BLU RAY OR HD DVD?? (1 Viewer)

[DAN NEIR]

Found out the problem, looked on the back of the tv. Of the 3 component inputs on the back only 1 supports 1080i. The other 2 only support 480p. Which means for now that any time I wanna watch the blu ray discs I'll have to switch the cables in the back from the hd cable to the player. Its a pain in the ass but since I will upgrade sets by Aug it's only temporary. I bought 7 titles. I'll watch some later but so far the picture on Casino Royale is impressive.

 

[DAN NEIR]

Oh by the way the titles I got today were Casino Royale, POTC Curse of the Black Pearl, M:I Box Set, The Prestige and Superman Returns.

 

[Cees Alons]

Congratulations, Dan! Welcome to the HD club.
I'm glad you solved that little problem. Enjoy your new movies in HR!
(And your wallet may soon start to hurt. )


Cees

 

[Dan Hitchman]

Congrats on going Blu! Be DOUBLY sure you download the latest update for the Sammy before you play the POTC movies.

Very important!

 

[Jason Roer]

Congrats Dan! Like Cees said - your wallet is gonna be crying! It's so addictive! Enjoy.

Cheers,

Jason

 

[DAN NEIR]

Just wanted to say I'm watching POTC Curse of the Black Pearl now and all I can say is WOW!!!!! And to think I'm watching it using component inputs and at only 1080i, can't imagine what hdmi and 1080p is gonna be like.

 

[troy evans]

Congrats Man,and Welcome.You've made some damn fine movie choices there.I try to find any reason I can to watch My HD player.Look at some of Your regular dvds and check out the upconversion next.It feels like 1997 all over again.Keep enjoyin,no matter what.Oh,and for peace of mind,Don't read format war threads! They WILL drive you crazy,LOL! Later.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thanks for that information, Obi. Looks like I have more
time to save up some $$$

 

[bassman99floyd]

I posted this else where, but I thought this was a good place to post also. Sorry all you HD-DVD owners, but I think you just bought a beta vhs player...

Blockbuster will be supporting Blu-Ray, not HD in it's stores, read on...

Blu-Ray vs HD, the battle may soon be over...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...MPLATE=DEFAULT

Jun 18, 6:39 AM EDT

AP: Blockbuster to Favor Blu-Ray HD Disc

By GARY GENTILE
AP Business Writer


Buy AP Photo Reprints


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Blockbuster Inc. will rent high-definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format in 1,450 stores when it expands its high-def offerings next month, dealing a major blow to the rival HD DVD format.

The move, being announced Monday, could be the first step in resolving a format war that has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Blockbuster has been renting both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles in 250 stores since late last year and found that consumers were choosing Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time.

"The consumers are sending us a message. I can't ignore what I'm seeing," Matthew Smith, senior vice president of merchandising at Blockbuster, told The Associated Press.

Blockbuster will continue to rent HD DVD titles in the original 250 locations and online, the Dallas-based company said.

The decision was helped in large part by the lopsided availability of titles in Blu-ray, Smith said. All major studios except one are releasing films in Blu-ray, with several, including The Walt Disney Co., releasing exclusively in Blu-ray. Only Universal Studios, which is owned by General Electric Co., exclusively supports HD DVD.

 

[TravisR]

Considering how Blockbuster is dwindling, I don't see how their choices make much of a difference either way. To say nothing of the fact that a huge majority of Blockbuster's customers have neither format. About the only thing that it means is that Blockbuster will have more Blu-Ray discs that won't rent very well in addition to a smaller number of HD DVD discs that won't rent very well.

 

[Chris Gerhard]

The local video rental business is mature and I expect it to decline, but Blockbuster is still the biggest by far and the business is still significant. This announcement is big in my opinion. It means 1,700 Blockbuster stores will carry Blu-ray and 250 stores will continue to carry HD DVD. I prefer the Blockbuster online rental plan to the Netflix plan and now I can exchange mail rentals for in store Blu-ray rentals free of charge. Even exchange an HD DVD rental for a Blu-ray rental. I like the idea a lot personally since I had a tough time getting the titles of interest from Netflix and Blockbuster online. Putting one in my hand is a lot better than putting one in my queue. I am going to bet I can make it out of the store with the title once it is in my hand. After it is in my queue, anybody's guess is as good as mine when I will actually receive it.

Personally, I consider this the biggest news yet for either format in this idiotic format war and for those like myself who strongly believe having only one format is best, this is good news and offers a ray of hope that Blu-ray can win and HD DVD go bye bye. Of course Universal can continue to be HD DVD exclusively and nothing much changes, only the Blu-ray lead will increase.

Chris

 

[bassman99floyd]

Travis, Blockbuster is quite alive, and blowing NetFlix out of the water. For $18/month, you can rent three movies at a time. When you're ready to return, go to the store, and take three more movies or games out, and BB will then ship you three more movies off your list. NetFlix will never be able to compete with that.

In case you missed this from the article I cited above...

"Blockbuster has been renting both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles in 250 stores since late last year and found that consumers were choosing Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time. "

 

[TravisR]

That's still 70% of a very small number. Just because it's on the shelf doesn't mean that it's going to be rented. It's a boost for Blu-Ray but it defintiely doesn't turn HD DVD into Beta or end the format war as you said.

 

[Chris Gerhard]

Netflix has indicated that Blockbuster has to be losing money with each customer taking that deal. I don't know, but Netflix adjusted their sales estimates and growth down as a result. I love the Blockbuster online plan.

Chris

 

[DAN NEIR]

I picked blu-ray before this announcement because of the list of titles and studio support. It just made more sense to me because when I examined both, with hd dvd all I'd be getting is exclusive Universal titles but be missing out on so much more(e.g Sony titles, Disney, etc..) Plus blu discs do hold more storage space. The appeal to hd dvd to me was the player price which blu is closing the gap on. I think having blu for PS3, having exclusive stuff like POTC, Casino R, and Spidey when it comes out plus this Blockbuster news do certainly help the format.

By the way I finished viewing POTC, MI 1 and 3, Casino Royale and Superman Returns. I'll watch The Prestige tomorrow and then I'll start looking for new titles.

 

[bassman99floyd]

If I'm reading this correctly Chris, NetFlix is saying that BB has to be losing business. Speculation from a competitor, can't be a reliable source? Can it?

My opinion, renting DVD's is a far better then buying them. Realistically, how many times can you watch a movie you purchased? Rent the DVD for a week, and return it. For the $18 a month, the cost of buying a DVD (if you're lucky) you can have at least 24 DVD's and or video games for the month.

I have built up a friendship with the people in my BB store. I call them up every Tuesday after 10:00am and they hold all the current movies I want. Tuesday is the day when new DVD's are released. I show up after 5:00pm, and go right to the counter with my mailed DVD's, and walk out with all current releases.

My advice to all of you, make friends with your BB crew, and always get the current movies you want.

 

[Chris Gerhard]

I didn't say Blockbuster was losing business. Netflix has stated that Blockbuster is losing money with the total access plan or whatever it is called and Netflix is losing business as a result of the popularity of the Blockbuster plan. I absolutely believe Netflix knows what it costs to operate the business, they invented it. I find the Netflix statement likely correct.

Chris

 

[Paul_Dunlop]

beta vhs player?
They sold combo players back then? i am pretty sure most people just bought a VHS player to replace their betamax player...

apology accepted by the way, but not needed - I am not sure how long both formats will compete for, but it's not over yet anyway

 

[Jason Roer]

And, as was stated earlier in the thread - or another (they all seem to be crossing over on similar topics now ) - Beta was Blockbuster's original choice. When VHS showed it was the format the consumer wanted, guess what Blockbuster did?

Cheers,

Jason

 

[dkny75]

Just because BB's revenue numbers are higher than NetFlix doesn't mean they're making money. BB reported negative earnings last quarter and have been for the past couple of quarters. Netflix has been profitable for the past couple of years.