As noted in previous blogs, Blu-rays are now trickling into New Zealand but are we behind or in front of the world?

I'm currently on a little excursion around the globe so in the past weeks have had the chance to check out the pick-up of this new medium in various foreign countries.
The results have been interesting and, I must confess, have surprised me. I assumed New Zealand was probably lagging behind but this seems not to be the case.
First stop - Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is a technology-mad city. Last time I visited, some 20 years ago, every electronics shop was in thrall to laser discs. It seemed like the new revolution. But we know how that turned out - along with quadraphonic sound and eight-track cassettes.
So I headed to the biggest HMV shop to see the Blu-rays. Or at least to try and find them. And I can report the assembled Blu-ray collection was smaller than Tauranga's Warehouse. Not only that, they cost the equivalent of between $40 and $70 apiece - not a good sign for the audio visual medium of tomorrow.
Next, London. Firstly to a small independent video store. A store which - for film buffs - was a thing of beauty, filled with a fantastic selection of DVDs from around the world, from the popular to the most obscure art house titles, but no Blu-rays. Not one.
The owner told me it was too expensive to buy them but he hoped some time to start adding them.
Then Borders at Oxford Circus. A huge multi-level book and music shop, with an entire floor dedicated to DVDs but where were the Blu-rays? I asked an assistant. She looked a bit blank. "I think we used to have them" she said, "maybe try HMV..."
And indeed, in Harrods (why not?) there is the world's biggest HMV and there are many, many Blu-rays. Again, they are considerably more expensive than in New Zealand. I didn't actually see anyone buy one. And, indeed, of all the people I have stayed with and spoken to so far while travelling, not a single one owns a Blu-ray player.
Hmmm...
Next stop North America. Perhaps the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave is where the Blu-ray revolution is happening. Or perhaps New Zealand is on the cutting edge of a revolution that isn't really happening.
I'll get back to you.