Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Not really.

From a technical standpoint, blu-ray has always been superior. Better transfer & bitrates for a/v, bigger disc capacity, etc.

Toshiba is working on triple-layer HD-DVDs, but other companies (moreso for data than movies) are working on multi-layered blu-ray discs, as well.

Currently, it's still 25GB/50GB blu-ray discs. 15GB/30GB HD-DVDs.

It can be argued that HD-DVD has some titles that better showcase its technology better than blu-ray. Or the sheer number of blu-ray titles makes the ratio of demo material to mediocre titles inherently bad.

Also, keep in mind that Warner Brothers' Total HD hybrid disc is around the corner..

Interesting. I'm just hoping the format war ends soon and all the studios back one brand instead of having exclusives to one format.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Yeah, i'm running through VGA, and when I get my HTIB i'll run the optical through there. I'll probably get the HD-DVD anyways, it's fairly inexpensive and a great way to get the ability to view the high def stuff (I'd rather not go PS3 right now, no need to kick out 600, it'd be overkill).

Thanks again, just trying to figure out what'll get my entertainment setup happy and good to go for a while. Upgrading down the line's always expected, but hate buying stuff I don't need.

Personally, I love HD-DVD, the movies blow me away, quality with audio and video is really off the chart.

[mgoblue]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Personally, I love HD-DVD, the movies blow me away, quality with audio and video is really off the chart.

Yeah, i'm sure it's amazing....that CC deal where you get 2 extra movies (along with King Kong) is tempting me.

I've gotta wait a bit to get my sound system (don't have room for it yet and the rents are out in a week and half finally)...then i'll have it fully set up. I'm thinking that signing up for Netflix would make this a good deal.

Damn this feature creep...I was starting at a 300 HTIB with DVD, now I'm on a 450ish HTIB without DVD, and then the 200 HD-DVD addon lol...Electronics are soooo easy to keep upgrading on.

Oh, you have both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, what do you make most purchases of (meaning, since you can do both, you would probably have a favorite unless a movie's exclusive)

[neovsmatrix]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Not really.

From a technical standpoint, blu-ray has always been superior. Better transfer & bitrates for a/v, bigger disc capacity, etc.

Toshiba is working on triple-layer HD-DVDs, but other companies (moreso for data than movies) are working on multi-layered blu-ray discs, as well.

Currently, it's still 25GB/50GB blu-ray discs. 15GB/30GB HD-DVDs.

It can be argued that HD-DVD has some titles that better showcase its technology better than blu-ray. Or the sheer number of blu-ray titles makes the ratio of demo material to mediocre titles inherently bad.

Also, keep in mind that Warner Brothers' Total HD hybrid disc is around the corner..

How, from a technical standpoint, do Blu-ray discs have better transfers and bitrates?

IMHO, you're wrong about this. Blu-ray discs tend to use a different codec for their movies. That is, they TEND to. Sometimes they will use the same codec HD-DVD's tend to use which is VC-1. Most Blu-ray discs use Mpeg4 codec. The transfers are all dependent upon the master that the movie is transferred from, not the format in particular. Blu-Ray discs have higher capacity, that is true. But their specs haven't been fully established yet (or have they? last I heard they haven't), especially for interactive features. HD-DVD's specs are fully established, while the Blu-ray consortium has yet to establish the specs for Blu-ray. And if changes are made to the specs, that could render older generation blu-ray players incompatible with features that are on newer Blu-ray discs.

Warner Bros. didn't release the Matrix trilogy on Blu-ray because of the problems with Blu-ray's interactive feature (or at least that's what I read somewhere on avsforum.com).

The difference between VC-1 and Mpeg4 is that VC-1 is more efficient in terms of displaying the image. It uses up much less space than Mpeg4 and there's negligible difference in picture quality (and often VC-1 comes out looking better, though not all the time of course).

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I didn't mean transfer as in codecs and such, but transfer rates, which blu-ray is superior to HD-DVD in.

Also, you refer a couple of times to blu-ray's "not full established" specs, dealing with the interactive features. You're talking about BD-J, which is already in a handful of blu-ray titles. Maybe you're thinking of the mandatory BD-J support deadline? That's a hardware issue for future players. Most, except for first-gen stand alones, players can handle BD-J equipped titles through firmware updates.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Both versions of The Warriors were reviewed at Highdefdigest, the PQ is really good for a 30 yr old movie. I can't wait.

[mgoblue]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I picked up the HD-DVD add on for 360 and the beginning of King Kong looked amazing. I wasn't gonna watch then, so turned it off and went back to tv. A while later my tv went on the fritz and now won't work, so now I'm taking it back to Costco for a replacement. All in all, the HD-DVD addon is sweet, just can't use it right now lol

[The Chef]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Oh, you have both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, what do you make most purchases of (meaning, since you can do both, you would probably have a favorite unless a movie's exclusive)

I know this question wasnt asked of me in particular but since I have both I figured I would chime in. I generally buy anything that is on both formats on HD-DVD, mainly because the less stress put on the PS3 the better and my source for HD-DVD viewing is the HD-A2 so, in my mind atleast, its more suited to play nothing but movies and lots of them. It might just be my stupid theory but I go with it either way.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I know this question wasnt asked of me in particular but since I have both I figured I would chime in. I generally buy anything that is on both formats on HD-DVD, mainly because the less stress put on the PS3 the better and my source for HD-DVD viewing is the HD-A2 so, in my mind atleast, its more suited to play nothing but movies and lots of them. It might just be my stupid theory but I go with it either way.

I do the same thing, if a movie is on both formats I buy the HD-DVD version of that movie. I don't want to kill my PS3 with all my movie watching. I don't think your theory is stupid, I feel the same way about it. When Blu Ray players hit the $300 mark, I will buy a stand alone so my PS3 is only used for games. Were almost there, I think by January the prices will drop more.

[RockyTop1]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

According to highdefdigest.com, Ocean's 11 is coming to both formats this summer. Sweet

[Pared]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Heroes is going to make me buy the HD-DVD addon.

[WTF]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

According to highdefdigest.com, Ocean's 11 is coming to both formats this summer. Sweet

Cosign

[Stormyhog]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Starz Home Entertainment (former name Anchor Bay) joins Blu-Ray exclusively. http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=265

[SLAYER]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Starz Home Entertainment Announces Blu-ray Support with 'Masters of Horror'

Another source.

Also..

'Sergio Leone Anthology' Leads Fourth Quarter MGM Blu-ray Revival

Nice counter moves before some HD-DVD heavy release weeks.

[aholbert32]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Starz Home Entertainment Announces Blu-ray Support with 'Masters of Horror'

Another source.

Also..

'Sergio Leone Anthology' Leads Fourth Quarter MGM Blu-ray Revival

Nice counter moves before some HD-DVD heavy release weeks.

These dual HD players cant come soon enough. I have too many HD-DVD movies to switch over.