Blu-Ray or HD-DVD

[General Zod]

Buying an HDTV tomorrow and want to buy a player as well. The Blu-Ray / HD-DVD war is clearly reminiscent of the VHS / BetaMax war of the 80s. Suffice it to say, I don't want to get stuck with the BetaMax.

Any thoughts?

Zod

 

[Claws of Perdition]

i'm swaying to blu-ray being betamax. Microsoft refuse to use it because sony is using it and vise versa and Micro$oft would pull a bit more weight i would think.

I'm choosing to stay out until it is decided.

 

[MajestikMøøse]

fuck both

 

[Dark One]

It's still too close to call unfortunately. If I personally had to pick, I'd go with Blu-Ray, but only because I can get one as part of a PS3 hybrid (and it's ironically $300 cheaper for a top of the line PS3 than the price of a stand alone Blu-Ray player, so the PS3, if you're going the Blu-Ray route, is a no brainer). As of right now, Blu-Ray is outselling HD-DVD 2 to 1, but there will probably be some evening out with Paramount's decision to exclusively release on HD-DVD, though Blockbuster is actively behind Blu-Ray. There are major players in both camps (let alone Microsoft vs. Sony).

Good Article (just printed yesterday in Business Week):

http://www.businessweek.com/technol...=technology_technology+index+page_top+stories

BTW - hope the new setup is a great one.

Jason

 

[General Zod]

Good Article (just printed yesterday in Business Week)...

This article pretty much underscores everything else I've been reading. Looks like HD-DVD got out of the gate first, only to be overtaken by Blu-Ray. This Paramount deal may only be preventing the inevitable. The PS3 makes the whole situation no more desirable. The fact of the matter is, I own an XBOX360, which I never play. I'll probably look to unload it.

BTW - hope the new setup is a great one.

I hope so to. I called DirectTV earlier, ordered by setup (new dish, HDTV DVR, etc) and was expecting them to give me an install date of 2 - 4 weeks from now (based on what a few people had told me). As it turns out, they asked me if they should come tomorrow or Friday. That said, I think I'm down to three models. The decision is made easier by the way my house is set up. We have a ton of windows that allow fairly direct light to hit the TV. So, plasma is out.

Zod

 

[Climb Thar Hill]

If you can find a good deal on a player that'll handle both HD-DVD & Blu-Ray, then get it. No use getting one otherwise, IMO

 

[lurch70]

just get an upconverting DVD player for now ... still great ... even on an HD set.

also waiting for the format war to end.

also the selection of movies on both formats for now is meh at best ... the usual blockbusters, etc.

 

[Dark One]

If you can find a good deal on a player that'll handle both HD-DVD & Blu-Ray, then get it. No use getting one otherwise, IMO

Whoa, didn't even know such a player existed.

 

[lurch70]

Whoa, didn't even know such a player existed.

it doesn't

 

[Dark One]

This article pretty much underscores everything else I've been reading. Looks like HD-DVD got out of the gate first, only to be overtaken by Blu-Ray. This Paramount deal may only be preventing the inevitable.

Yeah - I'd give a slight nod to Blu-Ray right now, but the battle's raging for sure.

The PS3 makes the whole situation no more desirable. The fact of the matter is, I own an XBOX360, which I never play. I'll probably look to unload it.

I see. Well, I guess the route I was taking was "why pay $900 when you can get a $600 player that does more"? Unless the $900 players have all kinds of extra features of some sort, that's what made it a no brainer. That said, if you're 100% certain you'd never use the gaming end, ever, then I guess I could also see not wanting anything to do with it. I still actually play my PS2 from time to time, so I would see the PS3 as a bonus when some of those truly "must have" games are released from time to time.

Also, if the Blu-Ray ultimately loses, the PS3 would still have some residual value to gamers.

I hope so to. I called DirectTV earlier, ordered by setup (new dish, HDTV DVR, etc) and was expecting them to give me an install date of 2 - 4 weeks from now (based on what a few people had told me). As it turns out, they asked me if they should come tomorrow or Friday. That said, I think I'm down to three models. The decision is made easier by the way my house is set up. We have a ton of windows that allow fairly direct light to hit the TV. So, plasma is out.

Sweet - I'll have to find a way to get to more NYC or Philly concerts!

 

[Climb Thar Hill]

it doesn't

It does, but I just checked the prices and they're about a grand
http://www.amazon.com/LG-BH100-High-Definition-Blu-ray-Player/dp/B000NNK9LY/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9181219-3925739?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1187747925&sr=8-1

 

[Dark One]

Interesting - though all the technical jargon thrown at you in those reviews is enough to make your head spin.

 

[lurch70]

It does, but I just checked the prices and they're about a grand
http://www.amazon.com/LG-BH100-High...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1187747925&sr=8-1

i stand corrected ... that is like putting a DSG tranny into an M5

 

[lurch70]

Interesting - though all the technical jargon thrown at you in those reviews is enough to make your head spin.

i have to say though ... blu-ray looks awesome on hdtv ...

Zod make sure you get an 1080i HDTV ... I have a 32" Samsung HDTV but its only 720 ... love the fucker though

 

[Dark One]

In looking at the alternatives, the prices seem cheaper for the individual players than I thought as well. You could get two different players for a about $710 (not that that's cheap or anything).

For all of the Blu-Ray players, this one looks pretty sweet:

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP...7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1187748703&sr=8-9

 

[lurch70]

is the catalogue of movies available worth the price of these players yet?

 

[Dark One]

Amazon Blu-Ray catalogue (467 titles):

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_i...rs=&keywords=blu-ray&rh=i:aps,k:blu-ray,i:dvd

Amazon HD-DVD catalogue (552 titles):

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d...=1&url=search-alias=dvd&field-keywords=HD+DVD

 

[lurch70]

cool ... looks liek titles come out in both formats for most movies.

I would bet on HD-DVD for survival ... just because of the name ... if they go past becoming a boutique/niche product ... its easier for Joe Six Pack to remember ... ahhh ... HD DVD go with my HDTV

 

[General Zod]

Zod make sure you get an 1080i HDTV ... I have a 32" Samsung HDTV but its only 720 ... love the fucker though

From what I've heard, 1080i and 720p are essentially the same thing. Or put another way, the differences are negligible. 1080p, which is superior to both, is what I'm going to buy. A 40", either Samsung or Sony.

Zod

 

[General Zod]

I see. Well, I guess the route I was taking was "why pay $900 when you can get a $600 player that does more"?

You can get a Sony Blu-Ray for under $500.

Zod