Hi-Def in Brunei

Sony Bravia HDTV X-series showcased at the Consumer Product Exhibit

I have to applaud Brunei for their recent push with technology in trying to keep up with the rest of the world. The Gaming community is showing itself outside its usual hideout and is finally being recognised by the mass but one of the problems with trying to push one technology is the lack of pushing another.

The Xbox 360 meet last week showcased a good example of pushing not one but a package of technology such that they were promoting the Xbox 360 as well as playing original copies of each games rather than the ever sprouting pirated copies. Thus, the console, the DVD games as well as Xbox Live are being pushed at the same time.

Blu-ray Player on display to show Hi-Def videos

Now a bad example would be what we saw this afternoon at the Consumer Exhibition at ICC while in attendance for the preparation of tomorrow's Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 and Guitar Hero III competitions. A local electrical goods company was promoting Sony products in high definition which included Bravia HDTVs, the PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray Disc players.

There are a few problems here. One, I doubt you should promote a PS3 if you are trying to sell Blu-ray players. Why? Because a PS3 has built-in BD-player and costs lesser than the Blu-ray player. Plus, a PS3 can do more such as giving users the ability to connect to the Internet to update the Blu-ray firmware besides its gaming ability.

Two, promoting Hi-Def discs such as the Blu-ray is a lost cause to a high percentage of the public when there are no market yet in Brunei for Hi-Def movies. What's the point of buying a BD player when you can't even buy BD movies in Brunei?

Finally, promoting HDTVs connected to a PS3 might be a good thing but that's as far as HDTVs can ever go here in this country. Gaming. Photos and home made HD videos maybe, but we are limited when it comes to HD content in Brunei.

So, my point being Brunei needs to promote everything as a package when it comes to trying to keep up with the world's technology which means opening an HD market here in Brunei in order to promote HD technology to the mass. Hopefully, HD will be quickly recognised as a great content provider here and not just be used in our daily gaming lives.