The Digital Bits - "Officially Blu-ray" Soapbox - Page 2

Paul_Stachniak · 06-02-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent M

Great post, Ron. That's why HTF is one of my favorite sites on the web and has been for many years now.

agreed.

Marc Colella · 06-02-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Tannehill

If you don't support both formats, you aren't interested in movies in high definition. Period.

How about those who've only supported one format because it's the only one that has the movies he/she is interested in? Or people like myself who haven't jumped on either format because there are only 2 or 3 titles in total worth purchasing? No point in supporting a format (or both) if there's little to nothing you want to watch.

Brian Little · 06-02-2007, 03:50 PM

I'd like to make a point to Bill - let's see how a major release does on BOTH formats that is NOT released as a combo disc on the HD-DVD side that are at the same price point. Then we will see what format really is ahead at this point. Comparing Pirates which is at a single disc selling point to The Matrix which for a LOT of people is an expensive boxset is highly unfair. Or for that matter even The Departed which for all intent purposes 99% of HD-DVD owners hate the combo discs (myself excluded mostly with the Children Of Men debacle).

Eventually I will own a player once one gets to a price point I am willing to pay. If anything the markdowns by Toshiba has really helped move a nice amount of A2's as of lately which I would imagine will get more studios to back HD-DVD (more people with units = more reasons why to release content).

And for the record the AICN editorial was dumb. I never read AICN anyways. But I expect far better from Bill than what I read. Until he quits being biased to one format, quick snickering towards HD-DVD (and its user base), and go back to just delievering the news/reviews/etc in an fair and honest manner like he used to... I am officially boycotting The Digital Bits.

RAF · 06-02-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Moss

Yes I agree Harry was way wrong in many of his comments. I perfer Blu-ray on many occassions too. I recently purchased The Fountain on Blu-ray rather than HD-DVD, because of the awful "Combo format" HD-DVD discs.

While I'm in agreement with the majority of what you've been saying in this thread (and am, like you, a dual format -or should that read "duel format" user with both types of players in my HT stable) I'm a bit confused about your comment on the HD-DVD "Combo" format being "awful." Is that a personal opinion or is there something technologically inferior to the "Combo" discs in comparison to regular HD-DVD discs? In my opinion, the "Combo" format gives you the opportunity to play both the high rez and standard edition in your home, your car and anywhere you don't happen to have HD players. Yes, it's a few dollars more but with discounts, etc. to me it's a worthwhile hedge against having unusable pieces of plastic if the format doesn't make it. (That's actually a bit of an overstatement since I realize that if one or the other formats "fails" that doesn't mean that players stop working overnight. Can you say, "LP, LD or Beta?")

I actually wish that both formats (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) offered flippers so that the hedging works both ways.

Please don't misread this as attacking you in any fashion. I'm just trying to understand your comment on Combos being described as "awful." Like I said, we are apparently on the same page here in most of this.

Thanks.

Paul Hillenbrand · 06-02-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

The nightmare scenario for me, is HD via a pay-per-view, download-only model.

Never downloaded an HD movie and hope I never will.

Crave the reproduction of Picture and Sound that rivals the professional theater.

Like the feeling of owning and controlling my HD media entertainment.

Purchased two or three DVD's this year, even though there were several titles released that I would buy in HD. Hate the Standard Definition quality of picture & sound, even when upscaled in HD.

LOVE the picture and sound quality of both the Pirates Of The Caribbean Blu-Ray's and want more quality movies like this!

LOVE the picture and sound quality of The Complete Matrix Trilogy HD DVD's and want more quality movies like this!

Will support what it takes to get movies in high definition like the above.

Paul

Tim Glover · 06-02-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent M

Great post, Ron. That's why HTF is one of my favorite sites on the web and has been for many years now.

Amen Brent. Amen. Well said Ron. In fact, if the HTF became such a place where the Mods & owners like Ron tried to use their opinion and weight to sway members, I would feel this is somewhat unethical. That's a strong word and really too harsh but that's the point I'm trying to make.

Funny, it's the sites that are neutral that I frequent the most.

I agree with Steve T that movie lovers should support both formats and I'll get their eventually. Just can't afford it at the moment. For me and based on what I read here on the HTF, $$ is a big reason alot of us can't go dual format just yet.

Thank God for the HTF.

Douglas Monce · 06-02-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVTStingRay

blu ray has too many exclusive studios and in the end, the contents is what sells the brand.

Exclusive studios only help if they actually support the format. I own both blu-ray and HD DVD, and frankly I've bought all 4 blu ray movies that I want so far. I can't find anything else out there on blu ray that I want to spend any money on. Pretty sad for the format that has 3 exclusive studios supporting it.

Doug

Douglas Monce · 06-02-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Sutliff

Yeah, I can't help but think that neither format will ever make it into the mainstream. We're headed to Laserdisc territory IMHO.

I can't tell you how often I've been in Best Buy or Fry's Electronics with an HD DVD or Blu-ray disk in my hand and had someone ask me, "what is that?" I say "Its a high definition version of (what ever movie I have in my hand). Then I have to explain what high definition is, then take them over to a display showing a movie in high def.

Thats when they go "WOW!!! that looks amazing." Then they get interested.

I think the real problem here is that the general public doesn't even know that these formats exist, much less making a choice between them. Both camps have done a REALLY crappy job of letting people know what these formats can do and that they are even out there! This is really a matter of bad marketing.

Doug

Tim Glover · 06-02-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas Monce

I can't tell you how often I've been in Best Buy or Fry's Electronics with an HD DVD or Blu-ray disk in my hand and had someone ask me, "what is that?" I say "Its a high definition version of (what ever movie I have in my hand). Then I have to explain what high definition is, then take them over to a display showing a movie in high def.

Thats when they go "WOW!!! that looks amazing." Then they get interested.

I think the real problem here is that the general public doesn't even know that these formats exist, much less making a choice between them. Both camps have done a REALLY crappy job of letting people know what these formats can do and that they are even out there! This is really a matter of bad marketing.

Doug

Or what I find Doug is that they say, "wow, cool" but I have a 27 inch tv?

It was a pretty easy sell from vhs to DVD. People LOVED to have their favorite movies on this shiny new cd. HD films always had a formidable task ahead but I must say I thought it would have been clearer by now and less of the stuff that is seen on Mr. Hunt's site.

Chuck Mayer · 06-02-2007, 05:28 PM

Neither side has superior exclusives at this time. So the studio support is not relevant.

I could care less about formats. I care about MOVIES. I have both formats because I was going to get a PS3 anyway. And there was no way I would go without Batman Begins and King Kong in hi-def.

I think they are screwing each other in the long run. If there was a unified format, they might be making a little headway, a bit at a time. As it is, they are fighting each other for least irrelevant.

As Tim points out, VHS to DVD yielded numerous advantages: size, picture, significantly improved audio, no rewind, ease of use, etc.

All HD offers is better picture and sound, and the jump is more subtle. I love my hi-def, and I'm never going back (except for the occasional Netflix no option)

But "choosing a side" is a joke. Which snake to lie down with, more like it.