Blu-Ray or HD-DVD

[Agalloch]

1. A larger install base
2. A gaming system that actually offers HD games. Keep in mind, while you can buy an HD-DVD drive for an XBOX (which than makes it a more expensive system than a PS3), XBOX games aren't recorded on HD-DVD discs, so you can't play XBOX games in true HD.
3. A superior format. HD-DVDs hold 30GBs, Blu-Ray, 50GB.
4. Warner Bros. will most likely announce Blu-Ray exclusivity by the end of Q4.
5. As I said in an earlier post, PS3 is at the point in its life cycle where we can expect to see a bunch of PS3-only, killer games. This, in combination with the falling price of the PS3, will likely fuel sales of PS3s. Which will fuel sales of Blu-Rays. Which will fuel sales of PS3s. Etc.

Look, I'm not a long time Sony fan. I owned an XBOX360. However, it's becoming apparent, that unless something big happens, HD-DVD is going to lose this war.

By the way, is it your belief that HD-DVD is going to be the victor?

Zod

1. Larger install base because of the PS3 which hinders Blu-Ray more than it helps it. Blu-ray stand alone players don't sell for shit. A format cannot survive based on a 4-500 game system. Sorry.

2. Refer to #1

3. 51 GB HD-DVD discs go into production in February. No Blu-ray titles max out the 50 GB anyway and the video codecs and transfers are always the exact same. So no advantage there.

4. Ha. Just the opposite will happen. Warner brothers has profit sharing with Toshiba and just announced to be a part of their interactivity consortum. Don't forget that Warners Brothers contract with Bluray expired on Oct. 31st and still hasn't been renewed.

5. A game system will NOT make a format survive. Period.

 

[Hell Mike]

5. A game system will NOT make a format survive. Period.

This is the conclusion. Just think of the cassettes of old, was it ever close or even thought of to SNES cassettes to be the standard of.. well, anything?

 

[dorian gray]

I've had enough of this shit. It's a means of moving money out of your pocket into someone else's. I've deleted my A/V 5.1 receiver, large speakers, subwoofer and hooked up my DVD player and 360 up to my TV with RCA plugs. Only my cable is using component cables (because I've paid for the HD package already). I havent tried it out yet but I guarantee the difference in audio and video quality will be neglible at best. Fact is, to get the full benefits of anything hi-fi, especially surround sound, the ROOM itself needs to be designed appropriately. These folks with little satellite speakers sitting in their 3-wall living rooms arent even hearing the stuff coming out of them.

Someone please FED-EX me a tube black and white TV

 

[lurch70]

LOL ... welcome back dude.

yeah, I went back a year or so ago to TV/CABLE BOX/DVD and that's it ... had elaborate HT setups before that for about 10 years.

do I miss it? not at all ...

 

[lurch70]

http://www.amazon.com/tag/high defi...Forum=Fx22T988YODHPUK&cdThread=TxWQ5S7M71CM19

 

[dorian gray]

LOL ... welcome back dude.

yeah, I went back a year or so ago to TV/CABLE BOX/DVD and that's it ... had elaborate HT setups before that for about 10 years.

do I miss it? not at all ...

I just tried to set up my 5.1 amp, changer, and two speakers in a third bedroom and the wife came in and was like, "uh no." She thinks our heathen son will destroy them (which he probably will). I was just going for a true stereo setup where I could sit and listen.

 

[dorian gray]

Back in the day, I bought a Home Theater In a Box dealie and when I played CDs on those "speakers" it sounded like pure shit. So a few years later I bought some big speakers and the music kicked ass but then the movies sounded like shit. hahaha It's a conspiracy!

 

[General Zod]

1. Larger install base because of the PS3 which hinders Blu-Ray more than it helps it. Blu-ray stand alone players don't sell for shit. A format cannot survive based on a 4-500 game system. Sorry.

You can be as sorry as you like... it doesn't change the facts... Blu-Ray outsells HD-DVD 3:1.

2. Refer to #1

Refer to #1.

3. 51 GB HD-DVD discs go into production in February. No Blu-ray titles max out the 50 GB anyway and the video codecs and transfers are always the exact same. So no advantage there.

It's a massive advantage as far as gaming systems go. XBOX360 games are on plain old DVDs. Plus, last I heard, there's some question as to whether HD-DVD systems will be able to play these new HD-DVDs.

And you can try to minimize the link all you like, every person who buys a PS3, has no need for HD-DVD.

4. Ha. Just the opposite will happen. Warner brothers has profit sharing with Toshiba and just announced to be a part of their interactivity consortum. Don't forget that Warners Brothers contract with Bluray expired on Oct. 31st and still hasn't been renewed.

At the Blu-ray Festival earlier this week, Dan Silverberg, VP of High-Definition Media for Warner Home Video, revealed that Warner may have to re-evaluate their neutral position regarding high definition releases. He commented, "Now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide - so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter." If there is any doubt as to which format Warner would support, he pointed out the huge sales of '300' on Blu-ray, and further commented, "We are committed to the format."

5. A game system will NOT make a format survive. Period.

You're basing that on what, the fact that you'd like it to be so? Had Sony chosen to invest in HD-DVD, we wouldn't even be having this conversation, so clearly the gaming system matters. Also, we've seen directors speak out against HD-DVD (Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg). No one has spoken out against their studios Blu-Ray superiority. And keep in mind, I simply said this will be a major factor, not the deciding factor. Sony and Disney will be the overriding factors.

Zod

 

[JayKeeley]

"Blu-Ray" is such a cool name whereas "HD-DVD" is lame as hell and that alone should settle the format war

 

[General Zod]

"Blu-Ray" is such a cool name whereas "HD-DVD" is lame as hell and that alone should settle the format war

I wouldn't be shocked if that actually made a difference to some people. I suspect to some people, if they're going to pay good money to upgrade their technology, they want to feel like they've actually transitioned to something new. And going from DVD to HD-DVD lacks pizazz.

Zod

 

[JayKeeley]

Well, think about all the marketing that must have gone into it. Firstly, there's the name, and "Blue" seems to be a cool buzz word what with Blu-Ray, Blue Tooth, Blue Martini. They probably spent time and money coming up with a logo just so it stands out more than it's competitor:

 

[lurch70]

i agree that Blu-Ray is a "cooler" name and is not confusing to early adopters ... however, once Average Joe has to be sold on the higher end format, and Joe is already bombed with tons of tech jargon ... HD-DVD is much easier to "get"

 

[dorian gray]

Funny you guys mention this. When I first heard of Blu-Ray I was like, "what the fuck is that supposed to be?!" whereas HD-DVD couldnt be more obvious. HD-DVD is all business. This format battle is annoying as hell as a consumer but it's pretty amusing to watch.

 

[JayKeeley]

HD-DVD = "may I have a vodka, some kahlua, and a little coke poured into some ice? no hurry"

Blu-Ray = "yo motherfucker, get me a Black Russian"

Blu-Ray marketing is going to shit all over HD-DVD. Plus Disney's going with Blu-Ray. Motherf'ing DISNEY!

HD-DVD is toast.

 

[Climb Thar Hill]

I fucking HATE THIS SHIT

I'm all for a hi def format whether it be BluRay or HD DVD but jesus fucking christ I JUST WANT TO BUY A MOVIE AND NOT CARE WHETHER I HAVE A FUCKING BLU RAY OR HD DVD PLAYER

 

[JayKeeley]

HD-DVD = Betamax

 

[lurch70]

in all reality, they should just kill regular dvd at this point and declare one the f'n winner ...
forget selling as the premium format ... make it standard ...
what's the fucking point in buying regular dvd's at this point?

this IS the most pointelss format war EVER! ...

 

[Hell Mike]

in all reality, they should just kill regular dvd at this point and declare one the f'n winner ...
forget selling as the premium format ... make it standard ...
what's the fucking point in buying regular dvd's at this point?

this IS the most pointelss format war EVER! ...

I still like and buy both VHS and vinyl...

 

[Dark One]

I still like and buy both VHS and vinyl...

I absolutely see the value in vinyl, but VHS blows. With the widespread availability of regular-DVD format and the incredibly low price of high quality regular DVD players, there's no excuse for not making the switch unless you have a large library of VHS tapes and have no desire to re-purchase the movies - that's a different story.

No rewinding, better picture and sound quality, no having to fast forward through unwanted previews/commercials, less bulky packaging & longevity of storage = DVD FTW.

 

[JayKeeley]

My VCR serves some purpose: recording TV shows (I haven't yet stepped up to TiVO or DVR) plus I have some cool VHS tapes which aren't available on DVD (yet) like Maiden England for example