I can't take it anymore, I've jumped to backing Blu-ray! (1 Viewer)

[Reed Grele]

I've had only HD DVD (Toshiba HD-A1) since last September (and LOVE it!) But I caved and got a PS3 (60GB). There just aren't enough titles that I want being released on HD DVD these days to keep me happy. And with Casino Royale just around the corner....

After a few glitches setting up the HDMI audio to correctly enjoy the uncompressed 5.1 PCM with my Yamaha 5990 receiver, I am very happy with it. Picture quality is on par with HD DVD, and an added bonus is being able to download movie trailers (in full 1080 HD) and demo games (for FREE) from the Sony store. Wireless internet option is also a plus.

As far as the "war" goes, I guess I'm covered now.

 

[Dan Hitchman]

Sony is releasing a lower priced player later this year according to industry news. Samsung is releasing a lower priced unit as well in a few weeks. Maybe a few hundred more than a Toshiba HD-DVD player (if you look at MSRP), but feature rich. The Samsung is supposed to have a really, really good scaling chip in their new 2nd gen. player.

The PS3, which I have, is a pretty decent Blu-Ray player (PQ is practically as good as the Pioneer Elite-- hopefully Sony will add 1080p/24 output soon), but you must consider that the only way to get advanced audio out of the PS3 is via HDMI (no multi-channel analog outputs). You will have to update your surround receiver or pre-amp if it doesn't handle 8 channel LPCM through HDMI and 1080p video... or if it doesn't even have 6 channel or 8 channel analog inputs (if you go with another player with multi-channel analog outputs).

Dan

 

[Dave Moritz]

I currently own a HD-A1 HD-DVD player and I have been happy with it and the movies look great. But with the slim number of releases on HD-DVD. And the lack of blockbusters being released. And there being no word from Universal about HD releases. I am going to shift most of my purchases to Blu-ray titles as I am tired of the poor job that is being done on the HD-DVD side. Other than some HD-DVD imports that are using DTS-HD Master Audio I can not see myself buying many HD-DVD titles this year. Another thing that I hate is that these titles are being release overseas with DTS on DVD and DTS-HD Master Audio on HD-DVD and not here in the US.

Imported HD-DVD:
Basic Instinct (English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio)
King Kong 1976 (English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio)
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (English 5.1 Dolby True HD)
Rambo 1-3 (English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio)
Terminator 2 (English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio)
The Fog (English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio)
Total Recal (English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio)

Other than those titles and a few US releases like Battlestar Galactica, Dune, The Mummy Returns and Pulse. I see to many Blu-ray titles not to shift my support there way and IMHO Fox using DTS-HD MA is a big plus. Especially since HD-DVD has very few Dolby True HD titles.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

What gives with all that lossless audio on those import DVDs but not on the US versions?

?!?!

Lossless audio (regardless of codec) is one of *the* primary reasons I'm interested in upgrading my movie library to HD disc (BD in my case). Pisses me off that WB puts Dolby True HD on a few HD DVD titles but omits that lossless track for the corresponding BD release. That better change soon. Did anybody ask about that in the chat?

 

[Ryan Peddle]

The audio side is something that is neck and neck with the video side as it pertains to priority.

I love a good audio track, as do most of us. I remember the first time I watched The Haunting in DTS. I had to run over to my subwoofer and turn it down to prevent it from exploding.

It is a bit of a concern as to why there are sol many import versions of both formats that contain a higher quality audio track. Can anyone confirm if any of the US/CAN players can play these imports without issues? And if they can, what are the expenses to purchase an import version?

Back to the topic, I'm not abandoning all faith in HDDVD. I keep my eye out for a used and decently priced HD-A1 all the time. But with the news of Sony and Samsungs 2nd gen players that will have analog outs, that is where the focus of my funds will go.

 

[Dave Moritz]

To my knowledge there is no region coding on HD-DVD so discs from outside the North American area should play. I believe Blu-ray is the same but I would love to hear from someone that knows for sure if there is or is not region coding on blu-ray titles.

 

[Dave_P.]

I have The Exorcism of Emily Rose & Hostel UK blu-rays and they play fine on my US players. Of course those are catalog titles, so I don't know how new releases are handled, though the US usually gets them first.

 

[Wet1]

On the contrary, I'd suggest supporting both formats is even more foolish.

The sooner this format war ends, the better off we'll all be. Supporting both sides sends mixed signals which does little to end the war. With a single format we'd have universal studio support, fence sitters would participate, the optical HD consumers would no longer be diluted over two groups, and all of this means decreased pricing via economies of scale and increased software support from the studios.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

With only *one* studio (Universal) releasing titles only on HD DVD, that statement should be better qualified.

If consumers rally and show support for Blu-ray, it's only a matter of time before Universal releases product on BD, and ends this "war" for good (yes, Universal choosing to even just offer dual-support would END THE WAR as the many BD-exclusive studios would decide the fate of HD DVD instantly).

I'm ready for the war to end. HD DVD is a great product, but BD is better in the hands of a studio/producer wishing to make the most of it, and the sooner the war ends, the sooner the studios will gear up High-Def releases to meet growing consumer demand.

 

[Paul_Dunlop]

^ I agree - I don't condemn anyone who buys both formats (because I don't care), but it does send a confusing message to the H/W and S/W providers

I hope they are checking the Netflix, Rogers, Blockbusters etc. online rentals for information as well - I'm not sure that most people are buying the HD media at these high prices

 

[Dave Moritz]

I agree that HD-DVD is a great product and I own a HD-A1. And due to the lack luster HD-DVd releases lately I have decided to buy mostly Blu-ray. Universal has only made me care less about HD-DVD and it is frustrating that there is not a strong showing. At this point Universal might as well come out and say we don't care about HD-DVD! :frowning:

This format war needs to end soon as it is not helping adouption of ether HD format. Up to this point you could say it has helped by getting Sony to use updated video codexes. And it has helped bring down the price of players faster than if there was no format war. Blu-ray studios are releasing more and more top notch movies. And the price of Blu-ray players are coming down to the point where we could see sub $500 players by christmas. Universal is the only exclusive HD-DVD studio and they are doing a piss poor job at suporting HD-DVD at this point in time.

By the time Meridian get around to making an HD-DVD player it will not matter unless the tide changes in HD-DVD favor. I do not see Onkyo adding an HD-DVD player helping the cause. Blu-ray made mistakes as did HD-DVD but Blu-ray has recovered and they are making all the right moves. The numbers are showing that sales are increasing for blu-ray and again Universal who is the only exclusive HD-DVD studio is not helping by not releasing strong titles. It is no wonder that HD-DVD supporters might find themselves wondering if Universal is going to jump ship on them?

As for myself I will buy very few HD-DVD tiltes as I am more impressed with what Blu-ray brings to the table. The few HD-DVD titles that I will buy will be some imports with DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and titles like Battlestar Galactica that are not available on Blu-ray. If this format war does not kill both formats and it drags on for a year or two. Then I will look at upgrading my Toshiba HD-A1 with another player with HDMI 1.3 and better quality video and audio processors. But for now I am saving money for a really nice Blu-ray player and at least 80% of my movie money will go to Blu-ray!

 

[Jeff Adkins]

If this really happens, I don't see how HD-DVD can survive. With players at $299, there's no longer any advantage to buying in to HD-DVD. Even the $199 360 add-on doesn't seem like much of a bargain anymore.

I just think it's a shame that Toshiba convinced all these people to spend money on hardware when they knew the deck was stacked against them from the beginning.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

???

We've been arguing the pros/cons of the two format camps since before their respective launches. Much of what's come to pass was predicted by many industry leaders and enthusiasts alike. Regardless of the controversy or where one may fall in their own particular take on the saga, no enthusiast who was aware of this format battle and of these issues can claim to have been duped by anyone.

Most HD DVD owners who bought their player bought it fully aware that HD DVD might not succeed (most BD buyers bought under the same caveat). The price that they paid was that they might have a $500 paperweight a few years hence. The value that they bought was the ability to enjoy high-quality 1080 HD content while the BD camp was getting its act together (along with a few exlusive Universal titles lingering on until that studio goes dual/BD as well).

As far as investing in software, this is one reason I've been suggesting that anyone with dual-format capability start buying dual-released titles on BD or on TotalHD rather than HD DVD to better future-proof their software collection from this point going forward.

 

[Dave Moritz]

I remember hearing a few months ago from my roommate that they watched a video on HD formats. And that Walmart exspected to be selling $300 blu-ray players christmas 07'. I honestly did not think it was going to happen at the time, but now it looks like it could very well happen. HD-DVD IMHO has a very rough road ahead and will have to be near perfect in the marketing and will need the best movies posilbe to swing people to there side. The will also have to win back the consumers that have jumped ship and gone Blu-ray. Its not over yet but the bell is starting to toll and when it hits midnight its all over for one of the formats.

 

[Chris S]

Unfortunately not, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have mattered. They were pretty admit that if it the question wasn't title specific they weren't going to answer.

 

[Jeff Adkins]

I agree with everything you say here. I'm sure most members of this forum knew what they were getting into. I'm referring to a lot of people who didn't know any better and just walked into Fry's or Circuit City and bought a player. Either way, I guess I'm getting ahead of myself suggesting that HD-DVD is dead. But I think $299 BD players are going to have a strong effect. We'll see.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

Quite true, though the number of HD DVD player "impluse" buys like this from non-enthusiasts has to represent a very, very small percentage of units sold given that very few non-enthusasts/early-adoptors are willing to part with $500 for a new format right upon launch... regardless of what the salesman says.

I used to be a salesman and had a hard time selling DVD players when DIVX was still a rumor! Non-enthusast consumers are VERY cautious about getting burned again after the VHS/Beta saga.

dave

 

[PeterMano]

What political bullcrap. I should support bluray because you niavely think that sony is the company to lead high def and act in a responsible manner. The company that attempted to con consumers with their superbit dvd line, the company that demands a premium for their products simply because they carry the sony moniker, the company that didn't even show up with hardware for the official bluray launch, that company.

When are you going to start backing companies that actually give a damn about movies, is my question, instead of looking to cheerlead a platform simply because you want the format war to end.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

Peter,

By "but BD is better in the hands of a studio/producer wishing to make the most of it" I meant all of the studios (other than Sony, if that makes you happy) supporting BD:

Fox, Disney, MGM, Warner Brothers, Paramount.

Indeed, as Disney showed with Chicago on BD, they CAN make the most of it. The bit-rate used for video and audio pushed the envelope on that title beyond what could have been accompished with HD DVD (and that title was using AVC compression!).

 

[LarryH]

I don't think my 100+/- HD-DVD's are going to stop working as soon as some undefined event causes this "war" to be declared "won" by BD. I do expect to pick up an additional HD-DVD player if things start turning sour, but I will keep enjoying my HD-DVD's as long as I have a working player. I will certainly enjoy them more than the abominations initially foisted on the unsuspecting consumer by the Blu-Ray publishers.

Long live both formats!