If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Why? Do you think your player will suddenly stop working tomorrow? I have always planned to go purple (I'm "red" now) but I'm not going to stop buying HD DVDs or onload my player. I did buy the least expensive available option because of the "format war" but I don't see why this is a reason to panic. Perhaps I've learned to be format neutral via DVD-A/SACD so I see this as the same situation. I am honestly baffled at the reaction of people who want to sell their discs and machines immediately.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Actually I will continue to purchase any and all HD DVD's I can. For me it will be business as usual.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I plan to purchase a Blu-ray player. Always have planned to do that. I just have other priorities right now.

I'll still buy HD DVDs that are not available on Blu-ray but if and when I get a Blu-ray player I'll lean more toward that side.

In the meantime I'll keep using my HD-XA2 for HD DVDs and upconverting SD DVDs.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'll stop buying HD titles all together. I'll keep what I have and use my A2. I only have $100 in it.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm still going to favor HD-DVD over BD for as long as I can - my HD-A1 still does stuff that my BD-P1000 can't do, and I'm really not looking to drop another few hundred to replace it yet.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I've been red and I'm going to continue on the path I started about two months ago: Rent HD DVD from Netflix until Blu-ray finalizes its hardware profile at a level commensurate with the HD DVD profile.

At that point, I'll also get a Blu-ray player and continue to rent discs. (It's possible I'll get antsy if they drag their feet, which could mean a PS3 in my future since it seems somewhat more future proof than the current standalone Blu-ray players.)

As the smoke clears, I realize that the format war has taught me one important thing: I don't need to purchase discs to be happy. I bought heavily into LaserDisc and DVD. Don't regret any of that; however, my recent experience with Netflix has been quite positive and I don't feel the need to build a collection of HDM at present.

So I've stopped purchasing both SD and HD discs for now and perhaps for the future, as well. That's probably not the outcome Hollywood might have hoped for. But it's working for me. It probably sets me up for a movement toward on-demand distribution, too.

Although I still feel that HD DVD hardware was managed more intelligently than Blu-ray, I hope this latest event does bring some unity to the conflict so that we can get on with the more important business of establishing one clear HD disc format for all of us to enjoy without format anxiety.

I'll continue to use my HD DVD player for my two dozen or so HD discs and for its excellence as a CD and SD DVD player. It's been a fun 16 months and I've definitely gotten my money's worth of entertainment from the format.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm purple, but there is no way I am dumping my HD DVD collection and player any time soon. I have 43 HD DVDs right now, one ordered and en route (Cat People) and two that I plan on picking up first thing on Tuesday morning (Zodiac and The Pianist). If Universal and Paramount continue to put product out that I want on HD DVD, I will continue to buy the discs. If they stop and switch over to Blu-ray, I'll start buying (not re-buy) titles on that format. The HD DVD player and collection stays until the machine buys the farm, which hopefully won't be anytime soon.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm neither red nor blue, having decided to sit this whole mess out until the dust settles and prices come down, but I'm astonished that people are talking about dumping their HD-DVD players and discs. Are your HD-DVD collections really that small that you'd be happy to rebuy them all on Blu Ray? Do you really expect them all to be instantly released on Blu Ray just because of Warner's announcement? (I don't think that's going to force Universal to switch horses anytime soon.)

It was years before all the titles I owned on laserdisc were released on DVD, and I still have an LD player sitting on the shelf somewhere that I'll probably hook up once I finish redoing my place and finalize the HT.

There are still going to be titles you want to buy or rent that are only available on HD-DVD for a long time to come, no matter what eventually comes of the WB move.

Regards,

Joe

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

$200 for me but I agree completely. The A2 will continue to be my primary player for its execellent upscaling abilities. As for my current collection of HD titles (about 45 or so), I plan to keep them as Shane mentioned above but I will replace any titles that are released with a higher quality encode or for a title that is released with lossless where the original HD DVD release had none.

I disagree. Without derailing this thread, it may not be immediate, but I consider it to be an inevitable likelihood.

...and considering the ramifications of yesterday's announcement I am more than willing to show some patience and wait for an eventual Blu-Ray release of those titles.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I go on as I did and planned.
And keep my eyes wide open.

I'm not going to sell anything HD in my posession.


Cees

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'll stay purple. Buying the HD DVD exclusive titles I really want and renting the rest. My overall strategy doesn't really change. I have faith that my player will last well into the future so I'm not concerned. If/When the player does eventually die I'll weight the cost of picking up another via eBay or re-buying the titles I really want on Blu-ray.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Ok, [flame suit on]... what is red and purple? HD-DVD titles do have red HD-DVD logo's and the Blu-Ray have BLUE logo's. What's purple? I admit I don't have many HD-DVD's.[/flame suit off]

As far as what I will do. I am shopping for a Blu-Ray player at the moment. I won't totally ditch HD-DVD right away, even if it dies, simply because the HD-DVD software and my player work well. My only concern is the eventual redundancy of whatever HD-DVD titles I have, when whatever is exclusive to HD-DVD get's released on Blu-Ray if HD-DVD loses the war, particularly if they improve the releases for Blu-Ray (better mastering, better video, better audio, more features etc). Then I'll either be stuck with inferior HD-DVD titles or end up paying $ to replace them with the Blu-Ray versions.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

"Purple" means having both "red" and "blue" capabilities in your system--in other words, format neutral.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Gotcha. Red or Purple means you're either HD-DVD or neutral (both). Well, I guess I'm red going purple for the time being. One thing's for sure, I won't spend a lot of money on HD-DVD's. If they are on sale and look like a really good value, then great, otherwise, I'm not going to drop more coin on something that may become obsolete or redundant. Oh heck. War is hell!

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I own the XBOX 360 add on. Given the stellar reliability of the 360 , it just might.

I don't have a serious enough collection (around 20) HD-DVD to really worry about replacing them. Most of my new purchases have been BD anyway, just because of how nice the PS3 is as a unit. I'll keep them as long as the XBOX holds up and probably pass them off to a friend or Ebay them if it goes up. No point in investing in another player if the war truly ends.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

...yeah, my collection isn't big either, maybe 12 to 15 titles, but of course, of all things, I just bought the Blade Runner 5-disc HD-DVD Briefcase.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Paul DA stated:"I am honestly baffled at the reaction of people who want to sell their discs and machines immediately."


I feel the same way. I got up this morning and my player and discs are still doing fine.


Cees Alons stated: "I'm not going to sell anything HD in my posession."


Me too. Hey, I bought and received what I paid for, and I'm happy with it and will to continue to enjoy it for quite awhile. I will pick up a few more titles that I want down the road and as far as I know, HD DVD is still in the game, although the future doesn't look very promising right now, but that's the gamble I have taken. My financial resourses aren't what they use to be, that's why I went HD DVD (player + 12 free titles) and I'm enjoying the HD DVDs along with my SD DVDs.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm purple and will keep my existing HD discs (about thirty or so, all keepers) and will get any further red releases that are HD exclusive as who knows how long it'll be before they come out in BD? My suspicion is that red-only releases will be bound by contracts that keep them HD only for years to come.

So anyone who bought blue only might be waiting a long time even now for anything that's exclusively red at the moment.

But: any titles that are neutral I'll now get in blue only. Previously I usually went for whichever was the cheaper (generally red). I might be tempted to get some more red titles in a sale if prices really plummet, but to be honest, I've got all the red titles on my 'A list' of wants from the current range. Anything else would be like buying an elephant in a sale - it might be a bargain, but I don't really need it.

What I also will do as a Brit (and I don't know if my fellow European chums will do the same) is start buying any BD titles that are region free, as I have a neurotic fear that once BD is the sole hi-def format and companies don't have to try quite as hard to be nice to the customer, region encoding is going to rear its ugly head.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm red only and plan to keep my HD DVD equipment & HD DVD's!!!

But here's my Perspective from:

1) Over 50 year old Audio/Videophile
.... a) See my HT Website


2) All children moved out of home - 1 married & living near Sydney Australia

3) INTERESTS:
.... a) Blockbuster Movie w/Special / Ultimate / Collection Edition Featurettes
.... b) Computer / MCAD & ECAD Designer
.... c) Star Trek & Sci-Fi Misc. Collectables, etc. (see website link)
.... d) Jazz, contemporary - retired semi-pro Keyboard / Grand Piano / guitar / bass guitar / drum player
.... e) Audiophile since 1978
........ 1. Present equipment
................a. Yamaha RX-V1300 6.1 100w x 6 AV Receiver
................b. JBL Studio S-Series: Center = JBL S-Center / Front, Side & Rear Center = JBL S26
................c. SVS 25-31PCi w/300w BASH Digital Amp
................d. REFERENCED CALIBRATED w/Dolby Labs 6.1 w/dedicated LFE EX Test Tones
................e. HT/family room: 20' x 30' w/10' vaulted ceiling
.... f) Video: Toshiba 62" 1080p 62HM196 DLP HDTV
........ 1. Video REFERENCED CALIBRATED w/Digital Video Essentials HD DVD
................a. BLUE Filter & NTSC Color Test Screen = Color & Tint
................b. PLUGE Test Screen = Brightness

------------------------------------

With Warner's decision to support Blu-ray, it's possible that Blu-ray will win and once Paramount and or Universal starts making Blu-ray disc's, ... then Blu-ray can claim 100% victory.

Unlike many that became neutral (purple) supporters, ... I didn't buy Blu-ray at this time because of the unstable Profile spec's**.

Until then, I'm just supporting HD DVD's because their Advanced Interactivity (TRUE PiP & WEB) which adds to the ...

Post Purchase Value Added REPEAT VIEWING EXPERIENCE

... that interests me most!

Whereas, HD DVD spec's was already finalized w/dual Audio & Video Processors/Decoders and WEB Connectivity since April 2006 introduction.

Blu-ray's Profile 1.1 is a step in the right direction, but so far there is NO Blu-ray movies that I'm interested that takes advantage of the TRUE PiP!!!

Meanwhile, since my HD DVD players does an excellent job upconverting my library of 602 SD DVDs, ... ... I CAN WAIT for the dust to completely settle.

-----------------------------

** If Blu-ray wins, I'll WAIT to get a Stand-Alone when they are EQUAL to HD DVDs w/NEXT GENERATION ADAVANCED Featurettes ...

1) w/TRUE PiP (Profile 1.1)

2) Full WEB Interactivity (Profile 2.0)

3) Blu-ray studios released movies that:
.... a) I'm interested adding to my library
.... b) And they include the NEXT GENERATION ADAVANCED Featurettes

4) AND the Stand-Along Player's COST Around $199.99 - $249.99!!!

NOTE: Since I don't play games, ... I'm not interest in the PS3 game console + the added cost of a remote. Both my Toshiba HD DVD players (HD-A1 & HD-A35) COST LESS than ONE PS3 + remote!!!

---------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, I have 78 HD DVD titles in my library.

Among the 78 HD DVD's, ... the following 13 HD DVD movies INCLUDES TRUE PiP Interactivity (video commentaries, etc.) :

1..... The Fast and the Furious (2001)
2..... Shrek the Third (2007)
3..... Transformers (2007)
4..... Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection
5..... The Bourne Identity (2002)
6..... The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
7..... Breach (2007)
8..... King Kong (2005)
9..... Heroes: Season 1 (2006)
10.... Star Trek: The Original Series - The Complete First Season (1966)
11.... The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
12.... Batman Begins (2005)
13.... Poseidon (2006)

I'm presently watching Star Trek: The Original Series - The Complete First Season (1966) - disc #4 and will definitely watch all the "Starfleet Access" (PiP Video Commentaries) afterwards. I already checked-out the EXCLUSIVE HD DVD Interactive Enterprise ( see this link) ...

As a Star Trek fan, this HD DVD sets really adds to my ...

Post Purchase Value Added REPEAT VIEWING EXPERIENCE!!!

Among the above 13, four HD DVDs movies INCLUDES WEB Connectivity:
1.... Shrek the Third (2007)
2.... Transformers (2007)
3.... Heroes: Season 1 (2006)
4.... The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Of the four WEB Enabled HD DVD's, Transformer's TOP's them all!!!

If Paramount released a Blu-ray version back in October 2007, the fans would only get the movie, audio commentary track and the same SD DVD featurettes ONLY!!!

The Transformers WEB Enabled Featurettes.

WEB ENABLED FATURETTES:
1) Intelligence Mode - HD DVD Release - October 16, 2007

2) Menu BOTS - WEB Update - December 4, 2007

3) Transformers Profiler - WEB Update - December 6, 2007
.... a) Plan to read all the behind-the-scene's INFO and Pic's after I'm done w/Star Trek TOS Season 1 HD DVDs

Again, this HD DVD sets really adds to my ...

Post Purchase Value Added REPEAT VIEWING EXPERIENCE!!!

Click HERE to see some samples from Transformers WEB Enabled Featurettes!!!

-------------------------------

Hope my perspective helps!?!

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm purple with a preference for HD DVD. That being said I've had bad luck with HD DVD players--I'm on my 5th one. I will be keeping my player and discs, and will continue to purchase HD DVD exclusive titles and if the film is available in both formats will continue to purchase whichever has the most feature content and best aq/pq. All things being equal however I will purchase the BD version--I may have a red bias but I'm not stupid.

About the only thing I'll do in response to the gloom and doom over HD DVD's misfortune is to purchase an extra backup player when/if the fire sales start. Since the longest service I've gotten out of any of my HD DVD players has been a year (A2) and my A3 is about 3 weeks old now and I have many red titles that I won't be able to afford to replace with blue it's cheaper to buy another HD DVD player.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm purple, and since I generally went for the Blu version of Warner titles (when available) and I happen to like a number of Universal and Paramount titles, it will be pretty much business as usual for me in the near term. The great thing about having both formats is that as far as where the format war is going and when, I do not have to spend much time reading the tea leaves that I could otherwise spend enjoying the tea.

Regards,

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Nevermind.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'm currently red, but I only own four HD-DVD titles.

I plan on going *completely* "Blu" in Fall 2008 (but may move that up a bit if Universal and Paramount go neutral before then.)

Until that time I'll be purchasing many SD-DVD titles and renting available HD-DVD titles. I'll also probably be purchasing a select few "Blu" titles even though I won't be able to play them for awhile.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Well, since the announcement, I've added The Searchers, V for Vendetta and Superman the Movie to my HD DVD collection (all three Warners' films, coincidentally). I generally limit myself to those discs I can find under 20$ at the local stores. I am making note of "blue" exclusives that are already available (or will be soon) that interest me, so I won't buy SD versions of most of those (I do use film as a teaching tool, so for any film that I think I will use in the classroom, I will first buy the SD version and upgrade later, if I deem it worth the effort).

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

Currently red, but not committed to the format. Got my A2 & signed up for Netflix the same day. I only own 8 HD-DVD's & will be unloading them. Most of those 8 I already own on SD-DVD, & with a good upconverting player, I'm not really giving up much IMHO. I plan on keeping the A2 for now, with the intention of only renting HD-DVD titles.

All this has made me think about my viewing habits. With the exception of a handful of titles, most in my SD-DVD collection have only been viewed once. Not sure why I buy movies in the first place.

-Dave

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

If you plan to keep watching SD DVD on your A2, why would you dump your HD DVDs? I can understand not wanting to add to the collection, but why get rid of the ones you already have?

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I had originally planned on going purple in February or March. This news has just given my an excuse to jump sooner than I had planned. I don't have a player yet, but I'm planning on getting a PS3. And I made my first Blue purchases off Amazon this morning (The Fifth Element, A Clockwork Orange and Lost: Season 3). I also picked up one of those IR remotes off Amazon so I can control it with my universal remote.

As for my A2 and 40ish HD DVDs, I plan on keeping them and continuing to enjoy them. In fact, I've still not seen about 10 of them.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I'll still buy red as long as they're available then I'll go Blu if the prices come down a bit and they figure out how to make their own hardware work like they said it would 2 years ago.

Re: If you're red or purple what will you do now?

I've given brief thought to jumping into "blue" in the next few weeks, but I've reconsidered. I'll keep buying "red" until I can't anymore and make note of "blue" releases that I'd want and avoid getting SD versions (except where I use the films in class).