Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

[BigRed]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Well thats up to you, I went down this road somewhat myself. I only have 1 HDMI port on my HDTV and I have multiple devices so I picked a HDMI switch up for 100, but it also came with 3-4 HDMI cables so that solved everything, I didnt want to spend the money but Im glad I did now that I can switch between everything with the remote whenever I feel like it.

In terms of cables, I cant imagine they would be very expensive if you pick them up from that same website since they have HDMI cables pretty cheap there all the time.

Hmm. I re-read your post and I'm not sure this will work since the best port i have on my tv is for component cables (not hdmi cables). Maybe I'm just confused.

Do they make a switchbox for component cables? If so, where would be a good website or should I just go through best buy or circuit city?

Thanks guys, sorry for all the questions but I came here for just this reason. I knew someone would be able to help.

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

On a side note...

I will still be buying HD DVDs off of ebay.

At 10 bucks or less apiece..it's well worth my $$$ for a ton of High Definition movies.

Plus..the odds of my 2 HD DVD players suddenly not working are about 100000 to 1.

If so...hell...I'll pick up an A3 player for 60 bucks, brand new, and keep it in reserve.

So instead of spending 500 bucks and getting a Blu Ray player and about 5-6 movies...I'll have my HD DVD player and about 100 movies.

That's worth it in my eyes.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

On a side note...

I will still be buying HD DVDs off of ebay.

At 10 bucks or less apiece..it's well worth my $$$ for a ton of High Definition movies.

Plus..the odds of my 2 HD DVD players suddenly not working are about 100000 to 1.

If so...hell...I'll pick up an A3 player for 60 bucks, brand new, and keep it in reserve.

So instead of spending 500 bucks and getting a Blu Ray player and about 5-6 movies...I'll have my HD DVD player and about 100 movies.

That's worth it in my eyes.

That's the road I'm taking. Last time i checked, the PQ is almost identical and i'm not a audiophile so the "lossless" sound advantage for blu ray isn't important to me...definitely not $400 important.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I am loving this.........if they are playing possum.

Toshiba may continue HD DVD business

http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20080218PD215.html

Despite widespread reports that Toshiba will give up the promotion of the HD DVD standard in its competition with Blu-ray Disc (BD), Toshiba is unlikely to give up its HD DVD business operation, Taiwan optical disc drive (ODD) industry sources noted.

Digital Media Network, Toshiba's in-house company responsible for the HD DVD platform, met with domestic makers/suppliers of HD DVD components in Japan on February 18 and emphasized Toshiba's resolution to continue with its HD DVD business, the Taiwan sources explained.

If Toshiba gives up in the battle with BD, it will immediately lose royalty revenues from HD DVD patents, be forced to return already paid royalty charges as well as face risks of customers' returning purchased HD DVD products and launching mass litigation for compensation, the Taiwan source explained.

The sources added that Toshiba will continue to support Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST), a global Top-3 ODD maker, so that the maker can offer more inexpensive HD DVD devices to compete with BD products.

[triplej96]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Hmm... !

[SportsorDeath]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Hmm. I re-read your post and I'm not sure this will work since the best port i have on my tv is for component cables (not hdmi cables). Maybe I'm just confused.

Do they make a switchbox for component cables? If so, where would be a good website or should I just go through best buy or circuit city?

Thanks guys, sorry for all the questions but I came here for just this reason. I knew someone would be able to help.

Yes, monoprice does have a component video switcher. That is exactly what the other guy linked you to. Here it is again:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

This will turn your single component input into 4. You will be able to hook your cable box, progressive scan dvd player, and 2 other things (ps3, 360?) into it, and then run a component cable from the switcher to the single input on the tv itself.

You really can't lose with this for 30 bucks. You only have two other options:

1) buy an a/v receiver, which, at minimum, has component video switching. That will cost you upwards of $200, and that is probably going to be for a used unit.

2) buy a new tv

P.S. Just so we are crystal clear, component video= component cable (red, green, blue- some also have the red and white audio ends, some do not). Monoprice sells the cables you will need at a very cheap price, so stock up when you buy the switcher.

If you have any other questions, feel free to shoot me a PM so we don't totally derail this thread.

[Stormyhog]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Looks like Toshiba will be officially throwing in the towel as it has scheduled a news conference. http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh..._Expected/1479

[triplej96]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

It is over....

Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses

19 February, 2008

Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.

"We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop," said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."

Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.

Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.

This decision will not impact on Toshiba's commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.

Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.
__________________
Remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

[koebner]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

That's the road I'm taking. Last time i checked, the PQ is almost identical and i'm not a audiophile so the "lossless" sound advantage for blu ray isn't important to me...definitely not $400 important.

HD-DVD has lossless sound formats as well.Dolby TrueHD is lossless and DolbyDigitalPlus is lossy,but has more bandwidth than can be carried over optical or coax.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Sad day. ..............................

[Pared]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Well, we all knew it would come to this.

[Pared]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

For some reason, this thread has become a bash 360 thread.

That's because the system is a POS. I had a 360 exclusively until The Show came out. Even afterwards I spent more time using my 360 for my media and gaming. I loved it.

That isn't the case now that the system died and I was sent a replacement (read: temporary) unit.

HD-DVD's success certainly was contingent on 360 owner adoption rates. Anyone that has a PS3 has certainly looked into BR and, I'm sure, purchased a few at least.

PS3's are selling very well here in NYC now. Who knows if it's due to BR becoming the clear format of choice for the future, better games on the PS3, lack of 360's being available or a combination of the three.

[Kearnzo]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

That's because the system is a POS. I had a 360 exclusively until The Show came out. Even afterwards I spent more time using my 360 for my media and gaming. I loved it.

That isn't the case now that the system died and I was sent a replacement (read: temporary) unit.

HD-DVD's success certainly was contingent on 360 owner adoption rates. Anyone that has a PS3 has certainly looked into BR and, I'm sure, purchased a few at least.

PS3's are selling very well here in NYC now. Who knows if it's due to BR becoming the clear format of choice for the future, better games on the PS3, lack of 360's being available or a combination of the three.

Gotta agree with some of your points. Ever since I picked up my PS3, I haven't really touched my 360 aside from some Mass Effect here and there. Everything about the PS3 just runs better to me, especially the fact that it doesn't sound like a jet engine. And I also am starting to have trouble starting my 360 up, so i'm feeling another replacement in the coming months.

Once The Show comes out, I probably won't touch my 360 for a long time. Especially since I have a lot of Blu Ray's to watch on my PS3 now.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

That's because the system is a POS. I had a 360 exclusively until The Show came out. Even afterwards I spent more time using my 360 for my media and gaming. I loved it.

That isn't the case now that the system died and I was sent a replacement (read: temporary) unit.

HD-DVD's success certainly was contingent on 360 owner adoption rates. Anyone that has a PS3 has certainly looked into BR and, I'm sure, purchased a few at least.

PS3's are selling very well here in NYC now. Who knows if it's due to BR becoming the clear format of choice for the future, better games on the PS3, lack of 360's being available or a combination of the three.

I will agree with you on the PS3, because I even feel lately like I'm pulling my way towards the PS3. Once Home hits, I think I will be on there much more.

I disagree that HD DVD was contingent on the 360's adoption rates. Here are the numbers and I don't think Toshiba and HD DVD GRP were hinging on the 360 to lead the HD DVD format war for them or else Toshiba would have gone to great lengths to have the HD DVD in the 360's. Granted the numbers are split here in the US for SAL vs. Add-on. Now I want to know who in the media/press was making up the $1 million units sold. LOL!

600,000 players in the US -- 300,000 of which were Xbox 360 HD DVD drives. 100,000 units were sold in Europe. And about 10,000 players and 20,000 recorders in Japan. So about 730,000 units worldwide.

Oh well, it's over with and not much we can do. This is how it is with electronics.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

As probably 1 of the 1st OS Members to jump-in to the HD fray(HD DVD) I'm very disappointed in this announcement. I personally felt both formats could've co-existed, but I guess that was never going to be an option..

In no way do I regret being an early adopter & fully knew that more than likely only 1 format would win-out. I choose HD DVD because it had many of the movies that I loved. As time went-on I began to see the potential of the format & became a supporter. I still feel personally that HD DVD would've been a better format for the consumer as it was a more mature format(Specs already final) & the hardware would've hit mass adoption prices sooner than BR.

I know SONY isn't the only company backing BR, but they definitely had a lot to lose(adding BR to the PS3) & did a helluva job in marketing the PS3 as a BR Player. I'm not a big playstation fan, but it looks like I will probably be picking-1 up for BR playback, as it's suppose to be the safest bet for a player.