http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/12764/blu-ray-trumps-hd-dvd-the-aftermath

The use of HD-DVD players is coming to an end. As prices of HD-DVD players decrease and more companies move toward selling Blu-Ray one can only determine that HD-DVD players are on its last leg. The long awaited rise of Blu-Ray disc as an industry standard backed by Sony has begun.

Toshiba an early supporter and main driving force and manufacturer behind HD-DVD has discontinued the development of HD-DVD players and moved toward developing and selling Blu-Ray disc. Universal Studios also has moved towards creating Blu-ray new releases and catalog titles. This soon enough will prompt DreamWorks and Paramount to move from HD-DVD only supporters. Amazon has also jumped on the bandwagon and now predominately promotes Blu-ray hardware and software. As more and more major companies in the move toward Blu-ray disc, a tipping point will occur if it hasn’t already.

It is much like an epidemic as mentioned in lecture and our reading “Tipping Point” where consumers will do away with their old DVD players and begin buying up Blu-ray. Much like when DVD’s took the place of VHS tapes the same will happen with a move toward Blu-ray disc. A small group or a few companies has had a dramatic impact on Blu-ray becoming an industry standard and therefore becoming the standard DVD player in consumer’s homes. This is similar to a social epidemic where HD-DVD is dieing out and Blu-ray is spreading due to a few companies adopting it. This small adoption has lead to a dramatic increase of companies manufacturing Blu-ray. This in-turn has had the same affect on consumers of the DVD industry where Blu-ray was picked up by a few consumers and now is beginning to reach the masses at rapidly as the manufacturers and studios push this format.