Price discussion on AnyDVD - moved from Decrypting

[setarip_old]

Presently vaporware but, there is buzz about an apparently competing product, from an established firm, in the later stages of development - to be offered in the $59.95 to $79.95 range.

This probably should be taken with a grain of salt until/unless specific information is made public...

[SamuriHL]

Well, when it gets to the market, I'll take a look at it. AnyDVD HD does all I personally need and more but I'm always curious as to what the competition brings to the table. I wonder if it'll just do ripping or whether they'll do real time processing like AnyDVD HD.

EDIT: Also, it'll be interesting to see if they can handle MKB........v7. :)

[setarip_old]

@SamuriHL

Hi!

Please keep in mind that this thread is specifically a discussion about the price(s) of programs/tools that can process BluRay DVDs (presently limited to SlySoft).

As such, my curiosity is limited to how much of an impact such a competing product (should it eventually be released) might have on SlySoft's pricing...

[DrinkLyeAndDie]

I don't think a competing product will have any real impact on the pricing of AnyDVD HD when it finally arrives. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Those charts posted showing the pricing of AnyDVD didn't really do anything to surprise me. AnyDVD remained the same price from 2003 until 2007. It went up in 2007 which wasn't surprising. I think people overlook the many discount coupons that are offered and the discounts people receive when they purchase a bundle. So, the price isn't always exactly the same straight across the board. The charts didn't reflect any of that.

Lastly, I can't not reply but in reponse to blutach and FuriousFlea, as much as you both may think that some Slysoft fans can not objectively discuss pricing I have to say the same thing applies to some people who dislike Slysoft.

If people like the software and want to pay for it then they can. If they think the price is too high then no one is forcing them to buy it. *shrug*

[SamuriHL]

@SamuriHL

Hi!

Please keep in mind that this thread is specifically a discussion about the price(s) of programs/tools that can process BluRay DVDs (presently limited to SlySoft).

As such, my curiosity is limited to how much of an impact such a competing product (should it eventually be released) might have on SlySoft's pricing...

Ok, but, don't you think the features being offered at the price points you quoted will have an effect...or not? I mean, if you're talking about simple decrypting with no on the fly capabilities for that price point, then why would Slysoft react? If it has everything that AnyDVD HD has for a cheaper price(unlikely), then obviously Slysoft might react and lower the price. So yes, I think the feature set of such a program is DIRECTLY related to the pricing discussion IMNHO.

[setarip_old]

@SamuriHLdon't you think the features being offered at the price points you quoted will have an effect...or not?

That is a question of degree only - and is far too specific at this point in time.

Presently, the significant point is that, with absolutely no competition, there is no reason for SlySoft to consider reducing its price - and the question is, will the appearance of a new functional BluRay "ripper" (with or without additional bells and whistles) in the $59.95 to $79.95 range, cause SlySoft to reduce its price significantly?

if you're talking about simple decrypting with no on the fly capabilities for that price point, then why would Slysoft react?Because the PRIMARY market for BluRay-related software is software that will allow purchasers of BluRay DVDs to make viable backup copies - and any software that offers that capability will be in direct competition with SlySoft.

You can't possibly believe, can you, that unless such a competing program duplicates each AnyDVDHD "whistle and bell", that SlySoft would not be pressured to reduce its present monopolistic pricing?

[blutach]

Anybody who doesn't think that a competing product won't put price pressure on the existing one should note the prices of BDs now compared to when HD-DVD had not given up the ghost. It was HD-DVD that was keeping BD prices down and vice versa.

Now, they didn't need to be exactly the same in terms of features or limitations - no-one could say they were. But they were sufficiently similar to put price pressure on each other.

This will inevitably happen to Any HD DVD if a similar product (i.e. one with BD(+) ripping capabilities) arrives. It's Milton Friedman 101, I'm afraid.

Regards

[SamuriHL]

It MIGHT have an impact on pricing, maybe. However, according to your theory, if we go back to my car example of pricing, there should be a downward trend on pricing in Ferrari's because a cheap Ford Focus exists and does "pretty much the same thing." How's that working out for us? Can I go pick up a cheap Ferrari now?

[blutach]

Here's one - don't like the colour though :D :D :D

http://www.channel4.com/4car/gl/gallery/gallery/456/1

Regards

[SamuriHL]

Ewww! That's one UGLY car!! :D

Back on topic, though, the point I was making is that there are potentially different markets being served. If you have a "low end" decrypter, that might fit the needs of one client base whereas some people would pay extra for the features that you deem unnecessary and frivolous in AnyDVD HD. It all depends on your target audience. But, it's difficult to know what Slysoft would do when a competitor comes out with a product because that hasn't happened yet. If their sales are massively affected, then sure, I could see them lowering the price. That's obvious. But if people decide that AnyDVD HD is a better product and sales are not affected, then why would they drop the price? So this is one of those "we'll have to wait and see" situations.

[blutach]

I think we are in heated agreement! My contention is that the competing product needs to be sufficiently similar (see post 108) - i.e. have BD+ ripping capabilities to put price pressure on.

You can't compare the Ford (non BD decrypter) vs Ferrari (AnyDVD HD) as they serve different markets (as you and others say). However, in the non-HD version, you might be able to make a very valid comparison, since very similar competing products exist at much lower price points).

And, what do you expect for 5,000 quid?

Regards

[SamuriHL]

I would agree that if a competing product was sufficiently good as to rival AnyDVD HD, then that could put some pressure on them to lower the price. There is another point that I haven't seen brought up yet, though. The competing product needs to do more than release a product with these capabilities. It has to show that they can keep up. Slysoft is fairly quick to release new versions when problems are found or protections are changed. BD+ is a moving target at the moment as we've seen on the latest discs. It's one thing to release a product at a lower price that can handle today's titles, but, quite another to show your customers that you can handle tomorrow's titles just as quickly and easily. Slysoft has a proven track record in that area. That might be worth the extra cost to some people. Especially when you consider that those are lifetime upgrades.

Let's take your comparison of AnyDVD non-HD vs competing products at lower price points. Even before AnyDVD HD came out, AnyDVD was competing against free products. Yet, somehow, they were able to build a fairly large market. How is that possible? If a free product that roughly does the same thing is available, why would anyone CHOOSE to purchase a product? :) They perceive value in that paid for product. When you pay for a product, you expect a certain level of service. That's NOT to suggest or say that a free product can't have the same level of service! It's more of a perception thing. We all know the freeware products for SD discs were updated just as regularly as AnyDVD to defeat new protections and fix bugs. However, when you purchase a product, that level of support is guaranteed. With a free product, sure, it's likely that it's going to be supported, but, what if it isn't? So, I think support has quite a bit to do with it. Slysoft has shown themselves to listen to their customers. That adds value to their product. But again, there are also differing markets here. Someone who doesn't need or want support can get by just fine using a freeware product. They're not interested in paying for something they can get for free. That's fine. Others want the security of knowing that if they run into problems, they can be guaranteed to get help. Just something to consider.

Well, it IS a cheap Ferrari, I'll grant you that! :D

[datman]

All I have to say is AnyDVD is the best money I ever spent on software. I hope they make a few bucks. I also hope they will develope a BD,HD,DVD player program with some of that money.