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02-10-2007, 12:55 PM
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#1 of 55 
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Local Time: 07:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 9
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HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
I have just ordered a 40 in. Sony XBR2 LCD.
I am currently using a 6 year old Sony CD/DVD changer 670D. I also have a small DVD movie collection of about 125 DVD's.
What can I buy that I would not have to "discard" my DVD's, and also continue to upgrade a component system that I will be replacing piece by piece until it is done?
Or should I wait?
and
What am I waiting for?
I would be looking to spend about $500 more or less.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Lenore
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02-10-2007, 05:44 PM
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#2 of 55
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Local Time: 02:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 479
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
Unless you don't mind getting involved in the format war and possibly ending up with the format that loses, I'd probably hold off. For around $500 you can buy either Blu-Ray (PS3) or HD-DVD (Toshiba A2). Blu-Ray has all the major studios except Universal. HD-DVD only has Universal, Warner and Paramount. Basically the only reason to get involved with HD-DVD right now is if you HAVE to have Universal movies. Otherwise just buy Blu-Ray and you'll get everything put out in HD but the titles that Universal will be putting out.
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02-10-2007, 05:46 PM
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#3 of 55
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Crawdaddy
Administrator
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Dec 1998
Local Time: 02:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 18,319
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
At this point, I won't recommend anybody buying into this format war unless money/cost is no object to them.
Crawdaddy
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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02-10-2007, 07:21 PM
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#4 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Dec 1969
Local Time: 02:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 12,269
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
If you're waiting for anything, it's for either one of the two HD disc formats to disappear, one to enjoy support from all studios, or for the difference to be relatively moot (when affordable, full-featured multi-standard players are available). Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening any time this year, so the question is, are you willing to risk spending another few hundred dollars in a year or two?
Blu-ray is probably the safer way to go, although it's generally more expensive ($500 is the absolute minimum, assuming you can find a 20GB PS3, while HD-DVD players can be found for $400) - it's got more studio support and higher capacity. I wouldn't argue against HD-DVD, though - it's tough to argue against the inexpensive hardware, and they have thus far done a better job with the interactive capabilities. The combo discs are nice to have, if you're going to be wanting to playing the movies you buy on other players as well. HD-DVD also has no region coding and less potentially onerous copy protection (although I have my doubts that the latter will ever become a huge factor).
You don't have to "discard" your DVDs with either system; they're both backward compatible and my HD-DVD player (I haven't bought into Blu-ray) does a pretty decent job up-converting them to HD.
Basically, it amounts to what being able to watch HD movies now, as opposed to when everything has shaken out in a year or so, to you. If you spend $400 on an HD-DVD player now, you may wind up spending another $500 on Blu-ray later (or vice-versa), but you'll have gotten a year of use out of it, and it's not like your old player will stop working when that happens.
Jay's Movie Blog - A movie-viewing diary.
Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
Trading Post Inn - Another gender-bending soap, with different collaborators writing different points of view.
"What? Since when was this an energy ball movie?" - Overheard during a screening of Takashi Miike's Dead Or Alive
"What the hell religion are you people?" - Overheard during the Captain Marvel serial at SF/29
"If I feel even one bullet hit me, I will rip your lungs out through your nostrils!" - Ron Silver as himself, "Heat Vision And Jack"
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02-10-2007, 10:26 PM
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#5 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Local Time: 11:21 PM
Local Date: 11-18-2008
Posts: 3,544
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
I thought BD players would not play DVD?
"Oh Mikey do you think I even know what the hell they are talking about half the time? I dont know whether they are talking about how hard it is to be adopted or how their father never shows them love. All I do man, is I wrinkle my eyebrows, stare at their lips and somehow I turn out to be some big sweetie." - Trent Walker (Swingers - 1996)
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02-10-2007, 10:56 PM
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#6 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Jan 1999
Local Time: 07:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 323
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Shawn Perron
Basically the only reason to get involved with HD-DVD right now is if you HAVE to have Universal movies. Otherwise just buy Blu-Ray and you'll get everything put out in HD but the titles that Universal will be putting out.
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I don't concur with this suggestion. BD may currently have more studio support, but HD-DVD has a comparable amount of titles, and better movies as well! For example, Universal has already released 60 titles on HD-DVD while Fox has released 19! Fox has another 15 announced through the summer, bringing the total to 34. By that time, pencil Uni in for another 10 - 15 (or more). Plus, Blu-Ray has a ton of garbage titles padding their release figures, and they happen to be ridiculously priced at $40 each!
To the OP -- check out the titles yourself & research the hardware. Make your decision on price & performance. I own HD-DVD and I have never made a more sound purchase in HT |
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02-10-2007, 11:06 PM
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#7 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Sep 1998
Local Time: 12:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 907
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
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Originally Posted by Richard Travale
I thought BD players would not play DVD?
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Where'd you hear that? Some don't play CDs but they all play DVDs. |
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02-10-2007, 11:32 PM
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#8 of 55
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Local Time: 12:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 2,000
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
Quote:
I don't concur with this suggestion. BD may currently have more studio support, but HD-DVD has a comparable amount of titles, and better movies as well! For example, Universal has already released 60 titles on HD-DVD while Fox has released 19! Fox has another 15 announced through the summer, bringing the total to 34. By that time, pencil Uni in for another 10 - 15 (or more). Plus, Blu-Ray has a ton of garbage titles padding their release figures, and they happen to be ridiculously priced at $40 each!
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Yeah, titles like "Fast and The Furious" or "Half Baked" is quality Oscar acclaimed stuff  (padding & garbage titles are in the eye of the beholder, I'd much rather watch "X-Men" than "Serenity")
You fail to mention the majority of combo discs are more expensive (the format Universal prefers).
Or the fact that Fox's releases have only been since mid November, rather than last May for Universal.
How about he takes a look at the title selection and decides for himself?
PS: Happy Birthday 
Last edited by PeterTHX : 02-10-2007 at 11:34 PM.
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02-11-2007, 10:22 AM
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#9 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Local Time: 01:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 8,528
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
Both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will play your SD DVD's.
Like Jason said, for $500 you can go with either a standalone HD-DVD or a PS3 which is a fantastic Blu-Ray player. For me it wasn't much considering I spent about the same for my first DVD player almost 10 years ago.
My advise: Do your own research and come to your own conclusions.- The net (Here and AVS) is a great place for Blue-Ray & HD-DVD info but try to see through the rhetoric of both camps.
- Look into the independent sales figures for software of Blu vs. HD.
- Talk in the real world with others you know who're into HT.
- Check out some B&M stores to see which is moving faster off the shelves.
- Know what studios support what format and what movies are currently available for each.
- Check out the upcoming releases of both formats.
I did all of the above until I was sure which format I wanted to go with: Blu-Ray.
But again with a format war you really should do a bit of research and come to you own conclusion.
The Collection (Blu-Ray High Definition/DVD)
Pre-orders - BLU-RAY: Akira, The Dark Knight, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Death Proof, King Kong, La Femme Nikita, Planet Terror, Raging Bull, Ronin, The Third Man DVD: .................
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02-11-2007, 11:12 AM
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#10 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Local Time: 02:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 2,852
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
Quote:
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Yeah, titles like "Fast and The Furious" or "Half Baked" is quality Oscar acclaimed stuff
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You forgot to mention CASABLANCA, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, FORBIDDEN PLANET and SPARTACUS. 
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02-11-2007, 11:56 AM
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#11 of 55
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Local Time: 01:21 AM
Local Date: 11-19-2008
Posts: 8,528
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Re: HD-DVD or Blue ray:When do I jump in?
Quote:
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You forgot to mention CASABLANCA, THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, FORBIDDEN PLANET
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Great flicks. Can't wait to pick 'em up on Blu-Ray later this year as part of Warners BD catch-up releases.
The Collection (Blu-Ray High Definition/DVD)
Pre-orders - BLU-RAY: Akira, The Dark Knight, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Death Proof, King Kong, La Femme Nikita, Planet Terror, Raging Bull, Ronin, The Third Man DVD: .................
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