Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

[aholbert32]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Another great point.

If you're interested in a combo drive, that would make more sense if you don't own a PS3. It still makes the MOST sense to just get a PS3.

A year from now, that HD-DVD only player will be taking up space in your entertainment system. Remember Mini-disc? This kind of reminds me of that... people still buy CD's now and use them... but where are the Mini-discs? I don't know if anyone even owns them anymore.

Similar case here.

A year from now Paramount and Universal will probably still make HD-DVDs. So If you want American Gangster or Beowulf or I am Legend in HD you still have to have both. Movie fanatics should have both until Uni and Paramount start making blurays.

[Pared]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

IIRC, come 2009 the exclusivity will end. They can begin making BR again that year.

I don't see why you would continue to buy movies in HD-DVD by then aside from sheer stubbornness.

As a movie fanatic, I can see your point.

[Virix]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

A year from now Paramount and Universal will probably still make HD-DVDs. So If you want American Gangster or Beowulf or I am Legend in HD you still have to have both. Movie fanatics should have both until Uni and Paramount start making blurays.

Paramount is still under contract until 2009. Universal could go neutral, but as of now are still exclusive. Everyone jumping ship right now is crazy. Id rather buy every used HD-DVD I can get my hands on for bargain prices. Why buy the blu ray for full price? Its not as if my HD-DVD player is going to stop working. If by the end of 2009 there are no move HD-DVDs being made, but I have all the HD-DVDs I can get my hands on, it makes no difference to me especially if the hardware of blu ray players are equal to that of HD-DVD players by then.

This is the first format war that Sony may actually win. Betamax, Minidisc and UMD movies all went the way of the dinosaur...

[Spectre]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Paramount is still under contract until 2009. Universal could go neutral, but as of now are still exclusive. Everyone jumping ship right now is crazy. Id rather buy every used HD-DVD I can get my hands on for bargain prices. Why buy the blu ray for full price? Its not as if my HD-DVD player is going to stop working.

Well said.

The bottom line is that I've already invested in a HD-DVD player. I can build up a fantastic library now at bargain-basement prices OR buy Blu-Ray discs at regular prices AND also invest in Blu-Ray players that are pretty damn expensive right now.

Having watched films on both media, I don't see or hear a difference. Financially, its best to gather up as many movies on HD-DVD right now. It's not like the catalog disappeared.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I got an HD-DVD player for my birthday a couple weeks ago and this news sucks. I picked up a handful of HD-DVDs since then and am thinking about hooking up my upconverter again. I was planning on waiting on a clear victor, but I gladly accepted the player anyway since it was free and a great present regardless. Still this news sucks as a brand-new HD-DVD owner.

[Pared]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

I got an HD-DVD player for my birthday a couple weeks ago and this news sucks. I picked up a handful of HD-DVDs since then and am thinking about hooking up my upconverter again. I was planning on waiting on a clear victor, but I gladly accepted the player anyway since it was free and a great present regardless. Still this news sucks as a brand-new HD-DVD owner.

Many people who purchased one this christmas feel the same exact way, I'm sure.

They sold what, a couple hundred thousand players?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Many people who purchased one this christmas feel the same exact way, I'm sure.

They sold what, a couple hundred thousand players?

Not sure exactly, but there are close to (if not more than) 1 million units that have been sold. I have only opened one of my HD-DVDs, so if I want to I can just return them because while my Sony upconverter doesn't look as good as the HD-DVD player, it still does a great job. But still, it sucks and I would rather keep waiting and buying SD-DVDs until bluray's are the same price as SD-DVDs.

[aholbert32]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

IIRC, come 2009 the exclusivity will end. They can begin making BR again that year.

I don't see why you would continue to buy movies in HD-DVD by then aside from sheer stubbornness.

As a movie fanatic, I can see your point.

Here is how I see it. If you are looking to make the HD plunge, buy bluray since that appears to be the clear winner.

If you have a hd-dvd player or have both, there is no reason to stop buying HD-DVD exclusives especially since your player still works. I'll be damned if I buy American Gangster in SD when I have a player that plays it in HD.

[triplej96]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

This is the first format war that Sony may actually win. Betamax, Minidisc and UMD movies all went the way of the dinosaur...

Technically speaking Betamax outlived VHS by a lot. It is still being used to today for professional SD video Broadcast. Not the case for consumer use obviously.

[Virix]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Technically speaking Betamax outlived VHS by a lot. It is still being used to today for professional SD video Broadcast. Not the case for consumer use obviously.

Yeah, I mean at a consumer level. Formats that "die" hang around for a long time. Laserdisc is still being used at a consumer level (albeit a very small portion) which is surprising since it "died" so long ago.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

A year from now Paramount and Universal will probably still make HD-DVDs. So If you want American Gangster or Beowulf or I am Legend in HD you still have to have both. Movie fanatics should have both until Uni and Paramount start making blurays.

IIRC, come 2009 the exclusivity will end. They can begin making BR again that year.

I don't see why you would continue to buy movies in HD-DVD by then aside from sheer stubbornness.

As a movie fanatic, I can see your point.

January 2009 is when Paramount can go neutral or BD exclusive.

Here is how I see it. If you are looking to make the HD plunge, buy bluray since that appears to be the clear winner.

If you have a hd-dvd player or have both, there is no reason to stop buying HD-DVD exclusives especially since your player still works. I'll be damned if I buy American Gangster in SD when I have a player that plays it in HD.

I agree. It'll be a cold day in hell before I watch any of the Uni or Paramount titles on SD-DVD again....LOL!... Like you said aholbert, HD-DVD on those titles for the next year.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

CES: HD DVD Takes Backseat at Toshiba Press Conference

In one of the first major press conferences at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Toshiba was uncharacteristically quiet regarding its upcoming HD DVD plans.

The company dedicated less than five minutes of its presentation to HD DVD, and tucked the only mention of the format's CES presence at the end of its accompanying press release, which failed to directly mention any new HD DVD product launches.
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Toshiba had been expected to introduce a fourth-generation HD DVD player at this year's show.

Addressing Warner's decision to drop support of the HD DVD format, the company echoed its earlier public statements, expressing surprise at the timing of Friday's announcement, and emphasizing the format's strong fourth quarter momentum.

Jodi Sally, VP of Marketing at Toshiba, described HD DVD unit sales in Q4 as being the best to date, with nearly one million dedicated HD DVD players in the market, saying that "only HD DVD has delivered on its commitments to the market, bringing advanced functionality and affordability."

The exec went on to caution those sounding the death knell for HD DVD. "We've been declared dead before," said Sally. "HD DVD has always put the interests of consumers ahead of companies."

From there, it was on to a lengthy unveiling of Toshiba's new line of LCD releases for 2008. There was no Q&A session following the presentation.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8d56c2a8-bc89-11dc-bcf9-0000779fd2ac.html

Paramount and DreamWorks joined the HD-DVD camp last year after securing fee payments worth an estimated $150m from the HD-DVD camp.

Universal has been the format’s biggest champion but it was tight lipped on Sunday about its next move. It was unclear whether the studios backing HD-DVD would change sides, although it is understood that Paramount has reserved the right to switch its backing to Blu-ray.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Do bluray players play SD-DVDs?

[mgoblue]

Re: Official Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Thread

Do bluray players play SD-DVDs?

Yeah...both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players play SD-DVD's (and most players upscale them for a better resolution on HDtv's...not a full HD by any means, but nicer than standard def)