I say neither


why pay $500 for a HD-DVD player when I can buy a regular DVD player for $34 at walmart (mind you I bought a sony for $115 dvd/vcr combo at best buy)


I do not wanvt a VHS-BETA war all over again


your thoughts>???which one will survive

1/9/2006 2:12:33 PM

I refuse to back any new technology developed/supported by Sony, especially after their root kit debacle. As for the debate, you do need something better than a normal DVD if you want high definition content.

Blu-Ray suffers from crappy content management features that are built in. HD DVD is more open and more useable.

1/9/2006 2:14:40 PM

for the time being if you need to buy one then buy a player that supports both - ignore the "war"

1/9/2006 2:16:40 PM

i'd side with HD-DVD, but like all new formats I wont be buying it until the price drops.

1/9/2006 2:16:48 PM

I'll most likely be owning a PS3 when it comes out,

so Blu-Ray all the way.

1/9/2006 2:20:00 PM

I like HD-DVD, but from what I have heard most of the industry is backing Blu-Ray.

1/9/2006 2:20:40 PM

If by most of the industry you mean 3-4 movie studios

1/9/2006 2:25:35 PM

It is realtively clear that no one in this thread has kept up with this battle very closely. I suggest most of you read up on the latest info (many new happenings within the past month-2) first and then come back and post.

1/9/2006 2:36:43 PM

Microsoft, last I checked, was backing HD-DVD.

So at the very least, everything is going to go dual format.

1/9/2006 2:44:10 PM

also intel supports HD-DVD

1/9/2006 2:45:07 PM

Bill Gates and J Allard have been very very vocal against Blu Ray and in support of HD DVD

The Xbox 360 is getting a USB HD DVD drive later this year.

1/9/2006 2:54:35 PM

microsoft and xbox 360 = hd dvd
sony = blu-ray (ps3 too)

1/9/2006 3:03:32 PM

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=28855

1/9/2006 3:08:28 PM

samsung in it to win it

1/9/2006 3:09:40 PM

300gb holographic discs beats them both

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8370

1/9/2006 3:57:45 PM

HVD is not the only technology in next-generation, high-capacity optical storage media. InPhase Technologies has developed a holographic format they call Tapestry Media, capable of storing up to 1.6TB with a data transfer rate of 120 MBps. Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. plans to enter the market by offering 300GB discs with a data transfer rate of 20 Mbps. With such a high end storage capacity, it would seem like a better technology than either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disks. However, the reader currently costs approximately US$15,000 , and a single disc currently costs approximately US$120. The market for this format is currently not the common consumer, but is instead for those with very large storage needs. [2].

1/9/2006 4:33:27 PM

^ i read somewhere that the terrabyte optical discs could be mass produced for a few bucks apiece

[Edited on January 9, 2006 at 6:32 PM. Reason : *goes on a google hunt*]

1/9/2006 6:31:46 PM

sorry I think I read my info on Cnet a little while back......but then again its cnet so it could be wrong.

After the sony root kit drama, I can safely say that I strongly dislike sony, so heres hoping that HD-DVD wins.

1/9/2006 6:59:14 PM

actually, the hvd discs costs less than any other media currently available...that is, to produce...of course they're going to jack the price to something ridiculous...it makes me

damnable r&d expenses

1/9/2006 7:28:30 PM

Quote :

"why pay $500 for a HD-DVD player when I can buy a regular DVD player for $34 at walmart (mind you I bought a sony for $115 dvd/vcr combo at best buy)"

That is what everyone said with DVD years ago. Or getting people to buy into CD's way back in time.

In more recent times remember DVD-R vs DVD+R? Only DVD-RAM lost out. I'd say you will see devices that support both. If I had to pick one it would be BLU-RAY because they will have a fair number of players out there because of the PS3. What is going to entice joe random to pick up a hd-dvd player?

Quote :

"I refuse to back any new technology developed/supported by Sony, especially after their root kit debacle. As for the debate, you do need something better than a normal DVD if you want high definition content. "

A lot of companies have screwed up over time, yet haven't gone anywhere. Christ, Microsoft has done much worse many times over affecting many more consumers and no one has boycotted them effectively.

1/10/2006 7:14:32 AM

Quote :

"That is what everyone said with DVD years ago. Or getting people to buy into CD's way back in time. "

exactly

I sold DVD players when they were in their infancy ($300+) to when DVD's took over VHS at best buy. And this is exactly the point I made, VCR's were $1000 (BEFORE inflation) when they first came out I even have a sales paper with a bunch of them from the 1980's

1/10/2006 7:20:58 AM

^^ maybe, but I do stand by Microsoft on this one. BillG has mentioned more than once that he believes that consumers should be able to copy their DVD content onto a computer. If you go with Sony, you can say buhbye to that forever.

1/11/2006 12:57:26 AM

honestly i could care less

i'm getting a ps3

so i dont give FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

1/11/2006 4:11:28 AM

Quote :

"That is what everyone said with DVD years ago. Or getting people to buy into CD's way back in time. "

Um. There was a much larger leap between a VHS tape and a DVD. You don't have to rewind a DVD. DVDs paused clean. You could jump to a chapter (more of a benefit for CDs than DVDs). The new HD-DVD and BLU-RAY? The only advantage they offer is better picture quality. Quality that I'd have to drop a grand on a TV just so I'd be able to notice the difference.

I'd have to buy a $1K TV before I'd even consider the next gen of movie media and I'm not about to spend that much on a TV. And if the next gen doesn't play the old DVDs by default you can forget it.

1/11/2006 7:52:29 AM

Quote :

"The new HD-DVD and BLU-RAY? The only advantage they offer is better picture quality."

you're wrong about that.

Blu-Ray incorporates its own version of Java (BD-J, I think?) to make crazy interactive features. That means no more lame bonus materials like commentary tracks by the key grip, and more on-the-fly, seamlessly integrated, and hopefully interesting and fun features.j

Basically it opens a lot of doors in terms of extras.

1/11/2006 9:26:57 AM

^Yeah, and that makes movies better. I guess I'm of the camp where I'd like it if they would just give you the move without all the extras and charge you a few bucks less.

1/11/2006 9:28:47 AM

looking at the current standard for 'extras', I'd have to agree with you. But you don't know what they're going to look like once they are given more of the spotlight.

Imagine, for instance, a disc that could pull stuff from a site like imdb on the fly. So it can pop up with trivia while the scene is happening. To me, that would be worthwhile since I like to go and read up on movies after i watch them anyway.

just an example

[Edited on January 11, 2006 at 9:32 AM. Reason : l]

1/11/2006 9:30:24 AM

too bad movies suck nowadays

1/11/2006 10:30:34 AM

^ Any movie shot on film can be in HD. Any movie shot in DV or Handicam (28 Days Later) cannot.

1/11/2006 11:05:00 AM

^^^

I don't think pulling content from imdb would be the best idea. That would require net access for your player. Plus I couldn't imagine trivia/script/etc. requiring anything close in size to a 1M text file. That is nothing and there is already room for that. DVDs work fine for me.

They should work on better movies before they launch into making better formats for movies.

1/11/2006 11:10:48 AM

Its a billion dollar industry maybe you back seat directors should hop on.

1/11/2006 11:18:40 AM

so in a year or so we're gonna hear
"Sony introduces the new BLU-RAY format for ultra clear and sharp movies"
"Now playing, freddy got fingered 2"

1/11/2006 11:43:49 AM

^^^ the point is the information supplied can be dynamic and updated all the time.

not exactly the same as putting a 1mb txt file on a dvd.

Anyway, that was just an example. Do some research on it and you'll see there are some interesting applications for java on bluray.


Also you seem to be forgetting that, in the near future, the internet will own you and all your belongings. I don't think it'd be that big of a deal to have wifi enabled BluRay players.

1/11/2006 12:13:43 PM

Quote :

"^Yeah, and that makes movies better. I guess I'm of the camp where I'd like it if they would just give you the move without all the extras and charge you a few bucks less."

1/11/2006 12:31:13 PM

anyone seen a movie in either format? if so, how significant of a difference is it?

1/11/2006 1:05:33 PM

ever seen an HD feed on an HDTV?

1/11/2006 2:09:29 PM

^^ I was at CES and saw all the BLU-RAY and HD-DVD players on 1080p sets. The picture is amazing, a very significant difference. Most likely, no one here has seen an HD signal on a 1080p set...just 1080i.

1/11/2006 8:53:06 PM

could you pick one that was better?

1/11/2006 9:26:07 PM

Quote :

"why pay $500 for a HD-DVD player when I can buy a regular DVD player for $34 at walmart (mind you I bought a sony for $115 dvd/vcr combo at best buy)"

I am confused... I just bought a Sony HD-DVD player for $150 at Best Buy and the cord cost me $6 on monoprice.com

1/11/2006 11:39:42 PM

Since the PS3 supports Blu-Ray, I'll pull for that. Fuck Microsoft.

1/11/2006 11:48:11 PM

^^ model #?

1/12/2006 12:34:52 AM

I think he's talking about one of those upconverting DVD players

1/12/2006 1:40:26 AM

yeah, definitely upconverting.


HD-DVD players are still gonna cost around 400 bucks I believe.

1/12/2006 9:57:01 AM

^ Worth it to me. Some said that SACD and DVDA would never take off, but now they're second in quality only to vinyl. I'm sure Denon will be among the first with a universal player.

1/12/2006 1:06:01 PM

Well Samsung has already announced that they're scrapping (at least for now) a dual-format (HD-DVD and Blu-RAY) player they had in the works.

Can't remember whether the problem was with cost, manufacturing, or licensing issues.

1/12/2006 1:16:22 PM

oh that sucks.

1/12/2006 1:18:03 PM

The only thing I see as a real assett for the HD-DVD camp is that they have exclusiveness with Paramount and WB (as of right now).

Although obviously if one format wins out, these "exclusive" studios will be quick to jump on the bandwagon.

1/12/2006 1:18:10 PM

Sony + Java makes me cringe.

1/12/2006 1:19:47 PM

yea, I know.

I love how they couldn't just use Java though, they had to invent their own proprietary verision, BD-J.

1/12/2006 1:23:39 PM

Quote :

"but now they're second in quality only to vinyl. "

Great, you're one of those guys.

1/12/2006 1:25:23 PM