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I didn't really see the new format taking off, but having seen the picture quality (on the PSP demo disc), now I'm not so sure! It really is superb. I can't help but wonder if there will be third-party UMD players available in the future. For a movie on the move, it's better than a portable DVD player. But a portable DVD player has the edge, simply because you already own the disc to play in it.
Anyway, what I'd like to see in future is some form of combo available when buying a DVD. A combined DVD/UMD pack would be ideal, either at no extra cost, or for a few quid extra. Or maybe some form of coupon to send away for the UMD version.
If I had the choice of buying a DVD for £13.99 or a DVD+UMD combo for £15.99, I would take the combo pack.
It is a great format, and I'd love for it to succeed. However, currently a UMD movie is no use unless you have a PSP, and to be honest, I can't see many people buying a movie on both formats at the same price.
Yes, I know you can rip a DVD and put it on a Memory Stick, but there are people who are not technically minded enough to do so. There will even be PSP owners who don't have PCs, so for them it isn't an option.
In my opinion, Sony need to push UMD hard by either 'giving them away' with the DVD version, or at least drastically reducing the price of UMD movies to around a fiver.
Chances of any of this happening? Probably very slim. But we can hope.
I didn't really see the new format taking off, but having seen the picture quality (on the PSP demo disc), now I'm not so sure! It really is superb. I can't help but wonder if there will be third-party UMD players available in the future. For a movie on the move, it's better than a portable DVD player. But a portable DVD player has the edge, simply because you already own the disc to play in it.
Anyway, what I'd like to see in future is some form of combo available when buying a DVD. A combined DVD/UMD pack would be ideal, either at no extra cost, or for a few quid extra. Or maybe some form of coupon to send away for the UMD version.
If I had the choice of buying a DVD for £13.99 or a DVD+UMD combo for £15.99, I would take the combo pack.
It is a great format, and I'd love for it to succeed. However, currently a UMD movie is no use unless you have a PSP, and to be honest, I can't see many people buying a movie on both formats at the same price.
Yes, I know you can rip a DVD and put it on a Memory Stick, but there are people who are not technically minded enough to do so. There will even be PSP owners who don't have PCs, so for them it isn't an option.
In my opinion, Sony need to push UMD hard by either 'giving them away' with the DVD version, or at least drastically reducing the price of UMD movies to around a fiver.
Chances of any of this happening? Probably very slim. But we can hope.
I think these companies need to remember that they are of lower quality than DVD, and not watchable on TV, so they should be cheaper.
At least I've got a region 1 model where UMD prices are around £12 instead of £17.