Hey guys, sorry if this is in the wrong section. I swore I wouldn't bite at this but it just really got blood going this morning. Bill Hunt at The Digital Bits has posted his latest attack on the HD-DVD format;
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...oap060107.html
I don't consider myself part of this format war. I own an HD-DVD player & a Blu-ray player. They both have their good points, and their downsides. I have the best of both worlds, and when it comes down to it the films are what really matter. I love my Blu-ray discs & my HD-DVD discs equally (those damn HD-DVD combos are another matter entirely though).
The thing is, he's basically having a pop at Harry Knowles of Ain't it Cool News, over his recent decision to buy an HD-DVD player instead of a Blu-ray player.
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32838
To Bill's credit he does make some good points. However during the course of the diatribe he manages to fall fowl of the same thing he's attacking Harry over, namely recommending one format over the other!!
A few choice snippets;
"When you look at the facts and trends, it seem to us here at The Bits that the ONLY thing the HD-DVD camp has to crow about right now is that they're the cheaper option."
Excuse me??!! You're supposed to be experts on this! What about no region coding on HD-DVD discs (a huge bonus)? What about exclusive support from Universal (no small-time player)? What about European companies like Studio Canal deciding to put their titles out on HD-DVD instead of Blu-ray? What about current titles that are only available at the moment on HD-DVD like Harry Potter, Batman Begins, The Matrix and upcoming titles like Blade Runner (not yet officially announced for Blu-ray) & Hot Fuzz? What about higher quality versions of films like T2 & Total Recall, versus the poor Blu-ray transfers?? What about Warner holding off on many Blu-ray titles until the whole BD Java thing is sorted out??
"With AACS already smarting from a series of cracks, hacks and work-arounds that have exposed existing high-def titles (including The Matrix) to copying, does anyone really think those studios are going to start releasing their titles on HD-DVD format, especially when Blu-ray is already dominating software sales? Again, there's no incentive whatsoever."
Sorry Bill you're just flat out wrong here! Any protection can be cracked given long enough. There's already hacked & copied Blu-ray software freely available on Newsgroups. Hell both POTC discs are freely downloadable if you know where to look. Blu-ray is NOT protected from copying!! It just takes a little more effort, is all.
"We'll continue to enjoy HD-DVD discs and review them too, for those who may be interested."
For those who MAY be interested???!! Oh thanks a bunch for that slap across the face Bill. We wouldn't want to think you were putting yourself to any trouble being forced to review those damn HD-DVD discs! It must be so awful for you..
"It would be nice to think that we could just stay neutral in this thing."
Stay neutral?? You've never BEEN neutral in this thing! However you can be neutral, here's how.. I own both an HD-DVD player & a Blu-ray player. If a film I want comes out on the HD-DVD format, I buy it. If it comes out on the Blu-ray format then I buy it on that. You don't HAVE to take sides. The only people creating this format war are the journalists, and the corporate spin doctors on either side. Many film fans are busy enjoying great HD from both formats in their front rooms, even as I type this
Sorry to go on so long, but this "soapbox" post on The Digital Bits really got me rattled!! It's one thing for Bill Hunt to have a pop at Harry Knowles for choosing an HD format. It's another thing entirely to write a post that ends up doing exactly what you're criticizing him for, namely recommending one HD format over another.
As I say I consider myself format neutral, but misleading journalism needs to be shown up for what it is. Either format is a great introduction to the HD experience.
Long live HD (in whatever format)!!
