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[Raistlin]

They have been for a while now.

Define a while? I thought they only started recently?

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

First, they need to start making their monitors HDCP compliant.

:\

This is what you said and what I responded to.

A while has been since October 2008.

 

[inner-G]

Why would they want to? BD seems to go against a considerable portion of their current business model.

Why?

Having the capability to write to high-capacity optical discs is quite a useful task for a PC.

Why did they ever start offering DVD drives? I mean, they already had CD-RWs.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Why?

Having the capability to write to high-capacity optical discs is quite a useful task for a PC.

Uh, why would anyone do this when giant ass hard drives are so cheap and much more versatile?

 

[Davidion]

Because Steve Jobs owns a large part of Disney?

Their iTunes business model isn't the reason they're not supporting it, it's just the legal bullshit. Apple's historically not afraid of just saying "fuck it" to anything that might be a little bit inconvenient to them. (Choosing DisplayPort over HDMI is another example.)

But that has little to their business with respect to consumer computing, of which itunes is an integral part of. That's only a part of it anyhow; there's no incentive for them to support a new optical media format on macs when DVD capacity is generally sufficient for portable disc-based data storage and there's no indication that there's enough demand for blu-ray playback on macs.

As I've already mentioned, it's entirely sensible for Apple to support Blu-Ray in general, but that doesn't mean it makes sense for them to shove it into what is already a premium-priced home computing product.

 

[inner-G]

Uh, why would anyone do this when giant ass hard drives are so cheap and much more versatile?

Catalog data, send sample videos and content out with clients, archive video, etc.

A disc (even though it's not going to last a million years) is a safer bet than a HDD to really back things up from my experience.

 

[Raistlin]

This is what you said and what I responded to.

A while has been since October 2008.

Okay then.


Is that across all monitors? For example, iMacs?

 

[Raistlin]

and there's no indication that there's enough demand for blu-ray playback on macs.

If you troll around some of the forums, it seems like there is plenty of demand. Crap, Half of AVS would run out and buy a MacMini as a HTPC if it support BluRay and HDMI 1.3.

And think about how Mac's are positioned? They're supposed to be the best for media, be it audio, video, or imaging. It's really counter-intuitive to not offer BD.

As I've already mentioned, it's entirely sensible for Apple to support Blu-Ray in general, but that doesn't mean it makes sense for them to shove it into what is already a premium-priced home computing product.

:lol Exactly what product made by Apple does it make sense to put one in other than a computer? The iPhone? It's not like OEM BD drives are even pricey anymore. I think it's ridiculous to argue Apple shouldn't at least offer it as an option.

 

[Stinkles]

Is that across all monitors? For example, iMacs?

iMac monitor is a fixed display with no "input," isn't it?

 

[Davidion]

If you troll around some of the forums, it seems like there is plenty of demand. Crap, Half of AVS would run out and buy a MacMini as a HTPC if it support BluRay and HDMI 1.3.

And think about how Mac's are positioned? They're supposed to be the best for media, be it audio, video, or imaging. It's really counter-intuitive to not offer BD.

None of that positioning is aimed at the home theater market, however. Will they pursue it some day? Maybe, but now doesn't look like the time.

In addition, you, a GAFfer, should know better than anyone that messageboard enthusiasm doesn't necessarily translate into accurate market reflections. :lol

:lol Exactly what product made by apple does it make sense to put one in other than a computer? The iPhone? It's not like OEM BD drives are even pricey anymore. I think it's ridiculous to argue Apple shouldn't at least offer it as an option.

I'm not entirely sure why they'd need to put it anything at all, at least not at the current time.

Like I said, I don't think they specifically shouldn't put BD into macs, but looking at it from their perspective, I don't see any convincing reasons why they should make include it in their product lines now other than "why not?". Anyone here should know that that's not their MO.

 

[Raistlin]

iMac monitor is a fixed display with no "input," isn't it?

I think so, but you could always connect a BD player to it. Whether it will be able to play movies is dependent on whether the GPU and monitor support HDCP to my knowledge.

 

[Raistlin]

None of that positioning is aimed at the home theater market, however. Will they pursue it some day? Maybe, but now doesn't look like the time.

In addition, you, a GAFfer, should know better than anyone that messageboard enthusiasm doesn't necessarily translate into accurate market reflections. :lol

I'm pretty sure the MacMini particularly, is well known for selling to the HTPC crowd in pretty significant numbers. Well, at least it used to ;p

I'm not entirely sure why they'd need to put it anything at all, at least not at the current time.

Like I said, I don't think they specifically shouldn't put BD into macs, but looking at it from their perspective, I don't see any convincing reasons why they should make include it in their product lines now other than "why not?". Anyone here should know that that's not their MO.

I would have thought their MO is to make money? Certainly that's how their stock holders feel.

 

[Davidion]

I'm pretty sure the MacMini particularly, is well known for selling to the HTPC crowd in pretty significant numbers. Well, at least it used to ;p

Ahh but is that who Apple is targeting? I always saw the Mini simply as their entry-level Mac and is predominantly marketed to do that. We'll agree to disagree, but from macs to Apple TV (which is not even remotely optimized for HD compatibility) to everything else they have out, I just don't recall seeing Apple making a lot of overtures to court the HTPC (or hell, even the HD enabled :lol) crowd.

I would have thought their MO is to make money? Certainly that's how their stock holders feel.

While I hardly disagree, do you really think the inclusion of BD would generate such significant sales as for it to be worth it to go against their current product philosophy?

I can't say I know Apple's marketing strategies inside and out. All I is sayin' is that not including BD isn't as illogical as some here might think.

 

[inner-G]

Ahh but is that who Apple is targeting?

People that don't mind overpaying for hardware?

I'm seriously surprised they don't offer it, I think BD would help to add even more perceived value. They could make it an option AND charge out the ass for it.

 

[neorej]

ZOMG BLU-RAY ON PCS!!!!! What's next? Are The Agency and DC Universe coming out on PC?

 

[pizzaguysrevenge]

ZOMG BLU-RAY ON PCS!!!!! What's next? Are The Agency and DC Universe coming out on PC?

God of War III

Spoiler

Wouldn't that be fuck-awesome?

 

[Raistlin]

While I hardly disagree, do you really think the inclusion of BD would generate such significant sales as for it to be worth it to go against their current product philosophy?

How is having a BD as an option going 'against their current product philosophy'?

 

[Deleted member 30609]

dumb thread

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

People that don't mind overpaying for hardware?

I'm seriously surprised they don't offer it, I think BD would help to add even more perceived value. They could make it an option AND charge out the ass for it.

Overpriced and expensive aren't the same thing.

 

[TheRagnCajun]

Gaming PC with Blu-Ray? PC games are still on DVD's right... (or download). I think the mom and kid are confused.

The bluerays enhance the gaming experience.

 

[zoku88]

Because Steve Jobs owns a large part of Disney?

Their iTunes business model isn't the reason they're not supporting it, it's just the legal bullshit. Apple's historically not afraid of just saying "fuck it" to anything that might be a little bit inconvenient to them. (Choosing DisplayPort over HDMI is another example.)

Why is DisplayPort inconvenient for Apple?

They don't have to pay the HDMI fees for their notebooks and they can sell DisplayPort to HDMI adapters for money.

*fees as in the license fees.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Why is DisplayPort inconvenient for Apple?

They don't have to pay the HDMI fees for their notebooks and they can sell DisplayPort to HDMI adapters for money.

*fees as in the license fees.

HDMI is the one I was implying was inconvenient, for the reasons you listed.

They also don't sell DisplayPort to HDMI adapters. You have to get those from Monoprice.

 

[zoku88]

HDMI is the one I was implying was inconvenient, for the reasons you listed.

They also don't sell DisplayPort to HDMI adapters. You have to get those from Monoprice.

Oh, sorry. I probably didn't read carefully. I thought you were saying that they switched to DisplayPort over HDMI even though it was inconvenient.

And yea, my bad about the adapter thing. I guess they sell mini Display Port to Display Port adapters (I haven't actually looked at the specs, so I'm likely off about any non-general things I say.)

 

[Davidion]

How is having a BD as an option going 'against their current product philosophy'?

Look at every option that Apple is offering with their macs. If it's not linear basic hardware upgrades such as minor specs improvement or service benefits, it's specific targeted productivity software like final cut or iworks. You don't see a mass of super hardware upgrades that pushes the technological line; it's all neat options designed for usability.

Apple doesn't make it a point to provide a slew of varied upgrade options, and has never made it a point to bring upgraded technology into their products unless it's an integral part of what they deem to be the user experience for any specific product line. From ipods to Apple TV and what else have you, Apple has rarely, if ever, focused much on the "super-hi-fi-def" crowd, usually opting for usability and connectivity as its selling points instead.

So why would it make sense for them to include technology that isn't really beneficial to most of its targeted audience? They might decide that Blu-Ray fits into their product lines in the future, but I think it's pretty obvious why they wouldn't care much about it at the current time.

 

[Raistlin]

Look at every option that Apple is offering with their macs. If it's not linear basic hardware upgrades such as minor specs improvement or service benefits, it's specific targeted productivity software like final cut or iworks. You don't see a mass of super hardware upgrades that pushes the technological line; it's all neat options designed for usability.

Before they decided to make Superdrives standard not all that long ago, I seem to remember the Superdrive being an option you could add to your Mac. Explain how this would be different?

Apple doesn't make it a point to provide a slew of varied upgrade options, and has never made it a point to bring upgraded technology into their products unless it's an integral part of what they deem to be the user experience for any specific product line. From ipods to Apple TV and what else have you, Apple has rarely, if ever, focused much on the "super-hi-fi-def" crowd, usually opting for usability and connectivity as its selling points instead.

So why would it make sense for them to include technology that isn't really beneficial to most of its targeted audience? They might decide that Blu-Ray fits into their product lines in the future, but I think it's pretty obvious why they wouldn't care much about it at the current time.

Oh really? I seem to recall Apple being one of the first companies to really start pushing large-size 16:9 screens with their computers.

Guess what the main draw for those was? Media.