Samsung to Discontinue BD-UP5000 in May (Duel format player)

While we've become accustomed to Blu-ray players being released every six months, it's a little ridiculous when we're forced to wait for a new player longer than it's on the market. Eventually we expect the cycle to slow down -- like when BD Live players are out for example -- and many believed that the Samsung BD-UP5000 could be one of those players based on promises when announced. Once you have an Ethernet port for internet content, REON video processing, internal decoding and bitstream support for every codec, discrete analog output, as well as HDMI 1.3, what else could possibly warrant a mid year revamp? We suspect the problem is that the player isn't delivering, and on top of that, we don't think it's Samsung's fault. You see, just like the LG BH200, the BD-UP5000 is based on Broadcom's Reference design BCM97440, and the word on the street is that it isn't ever going to deliver. So it'd make sense that Sammy would change the platform for one that's actually able to get the job done. So yeah, this Broadcom bit is just speculation, but we did contact the outfit to figure out what the deal was, and while it was very responsive at first, as soon as we asked about the troubles with the BCM97400, it must'a lost our email address (or maybe its servers have been down for a week). The good news is that Samsung doesn't see the BD-UP5500 as a replacement, and promises a suitable replacement for the high-end dual-format customer in the second half of '08.

**Update** Samsung says that the date it'll be discontinued is subject to change.

[Darkiewonder]

That will cut the cost of production for them.

[zambrota]

when you know that the other format is so dead

[GrizAdams]

I'd love for you to explain to me what a duel format player is.

[zambrota]

Samsung was the ONLY and LAST tech giant to support Hd dvd besides Toshiba(ofcourse)

Toshiba should not waste time and money . Rather they should make BD players and save some money

[paul_war]

This news is pointless & they are not given up on HD-DVD:

"The good news is that Samsung doesn't see the BD-UP5500 as a replacement, and promises a suitable replacement for the high-end dual-format customer in the second half of '08."

They will be releasing another duel-format player.

[zambrota]

why are you giving people false hope.

Samsung said that out of the rhetoric.

"**Update** Samsung says that the date it'll be discontinued is subject to change. "

they said that so that they dont want to look bad to Toshiba.

No one will ever buy a duel format player when ONE format is just dead

[paul_war]

don't worry, I'm blu through & through.

Just think your post was a bit missleading, especially given that last sentence.

[zambrota]

misleading?

People will buy 2 horses (0ne being dead ) at extra cost.

No company except Samsung were even making the DUAL F player.

Blu ray standalone players outsold hd dvd standalones 93:7 last week.

why would i buy a dual f player when i can get a blu ray player at a much cheaper price

[paul_war]

Simple, to take advantage of the hd-dvd's that are already out, there are some I want:

The Pianist
Hot Fuzz
Children of Men
Heroes: Season One
The Ultimate Matrix Collection
for example.

Though guess I'll have to wait ... I really don't want Toshiba to drag this out to long.

[zambrota]

http://bluray.highdefdigest...

sooo excited

[Iron Man 2]

It only makes sense,HD DVD is dead afterall;)

[GodsHand]

Is it? Its like saying Elvis is dead, or Tupac. They just don't seem to die.

[tk]

The dual player thing will fail... There is no point to it. HD-DVD is dead.. so why make a more expensive player when you will not find new content for it?

[resistance100]

The one reason i can think of, it those with large HD DVD collections, buying a dual format player will mean they can keep there collections and buy blu-ray without the need for 2 players.

Still the market for this product will dry out soon

[YoMeViet]

Let them sell what they want to sell, they studios have already decided and the consumers now know which is which (as in dead or alive(no pun intended))

In other news I'm selling my VHS player and tape cassette players anyone interested?

[bootsielon]

zambrota = larry007 = nasim = TANOD = shmee .... seriously, stop it with the multiple accounts

[jmiscavish]

It's DUAL not DUEL. That's all.

[YoMeViet]

lol Nice eye for details bubbles for you.

[TheMONKofPUNK]

Why buy a dual format player? Um... to play my HD-DVD's on??? Or shall i just bung 'em all in the bin and wait for the movies/tv shows to be re-released on Blu-ray so i have to buy 'em all again?!

Twatish comments from most the people on this thread as per usual. Now before you all get on your high horses i gotta state i'm no HD fanboy - i'm looking forward to getting my mitts on the Blu titles i haven't yet been able to purchase. They'll look great alongside my copies of Hot Fuzz, Galactica, Children Of Men, Zodiac, Heroes, Batman Begins etc etc.

If things had gone the other way (as it quite easily could've), what would all you Blu fanboys have done with your movie collections? Chucked them in the trash? Maybe bought a second player to continue your collection on the rival format? Or.......... maybe..... buy a dual player to cut down on the clutter of media players in your lounge?

Ah, considered the last option? Obviously not. Planks.

[Lumbo]

Does not seem like a sound business decision then, you can get a cheap HD-DVD player for ~$100 considering recent storage clearing sales.
So you can get standalone players for half the price of a dual format player.

In my opinion that does not represent a reasonable decision. Only to reduce "clutter" for about a year ?

Because it is as sure as water is wet and the sky is blue, If BluRay continues the sales margin they had last week the remaining 2 studios will at least go neutral, and therefor the movies we "miss" now will get released as BluRay titles in less than a years time.

Unless you own hundreds of HD-DVD disks you could replace your existing handfull of HD-DVD with their equivalent BluRay release then. and retire your cheap HD-DVD player instead of adding yet another player to your heap.

And IF you own hundreds of HD-DVD already you have enough income to rebuy them :P .

[Le-mo]

Why would you waste money on a dual format when the other one is dead. Save your money and go blu.

[season007]

and guess what, they were just trying to get rid of the few players they've made and hopefully break even in this dual-format investment...

[TheMONKofPUNK]

I can see where you're coming from Lumbo but the simple question is: why have two machines playing different formats when you can simply have one that plays them both?

Yeah, i could re-buy the titles that haven't yet made it to Blu-ray at some point in the future but it's a case of "why"? I already own them.

Yup, my income wouldn't be affected by purchasing seperate Blu & HD players or simply rebuying all the HD titles again on Blu. But, why wait for the transition and why the general inconvenience when there's a perfectly viable alternative - a dual player?

Case in point: Hands up who used to own a hi-fi system with built in cd player AND cassette deck? Maybe some with a turntable also? Ok, lots. So, you're telling me you all just binned all your tapes and vinyls overnight and started from scratch with cd's? Of course not.

[Lumbo]

I never was a fan of combo players, regardless of the format.

I did not buy a combo CD/turntable either ;) i added a CD deck to my existing Technics turntable ...

And i certainly never thought about buying a minidisc/dat/cd comboplayer either.

Because in my experience the more systems you add into one deck, the more you curse in case of a warranty repair. Because you loose all players for the time of the repair in one go.

I did not buy an DVD/vhs combo player, cause plainly the dvd quality surpassed everything vhs could offer me. Did i rebuy all my VHS tapes ? no, but i certainly rebought the movies i liked best, the remaining vhs tapes went into exile at my parents place where they collect dust in the basement until i find the time to trash them. And i am quite certain i will rebuy my favorites on BluRay, too. (LOTR/5th element/ starwars/ indiana jones...)

In my opinion , if you spend $500+ on any hifi system you will NEVER buy one of these cheesy multi jack-of-all-trades systems that are crap anyways, you buy components :p

I trashed the VHS system years ago, i trashed my DAT player (well it hurt, but burning CDR was so much better than that), and i trashed my upscaling dvd player last year when i got my PS3.

The only reason i did not buy an HD-DVD player is because the format never took off in Europe, and the players remained at insane prices. There are no $99 hd-dvd players sales around here. So i was positively stuck with BluRay, and since the two biggest distributors of media around here stated they will go blue exclusive last week i am glad i did not buy a €400 HD-DVD player.

[DJ]

They'll probably end production sooner than that, though.

[TheMONKofPUNK]

Your comments make perfect sense in relation to your own personal preferences, ditto for mine. On the whole, a dual format player is NOT an unreasonable choice or preference, regardless of expendable income.

My personal preference is simply to have one box o' tricks instead of two seperate units.