High Definition DVD: What is Holding You Back? (1 Viewer)

[Dave>h]

I think it is pretty obvious from the comments, the general conscensus on why people aren't diving into this format are numerous:

1) Format war
2) First Gen players
3) Expensive players (relatively)
4) Not enough software
5) DVD is good enough

One I have not seen mentioned often is sound quality and sound codecs.

Personally, in 1994 I got into Home Theater because I loved the way movies sound in (first) pro logic and then DD 5.1 and then DTS. Honestly, I had a VCR, a 13 inch tv but a wicked energy center, mains and surrounds and a Yamaha amp decoding. Looking back, it was a bit of a joke but it sounded better than ANYTHING I had ever heard at anyone's home.

I mention this for example purposes only.

However, until the sound codecs and formats and receivers and delivery systems are bedded down properly, I won't be diving in.

The format war bothers me but not so much. But until I can get properly decoded lossless audio in a standardized (or somewhat standardized allowing for DD and DTS to compete) format, I won't be taking the plunge. Picture quality is all well and good but the sound stage and the emersive surround experience is what I am waiting for.

Dave

 

[Zack Gibbs]

A few thoughts. I have the same "usuals", price, new glitchology, but I'm not holding either format responsible for that. It's not like they invented "new". The big things that will get/prevent me to take the plunge...

#1: Ghostbusters is not available. When Ghostbusters is released in HD I will do whatever necissary to obtain it (I feel safe in assuming that 97% of America feels the exact same way).

#2: Instead of the same 5" disks we've been using for 2 decades now, I'd like a format that uses long refractive crystals. Like in Superman: The Movie. If #1 is met, however, I will look past the "It's not a crystal" shortcoming.

#3: A store would actually have to have some kind of product for me to buy. Not an online store, those are all scams. A real store.

 

[PerryD]

1) My HDTV set was purchased in 1998, and has only one HD component input which is currently being used by my HD DVR cable box. I will be replacing this set with a high def front projector within the next year. Once I purchase this set, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray will be next.

2) I would like the high def audio standards to be finalized. Then I will purchase a new receiver that does HDMI switching (at least 3 inputs) to use with new projector (see #1).

3) Larger HD-DVD/Blu-Ray library. Once titles like Lawrence of Arabia, 2001, Singing in the Rain, Jaws, etc, start coming out, then the pressure will be on me to start upgrading my setup.

 

[George_W_K]

1.) 1st gen hardware.

I'd like more for my money, so I'll wait at least until the second generation comes out. I'd also like to see players capable of outputting the new audio formats.

2.) Titles

Not a big enough selection for me to upgrade to since the jump from DVD isn't as big as the jump to DVD from VHS.

3.) Format War

This will be moot if a universal player comes out from someone like Pioneer or Denon. As long as I can enjoy my movies in HD, I don't care which format it is on. I can't afford to buy two different players right now.



4.) Better demos at the stores.

The HD formats aren't being marketed well when some titles look barely better than SD-DVD and other titles are being shown with the wrong resolution settings. Some education literature should availalbe to the sales staff of the Best Buys and CC's. And if it is, then more incentive should be given for those employees to want to know it. (I guess this isn't holding me back, but I can see it keeping a lot of non-internet forum dwellers back.)

5.) My washing machine broke and I need a new one.

And I bought into the Maytag Man commercials. This thing has been nothing but a PITA for me. Next up, Whirlpool or LG. Then back to my HD format research.

 

[MarkHastings]

LOL - Best response yet.

George, perhaps you can look into an HE washer. I know it's not exactly HD, but it's only one letter off. You're clothes will have more detail with an HE washer.

 

[Tony-B]

There are a few reasons why I am not switching to one of these new HD formats quite yet...

1. Format wars. I don't want to start supporting HD-DVD or Blu-Ray and then get burned in the end because all the studios flock to the other format.

2. Price. It's simply too expensive for me to go high-def right now.

3. Lack of selection. There just aren't many movies I'm interested in on HD-DVD or BD right now.

4. Perhaps the biggest reason of them all. I DON'T HAVE AN HDTV. Shocking, I know, but I'm a college student, and I can't afford to make that upgrade at this time.

So, I think I'm just going to wait this one out until there is a clear winner, and I get an HDTV.

 

[peter m. wilson]

Hi,

Unlike some, I did not get burned in the dvd-a/sacd format war. As a matter of fact it gave me an opportunity to introduce myself to genres of music that not only had I not embraced, I couldn't even opportunity. I found out things like there's even a book dedicated to John Coltrane's Jazz album "A Love Supreme"

Fortunately my processor, (Denon 5803) has two full sets of 8ch analogs and since I already have excellent speakers I decided to invest in music more than hardware and now own well over 300 discs of which about 2/3 are sacd. For a total of $500.00 cdn I bought a 5 disc discontinued Sony an 7 disc "open box" JVC. My video needs are already taken care of separately therefore moot re that part of the HIRES players.

This prologue about HIRES music is one of the main reasons holding me back when it comes to HIRES video.

I have been scaling my dvds to 1080i for about 4 yrs now and have done enough A/B comparisons with recorded HD films from my cable company to have already decided that my dvd library (save a few exceptions) would not be replaced by any video format.

The aspect of the new formats that had me excited was DSD or MLP 6/7/8.1 uncompressed audio. I was absolutely stunned to not only see a 2ch offering on "Phantom Of The Opera" but as a harbinger of what to expect in software, neither camp is offering more than 5.1 analog outs from their first players.

My plan was to wait for a combi player with a full set of 8ch analogs and purchase almost exclusively new software if it had at least 6ch of Dolby-TRU HD.

As an early adopter I was pleased to see that my component inputs (so far) will still not be negatively effected but it is definitely not enough.

One last thing. Lets see how some of the older movies look and sound.

Peter M.
PS: Would someone please release the movie "Becket"

 

[Michael TLV]

Greetings

Why would someone want to watch a movie about your cat?

Regards

 

[Richard Travale]

I am waiting on a few things.
First, either the format war to be settled or the introduction of universal players.
Second, hardware that is compatible with the format (I still don't see any receivers that can reproduce the HD audio formats).
Third, finalization on the choice of media. Is Blu-ray going to go dual layer, triple layer? I just don't know yet.
Fourth, HDMI. I just read that HDMI 1.3 has been finalized. Hopefully we will see it in hardware very soon.

 

[Tony-B]

The Playstation 3 will be the first piece of hardware to have HDMI 1.3...

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/23/pl...port-hdmi-1-3/

 

[Brian_Pete]

I've been reading on this forum and AVS for awhile and out of all the info there are only a few things holding me back.

First of all I think the formats have a ton of potential. I personally don't care which one wins so here are the things that are holding me back for both.

HD-DVD:
1. Studio support. I want to be able to buy hi-def movies from Sony, Disney, etc.
2. The HDMI connection does not work with the TV I'm going to buy (Samsung HLS 5687). It's probably Samsung's fault but it's holding me back nonetheless.
3. Warner has yet to release the movies I really want to see in hi-def. Batman Begins, The Matrix, The Corpse Bride, etc. I know they are announced but I'm still waiting.

Blu-Ray
1. Cost. Too expensive at this time.
2. Inferior releases. The Fifth Element was the first one I was interested in and that release was botched. Now I see it would just be the first double-dip when it's released correctly.
3. Studio support. I know most studios have stated commitment but only a few have actually released.

I think eventually Blu-Ray will be the one that I will buy but they must make improvements.
-Better encoding (VC1, MPEG4).
-50 GB discs.
-More affordable players.

It will be a couple years.

 

[Terry H]

Yeah, I've heard this rumor too. No offense intended, but as far as I'm concerned that is all it is, a RUMOR. If the studios are serious about holding off on ICT for "the next few years" they need to announce exactly how long they are going to delay implementation. This is the primary consideration for me. I will not replace my analog HDTV to buy into a HD format.

The format war needs to be resolved or universal players manufactured.

 

[Eric_L]

I watch two to three movies a week. Until there is more content I see little incentive to upgrade. I may go with a new Xbox or playstation that plays the format - score a sort of two-fer - we'll have to see how well they each handle their respective formats...

 

[Mark Oates]

As somebody living in that technological backwater known as Europe, there are a number of things keeping me from investing in HD (not just the new disc formats, the whole shooting match).

Price - It's not just about picking up a player, it's about completely upgrading your home entertainment system. Maybe you can do it over a period, but then what order do you go after pieces of kit? Electronics prices hereabouts are artificially inflated, so to acquire a decent Home Theatre setup you're looking at a visit to a specialist shop with one of those nice fellows who is working on commission and wants you to buy the biggest honking screen he has in stock.

You need a new display. No arguments. HD is a non-starter with an SD display, so you have to have a new display, either plasma, LCD or projector. Minimum £800 ($1500) Not cheap. You also need to upgrade your content provision, which means either upgrading or signing up with either cable or satellite as there are no terrestrial HD feeds outside London for the UK. £120 ($220) hike on £210 subscription.

Say they actually start selling HD-DVD or BluRay players in Europe. They'll be pricey to start with - maybe as high as £750 ($1300), and the discs will retail around £30 ($55).

Then there's the sound option - a new amplifier, speakers and subwoofer? You wind up phoning up one of those shady loan companies that advertise all the time on British television and wind up with a debt that your descendents will be paying to the seventh son of a seventh son.

There are, of course, other problems. If you decide now to buy HD in Britain, you'll probably have to wait for stocks of whatever you want because retailers have been cashing in on the World Cup feeding-frenzy. Sky are talking about September for new sign-ups to their HD service, and displays are thin on the ground.

And what of all the negative press about HD - that HD Ready displays don't display SD material very well. That HD programming is thin on the ground (other than frickin' football), and of course that software discs in either format are as rare as the players.

You notice I haven't even got round to the format war (don't worry, I'm not starting on that).

I'm sitting comfortably on my wallet, saving my doubloons for when the smoke finally clears and buying Hd becomes a sensible proposition. By my estimate that'll be some time in late 2007 at the earliest.

Wake me then.

 

[Will_B]

I have yet to try one of those new "upscaling" DVD players, so it seems premature to buy a high def format.

However I would considering buying one of the new high def formats, if:

- If... there was only 1 format or at least a "universal" drive.

- If... the price for a universal drive was closer to $200, which I see as a price that is competitive with existing DVD. Though frankly in a bad economy, the new format should be LESS expensive if it really intends to compete -- say closer to $100. This is not the 1980s. The market is down and gas is up. People aren't rich anymore. And if they are, they are saving up to buy a big screen. There's nothing left over to buy a $600 player and a $1,000 player.

- If... the high def discs include more extras than the regular DVDs. The film Firefly was a special edition in Australia, with more documentaries. I assumed the high def release would round these up. But it didn't! It is as if the studio doesn't even care. Same with The Fifth Element. Both are films I love, that would have drawn me to the new format -- if they had been all-inclusive special editions.

 

[rich_d]

Robert,

Much of what you say boils down to a 'back in the day, we only had boiled potatoes and we were grateful' kinda logic/sophistry. What does comparing what was in the past have to do with a current product's appeal/valuation?

I also don't see buying two formats on the logic that one might fail and at least you will have the other format (most applicable for a new release) to continue to use. First, you can use the failed format just as you use your laserdisc library now. Second, the likelihood is that postponing a purchase of a viable format only reduces the cost of the purchase.

I also don't think know what info you have suggests that a HD/SD hybrid would result in paying just a "little extra."

Me, I'll take a wait and see approach. However, I think a better title for this thread would be:

High Definition DVD: What is Moving You Forward?

 

[Terry Hickey]

1. I will not purchase two players
2. The price of the software seems a bit high for the content
3. Right now, looks like it might just be a niche market

 

[drobbins]

I don't buy things, just because they are the new technology. I still remember watching a 13" black & white TV growing up. I am happy with my theater as it is now. Also I don't have a HD TV My next upgrade would probably be a projector with higher resolution than my current one. When my current DVD player bites the dust, then I will upgrade.

Dave

 

[Steve Meil]

I have read many articles about these new formats and do not intend to support any until there is a clear established winner. I guess my next step would be to get some type of HD TV but the prices are still too high. I had both types of VCR;s and I thought that beta was a much better unit but look where that got me. I have replaced alot of my music collection over the years from records to CD and from tapes to DVD. In fact I have spent over $9,000 since 2000 on DVD's so I will not be replacing anything. When there is a clear winner I will then go forward from that point. I'm sure at some point in the future say 20 or 30 years there will be yet another format and we will be having this same discussion once again

 

[WesleyS]

I wont adopt till sometime in 2007 with blu ray.
first, i'm not much interested in titles being released on blu-ray. and i'm still waiting for players to drop a few in price, and have all the kinks and pic quality worked out more. this format war is endless, since it might be something that has appeal like laserdisc had. only hardcore fans like us, will care, regular joe six pack wont care a bit.

i'm upgrade a few titles i rewatch the most and really care for,even titles that have not come out on SD dvd,but i wont upgrade all, since i put a good amount in to my dvd and LD collections.