down right now. I have to say, however, that with just a few exceptions, they've been very classy today in accepting what most of them acknowledge is the defeat of their preferred format with good grace.

Given that, I think it would be wise at this point for the Blu-ray Disc Association and its member studios and manufacturers to make a peace offering of sorts to HD-DVD supporters. Warner and the rest of the BDA should make some kind of offer to HD-DVD enthusiasts that would allow them to exchange a few of their HD-DVD discs for Blu-ray versions of the same titles, or to provide some kind of additional discount on Blu-ray players to those who have purchased HD-DVD players prior to December 31st 2007, to help them migrate to Blu-ray more easily and painlessly. It would be a nice gesture. It's not like both camps aren't giving tons of free discs away already in "buy one get one free" offers. It might cost the BDA a little up front, but the goodwill it would generate among enthusiasts would be worth the expense, I think. It would be a nice way to welcome HD-DVD consumers into the Blu-ray fold, and it's a way to help put this format war foolishness - and the acrimony that it's inspired online - behind us. It's worth considering.

Quoting stefc:

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Quoting pplchamp:

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Quoting Bill Hunt:

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Warner and the rest of the BDA should make some kind of offer to HD-DVD enthusiasts that would allow them to exchange a few of their HD-DVD discs for Blu-ray versions of the same titles, or to provide some kind of additional discount on Blu-ray players to those who have purchased HD-DVD players prior to December 31st 2007, to help them migrate to Blu-ray more easily and painlessly.

Yes Warner can you replace my HD DVD copies of Batman Begins, Casablanca and Forbidden Planet, and maybe upgrade my DVD Ultimate Matrix Trilogy (as a goodwill gesture) to the superior Blu Ray format please? Oh wait.... 

LOL

So which Warner titles are HD DVD exclusive that I should pick up before they disappear? I don't feel like waiting for the Blu versions, they won't look better anyway...

Looks like I'm only missing Batman Begins and Forbidden Planet then...

And I don't have a BD 1.1 compliant player anyway, so Matrix on HD DVD is definetely a keeper.

Quoting Calidain:

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No matter how manner supporters or original members of the BDA you list, it will be Sony who profits the most from Blu-Ray winning this format war!!!  They are the big money players in the BDA, all the other CE companies are minor players!!!

Just because you people continue to spout rhetoric about Sony doesn't make it true (and believe me, I'm not fan of Sony as a CE company). Many of the CE companies are just as involved and invested as Sony is, and have as much, if not more to gain.

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DVD did not have a competing format however so you are comparing apples to oranges!!!  DVD players took several years to drop in price and DVD seriously took off when the cheap chinese players hit the street.  However DVDs themselves were wonderfully priced from the very beginning, unlike some of the ridiculously priced BDs out there now!!!

DVDs were priced ok in 1997 and 1998, but they certainly were not wonderful. DVDs were generally MSRPd for $25-35 and could be found in retail for up to 20% off the MSRP. It wasn't for a couple years after launch that all those places had the firesales and coupons that put many retailers out of business, which isn't going to be repeated.

As for apples and oranges, the original complaint was that now that there is no competition, BD had no incentive to lower prices. I think DVD is a valid comparison in that regard.

Here's a list of the Warner titles that are currently exclusive to HD DVD (in the US). Let me know if I missed any.

The Adventures of Robin Hood
Batman Begins
Caddyshack
Casablanca
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Constantine
Dukes of Hazzard
Excalibur
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet: Ultimate Collector's Edition
Grand Prix
Justice League: The New Frontier
The Complete Matrix Trilogy
The Ultimate Matrix Collection
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Perfect Storm
Poseidon
Smallville: The Complete Fifth Season
V for Vendetta
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Quite a few gems among them. Pick them up while they last, if you don't want to wait for a re-release on Blu-ray... Keep in mind BD 1.1 or higher might be required for the full experience of some titles on Blu-ray.