commentary Sony's PlayStation 3 chances for total next-gen domination received an important boost in Australia this week, and it wasn't even something related to games. The news that major retailer
It's a long way off before we can call a winner in the Blu-ray/HD DVD stoush, but the exclusive support of one of Australia's fastest growing tech retailers is nothing to be sneezed at. JB Hi-Fi is emerging as a true behemoth in the Aussie market, with its most recent half-year net profit announced this week showing an impressive jump of 39 percent from the same period a year before.
Consumers seeing nothing but Blu-ray titles at JB stores will do a world of good for the PlayStation 3 when it comes out here on 23 March. The PlayStation 3 is expensive -- especially compared to the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii -- but the visible presence of Blu-ray films will do a lot to ease the financial question marks hovering over potential PS3 buyers' heads. Sony has long plugged the PS3 as a multimedia beast that isn't just about games. And by now, most consumers will be aware that part of the reason behind that hefty price tag is the inclusion of a Blu-ray drive in the console. A PS3 sitting next to a healthy number of Blu-ray movies at a retailer like JB Hi-Fi certainly adds to the appeal, as it makes the PS3's Blu-ray drive seem like less of a superfluous add-on to a gaming machine and more of a compelling feature.
Of course, winning the support of one retailer doesn't win the format war. But it does spell good news for the PS3. And for a console that's a year behind and hundreds of dollars more expensive than its competitors, any good news is welcome.
How significant is JB Hi-Fi's Blu-ray move for the PS3? Will this hurt the Xbox 360 and HD DVD? Tell us your opinion below!
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Momaw
15/02/2007 09:45 PM
JB lost me as a customer with this news. Who are they to tell me I can't buy HD DVD.
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BiTch
15/02/2007 11:58 PM
Good news I hate this whole format war its stupid. Sooner Blu-ray wins the better
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Do your Job JB
16/02/2007 12:27 AM
Sony always try to force their format upon us. JB HiFI are simply idiots for doing this.
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Jaso69
16/02/2007 01:02 AM
I have heard a rumor that Blue-ray has been dumped by the film industary as a whole because of copyright problems and the ease the disks can be damaged
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God
16/02/2007 08:42 AM
It is quite stupid, there is no assurence that Blu Ray is going to win, and they will miss out on customers. They also are trying to push the technology on undecided people.
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razmo
16/02/2007 09:15 AM
JB is lame, probably got some sweetner from Sony
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crisitunity
18/02/2007 07:44 PM
JB used to be about stocking titles no one else had and at the cheapest prices. Now they are just mainstream rather than specialist and their prices have gone sky high! :(
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JB_Sony
19/02/2007 04:26 PM
Go JB!! Go Sony!!
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mackintal34
22/02/2007 08:10 PM
The Blu-Ray format is much better then the HD-DVD format with significantly more storage (54Gb dual layer, as compared to 30Gb for HD-DVD) Thanks JB, keep up the good work!
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Techrules.
25/02/2007 11:58 PM
JB You've Done it Again!
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Dean
27/02/2007 03:24 PM
wouldnt it be better for them to stock both if half people buy blu ray and the other half by hd dvd they will only get half the money they could. VHS BETA hmmmmmmmmm did'nt sony make BETA ??? what about them UMD things wit the PSP's havent the majority of studios stopped making them. I'd wait until the war is over.
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willy
05/03/2007 12:08 PM
Well i just read an article saying that the porn industry is baking HD-DVD in america and we no that vhs was backed by them wen betamax dropped away
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bvl
04/06/2007 06:31 PM
heres a thought-will jb still sell hd-dvd PLAYERS???
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