HD/Blu-Ray DVD Dilema

[Brunotheboxer]

i believe that blu-ray will win the war but if you dont want to take the plunge right now pick up one of these bad boys. oppo dv-981 hd.

[achien]

Look into history, VHS vs. Beta...

Who won???

[sinnet112]

So whatever happened to UMD (Sony's last format...)

[bartman32]

True Sony doesn't have a great recent history. However they do have a lot of good history too. See Walkman and DVD. Yes, they didn't make the DVD but they did make it readily available to the masses with the introduction of the Playstation. That's what really set DVD's off. Which is also why they put the Blu-Ray into PS3.

[cntlaw]

Originally Posted by CnoteMD

Everything I've read suggests that Blu-Ray has higher capacity discs, higher video resolution, and is ultimately the better technology. Though, I am waiting until there is a clear winner before I start buying new equipment. Even though I was young at the time, this reminds me of VHS vs. Betamax.

In theory, a blu-ray has a higher storage capacity, and on paper, the bitrate is higher than HD-DVD as well. However, the determining factor is based on many things such as encoding methods. The basic for both discs are Mpeg2(a different spec than a DVD's mpeg2, then there are H.264 (as proposed by APPLE), Mpeg4, VC-1 (a variation of Mpeg4). Both disc formats are capable to handle all these encodings.

Most HD-DVD are VC-1 encoding, only the newer Blu-ray are VC-1 encoding.
Because Blu-ray is supported by many movie houses, there are big variations.
All of these encoding formats have just appeared in a short while and maybe there are some new ones coming too. There is no regulation on which encoding to use. Initially, HD-DVD with VC-1 encoding seems to be better quality over blu-ray using Mpeg2 encoding.

Now, only 1 movie house is strictly keen on HD-DVD; and 2 others issuing HD-DVD along with blu-ray version. HD-DVD is more "control" in one way.
As Sony owns Columbia picture, you just look at who has the most hit movie in recent years - Columbia. They will only issue Blu-ray. If they take the large piece of pie, other movie houses (who don't make electronic goods like Sony) will eventually give way to Blu-ray (Thanks to the PS/3)

Now, just within 1 year, the fight has been settled, only Universal is issuing HD-DVD-only movie. Paramount used to be a HD-DVD only issuer but now they are issuing both formats.

The winner is clear - Blue-Ray.

( above information were gathered after a discussion with Dr. RikuE90 )

[phantom330]

I have a 1080p Samsung that I recently got, and have a PS3, tried a few blu ray movies, they look good, don't get me wrong, but I don't see all the fuss. If i had a standard DVD playing on the TV and this one I'd be hard pressed to really tell a difference.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by bartman32

True Sony doesn't have a great recent history. However they do have a lot of good history too. See Walkman and DVD. Yes, they didn't make the DVD but they did make it readily available to the masses with the introduction of the Playstation. That's what really set DVD's off. Which is also why they put the Blu-Ray into PS3.

I think that the credit for DVD goes to Toshiba and then to Phillips for taking it into home player units.

[Vegas_Sirk]

Originally Posted by 335viaSTi

Only because I have a PS3 am I biased to Blu-Ray. That being said, Blockbuster, Target, many if not all major motion picture studios (including Disney) all side with Blu-Ray. The discs cost more to produce, and will cost a bit more in the end, but they will hold more and I believe will win out over HD DVD. Just my 2 cents.

Im in the same boat ....

Have PS3 ... have a 62" Tv that supports 1080P ... its awesome. Blue Ray FTW
________
Starcraft 2 replays
________
Extreme Q
________
BMW M06
________
Bong Bowl
________
2SEXYLUSTYGALS

[bartman32]

Originally Posted by Gort

I think that the credit for DVD goes to Toshiba and then to Phillips for taking it into home player units.

Oh don't get me wrong. Sony didn't do anything special to get DVD going in a format although they were on the DVD board but they did make it mainstream. Yes Toshiba and Phillips might have started it but Playstation really gets the credit for making it mainstream.

[bunman]

I believe it comes to support with studios and retailers.
See the studio comparsion:

Blu-ray support
Paramount
Warner Bros.
Disney (Buena Vista)
Fox
Lionsgate
MGM
Sony Pictures

HD-DVD support
Paramount
Warner Bros.
Universal Studios

I know some ppl may think bout the bitrate/quality, encoding methods, but the majority of consumers are not tech savy and could care less. They will just follow the market. With Blockbuster and Target going BR, you will see more consumers favoring BR because of accessiblity and the amount of movies that are BR exclusive, ie. Spiderman, Pirates. Eventually, Blu ray will win.

[Gripster]

Originally Posted by bartman32

Oh don't get me wrong. Sony didn't do anything special to get DVD going in a format although they were on the DVD board but they did make it mainstream. Yes Toshiba and Phillips might have started it but Playstation really gets the credit for making it mainstream.

This is especially true for Japan, where a healthy VCD market prevented DVD getting a foothold, but may be not so much in other regions. DVD players in the US and EU were around $150 by the time PS2 launched.

[Weaselboy]

My takeon it is this will end up being all about the marketing, not about which technology is better.

So far... I would say Blu-Ray is winning the battle.

Blockbuster going to only Blu-Ray was I think the beginnning of the end for HD-DVD. Noticed my locally owned video store last week started renting Blu-Ray also.

Anybody ever listen to the HT Guys podcast?

feed://feeds.feedburner.com/HdtvPodcast

They both mentioned on a recent show they think Blu-Ray is winning and one of the reasons may be the name. Blu-Ray does sound more like a brand name than HD-DVD.