A.J.'s Corner of the Webverse: Putting the cart before the horse....

This latest bout of gadget envy came about by my latest visit to Best Buy for the latest release of 300. Imagine my non-surprise at seeing all three formats (DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray) within a few dollars of each other (it's not like I haven't been surfing their site, after all). Not only that, but there was a whole whack of hi-def titles on sale for $19.99! Heck, that's about as much as I normally pay for a used DVD nowadays....if not for the fact that the used DVD stores (all three of them now) also sell used hi-def discs for $14.99-19.99!

Players are slowly getting cheaper too...tigerdirect.ca is selling the latest HD-DVD player at $219.99 (refurbished, but still). As for Blu-ray, well, I've always said that if I were getting a Blu-ray player, I might as well get the Playstation 3. Which is a no-brainer since I've always had a Playstation and this one is a sure buy, so for sure I *will* be going Blu-ray. Given that there was a PS3 price drop (now $549 from $699) combined with the occasional $50 coupon from Best Buy, a "player" can be had at $499. Not bad.

But, of course, purchasing such a unit is hands-off at this point. However, thanks to this latest announcement, I might very well be starting to buy the software even before I get the player:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R2VT2ECILZ4O3B

Yes, my friends, geeks everywhere now have nipples that can cut diamonds.

It would have been okay to wait until I get a player if not for that limited edition version of the thing. These typically sell out faster than, well, fast. Sometimes even pre-orders don't get filled if they don't have enough.

So, cart-before-horse moment. What should A.J. do?

(1) A.J. will not buy any more standard DVD's unless they are super-cool limited edition stuff (like Alien heads or has bonus material not available in the hi-def disc). If I have to spend money, I might as well spend it wisely (laughter can suddenly be heard all around the world).

(2) A.J. will not also buy any hi-def discs before he gets a hi-def player unless: (a) he finds a really good deal on a movie that deserves to be on hi-def (like Batman Begins), or (b) there is a limited edition of a movie that deserves to be on hi-def that is in very real danger of selling out. Pre-orders can always be cancelled and they will not charge your credit card anyways until it is actually shipped. Sites like Best Buy and Amazon even adjust your price downward if it becomes cheaper.

(3) Seeing as it is a question of "when" and not "if" he will get a Playstation 3, A.J. will only stick to buying Blu-ray discs. This way, even if HD-DVD wins this format war, my possession of the Playstation 3 will guarantee that I will be able to play these discs.

Now what if a limited edition of a hi-def deserving movie came out only in HD-DVD, you may ask?

We shall cross that bridge when we come to it. Finnegan has decreed.