HD/Blu-Ray DVD Dilema

[TMNT]

All depends on the support, but I would definatley go with Blu-ray at this point.

HD-DVD Support: Toshiba, HP, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, RCA, Kenwood, Intel, Samsung, Apline, Universal Stuidios, Paramount, Columbia (however half of these at not non-exclusive which is where the problem is)

Blu-Ray Support: Sony, Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Panasonic, Disney studios, 20th Century FOX studios, Blockbuster, Target, Columbia Pictures, MGM


The true winner will become apparent when or if IBM comes into the picture and chooses who to back.

IBM + Apple + Sony = bye bye HD-DVD

[Crimson92]

I have both, to me hd looks better blu ray sounds better. good enough

If i were to guess who is gonna win this war i would think hd dvd

[Nyulak]

HD-DVD is 15 GB per layer and Blu-Ray is 25 GB per layer. Both of the drives are storage formats, they are not codec/content specific. A movie compressed using identical codecs and settings will be identical on either platform. Whether or not the image/sound quality is better has to do with the components used for reproduction, from the chips inside the player to the actual screen/speakers.

I have a PS3 and Pirates of the Caribbean looks great, but the Blu-Ray version of Full Metal Jacket is grainy. It's not a function of storage format, but how the original was recorded, processed, and then compressed. Effectively, from a movie point of view, the formats are identical. They both tout interactive features, but what I really want is to watch the movie and enjoy, not screw around with 20 languages, 15 lame, interactive 'games,' or a commentary track that I won't listen to at home.

Now other people may like this, so it's good to have choice, but I went with the PS3, since it was the cheapest Blu-Ray player at the time and it can play games. Plus, it can now connect to my home server to stream music and videos (wish there were broader codec support).

[bartman32]

when I was at CES Blu-ray looked better im my opinion. However the big difference is really on the studio side. It is easy to convert DVD burning hardware to make HD-DVD. However the big movie houses see that as a negative because it makes it easy on all those guys who have pirate machines. So they seem to want to go with Blu-ray just to make them buy more expensive machines.

I like the LG player but I think this war will be over soon. Blu-ray booth was much bigger and more professional than HD DVD at CES. Plus PS is blu-ray which is getting it into homes. They are a little behind on number of titles but as soon as that grows and gets close to HD-DVD I think Blu-ray will win. Also as others have said blu-ray has more more capacity

[uhaulball]

vhs > blu-ray

[Agni]

BJ's Wholesale goes Blu-ray
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/27/bj...-ray/#comments

[hl0m4n]

[QUOTE=HyperM3;1221950]First off, do you have a tv that is 1080p capable? Most likely not. If you do, then youre at the cusp of technology already.
QUOTE]

yea. i got a 52" sony bravia xbr3 1080p. another question is my hdmi cable box shows that the max it has is 1080i. are there other hdmi boxes out there that have 1080p and will work with my provider?

i got the monster hdmi cable too at bestbuy for $108 w/ tax. not bad i guess.

[ukthunderace]

[QUOTE=hl0m4n;1224837]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

First off, do you have a tv that is 1080p capable? Most likely not. If you do, then youre at the cusp of technology already.
QUOTE]

yea. i got a 52" sony bravia xbr3 1080p. another question is my hdmi cable box shows that the max it has is 1080i. are there other hdmi boxes out there that have 1080p and will work with my provider?

i got the monster hdmi cable too at bestbuy for $108 w/ tax. not bad i guess.

Yeah...I have a 42" Hitachi that is 1080P....it was only $1500....prices are dropping. I want the Blu-Ray so I can use it's capabilities. They had one set up in the store and it was a HUGE difference between DVD and high def.

[Explorer3253]

HD does 1080p as well. The new Toshiba at best buy does it. I bought the 299 one thats only 1080i, but my tv is only 1080i. For the 1080p one its 399. Not bad. Plus is upscales your regular dvds. I don't think its bad for 299.

[sinnet112]

Everything about HD DVD is just cheaper, but their DVDs tend to look better. If you look at reviews on DVD sites, they all generally say that if a studio comes out with two versions, the HD DVD is better. That being said, Blu Ray can hold more data, which might come into play later.

Still though, you can't beat the price of $250 for a Toshiba HD DVD player that comes with 5 HD DVDs and upconverts as well. I'd probably suggest waiting it out if you're not sure.

[Jonmartin]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

as you all know i got all this new gear and have one question to sum everything up. what is better dvd? hd or blu-ray? is there a difference?

I own a home theater install company just get the LG super blu player it plays both discs.

[hl0m4n]

Originally Posted by Jonmartin

I own a home theater install company just get the LG super blu player it plays both discs.

thanks for the tips guys. but i am either way having the ps3 for gt5, etc. thus i can play blu-ray. so instead of spending alot of $$ on an individual hd player, why not a simple hd player like the 360 one?

but thing is i don't want to buy a hd player if i don't need it you know? i am new to this blu-ray and hd stuff.

['Cane]

Originally Posted by TMNT

Blu-Ray Support: Sony, Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Panasonic, Disney studios, 20th Century FOX studios, Blockbuster, Target, Columbia Pictures, MGM

HP supports HD/DVD.

[knight]

there has been a big promotion with blu-ray players lately...buy any blu-ray player (including the ps3 i believe), and get 5 blu-ray movies for free..

it's true that blu-ray disks are more advanced and seems likely to win the battle, but remember what happened to vhs and betamax...

it's basically the same exact battle and betamax was the better of the two, but vhs ended up winning due to the overwheming support of pornography..and guess who created betamax...sony.

[777ER]

Originally Posted by knight

it's true that blu-ray disks are more advanced and seems likely to win the battle, but remember what happened to vhs and betamax...

Then laser discs and DVD's...

[Gripster]

Originally Posted by knight

there has been a big promotion with blu-ray players lately...buy any blu-ray player (including the ps3 i believe), and get 5 blu-ray movies for free..

it's true that blu-ray disks are more advanced and seems likely to win the battle, but remember what happened to vhs and betamax...

it's basically the same exact battle and betamax was the better of the two, but vhs ended up winning due to the overwheming support of pornography..and guess who created betamax...sony.

It's a different battle this time. You can get your pr0n anywhere. Also Sony is all too aware that they lost out to VHS. They've scored some big wins such as Blockbuster exclusivity and some of the major retail outlets.

This kind of thing really annoys me though. The ultimate loser is the consumer that buys the wrong dang player and get stuck with a collection of software that can't be played in 5 years time because the other format won.

The only sure way to predict this was is to wait until I buy a player, then buy the other format... I bought betamax, Sega Dreamcast, the E90 330i and a Camputers Lynx.

[darkcloud]

Originally Posted by Gripster

The only sure way to predict this was is to wait until I buy a player, then buy the other format... I bought betamax, Sega Dreamcast, the E90 330i and a Camputers Lynx.

That sucks. Talk about being duped 3 times on the wrong players. I remember all the different systems coming out around the time of the Dreamcast, and they all looked soo good. I wanted some wierd one made by Atari I think, my dad said nope and got me the N64. Which Nintendo never even reached that systems full capacities before moving onto the Game Cube.

Thats the big problem with all these technology break throughs. The companies never reach the pinnancle of that particular product before moving onto the next better thing. DVD probably still has more room to grow but like always it's being ditched for HD-DVD or Blue-ray. XBOX had a lot more head room but out the XBOX in the 360.

I'm waiting until a difinitive winner is announced to buy either. Until then I'm going to continue buying DVD's just at a slower rate unless both players drop a lot in money then I'll just buy both and have a DVD, HD-DVD and Blue-ray player, that should be sufficient.

[knight]

Originally Posted by darkcloud

That sucks. Talk about being duped 3 times on the wrong players.

Thats the big problem with all these technology break throughs. The companies never reach the pinnancle of that particular product before moving onto the next better thing. DVD probably still has more room to grow but like always it's being ditched for HD-DVD or Blue-ray. XBOX had a lot more head room but out the XBOX in the 360.

+1, sucks that you had to go through that problem three times...

refering to game consoles, it's just like anime for those who watch, instead of getting better, they just try to get to the next level in hopes of overpowering its competitors, ie. dragonball

xb 360 is doing quite well...well, a lot better than the ps3 right now and it's gonna be hard for ps3 to rebound (not saying the won't)...if sony wants to do well with blu-ray, then expectations better be met for the ps3 to keep it alive, if not, hd-dvd will take over with the help of pornography...so imo, the fate of blu-ray disks lies in the hands of the sales of ps3 games.

[Das M]

with the new PS3 titles coming out this year (around Christmas time) I think you will see PS3 sales increase, thus increasing the sales of Blu-Ray discs and helping edge Blu-Ray a bit further ahead. It should be intresting to watch though.

[NoMods]

like the good ole VHS versus Betamax wars...Sony created Beta and Blu-ray...

[SteveMD]

I have a couple of 1080p sets and will live with a cheap (<$100) upconverting player on each until the format war is over. The picture looks great.

Anecdotally I think Blu Ray will win.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by armoredsaint

like the good ole VHS versus Betamax wars...Sony created Beta and Blu-ray...

I was just getting ready to write that the superior format Blu-Ray is sure to win, but then I thought back to Betamax vs. VHS and changed my mind. Like you said that was Sony too