Blue Ray OR HD DVD ??? [Archive] - Toronto Golf Nuts

GOLFINGGINO

Oct 8, 2007, 09:03 PM

i certainly am not an export on this but i feel they will both be around for awhile, i almost bought an hd dvd player yesterday ( the lower prices toshiba for $299) , but until they start renting the movies at my local blockbuster i will hold off buying, i have a few hd movies now as my laptop plays them, but i dont really want to pay $30-50 a movie to watch - just my thoughts, chris

i certainly am not an expert on this, but i feel they will both be around for awhile, i almost bought an hd dvd player yesterday ( the lower priced toshiba unit for $299) , but until they start renting the movies at my local blockbuster i will hold off buying, i have a few hd movies now as my laptop plays them, but i dont really want to pay $30-50 a movie to watch - just my thoughts, chris

Knockz

Oct 8, 2007, 10:38 PM

I think they have a player that plays both formats. But last i read it was missing some features. I'm waiting until they have a player that will play both formats fully. Then when that drops in price. At this point I don't have a reason to go the HD road.

XQSmi

Oct 9, 2007, 01:37 AM

I thought the current theory is to choose whatever the porn industry chooses... :D It worked for the Betamax vs. VHS war... :D

Big Shooter

Oct 9, 2007, 06:04 AM

Blockbuster USA is going with BluRay, here in Canada they support both for now, albeit, most stores don't have them for rentals

Seems 'most' studios are leaning the Blu-way, tho' it's rumoured that Dreamworks who recently announce they were going HDD, were actually 'wooed' by Microsoft (read: payola?)

Ultimately, it seems any NEW format, is usually dictated by THE PORN INDUSTRY!!! (and they seem to be more behind BluRay at this point) ;)

discomonkey

Oct 9, 2007, 07:47 AM

sony always screws up when it comes to a new format battle... think betamax... think mini disc... i'm betting history will repeat itself and sony's gonna mess up blu ray too and HD will win

Bellyhungry

Oct 9, 2007, 08:00 AM

I think HD DVD has a slight edge at this moment....

simar

Oct 9, 2007, 08:50 AM

i think so too, but i also think bluray is here to stay...

laxgolf

Oct 9, 2007, 09:20 AM

I thought the current theory is to choose whatever the porn industry chooses... :D It worked for the Betamax vs. VHS war... :D

More than anyone cares to admit, that is exactly right. It also applies to alot of the technology that the world wide web is built on.

LG has a player that reads both formats. IMO, I think HDDVD will win out.

Kace

Oct 9, 2007, 10:04 AM

I thought the current theory is to choose whatever the porn industry chooses... :D It worked for the Betamax vs. VHS war... :D

It's not really what the porn industry chooses, it's who chooses the porn industry. A couple years ago when BR and HD-DVD both released, BR was in a contractual agreement with Disney that Disney will go with BR if BR will not allow porn movies on their format.

This was a slap in the face to the porn industry and gave a boost to HD-DVD. However, BR has since agreed to terms with many porn industry production companies and now porn is available on BR. It's pretty much split on who has more porn, HD-DVD or BR.

Blockbuster USA is going with BluRay, here in Canada they support both for now, albeit, most stores don't have them for rentals

Actually, here's the funny thing about his news. Yes, Blockbuster will only carry BR, however, the small print behind this agreement is that it is only in any brand new Blockbusters that are built and opened. Therefore, all the existing Blockbusters will continue to stock BR and HD-DVD.

i think so too, but i also think bluray is here to stay...

It's going to be interesting to see what happens once the dual-format players hit the market at competitive prices with current DVD players. If the dual-format players become the popular choice over the single format (BR or HD-DVD) players, then it will be quite possible for both medias to continue on strong without one falling to it's death (ala Betamax, Laserdisc, Minidisc, etc...)

Tyger

Oct 9, 2007, 10:05 AM

Actually I believe the Porn Industry is backing HD DVD more...but I think they are less of a factor this time because of the availability on the internet...

Blue ray has a lead right now because of the PS3.

but, HD DVD wins because Sony will probably screw up something.

cldale

Oct 9, 2007, 10:46 AM

Technically, I think the formats are a wash. I think MOST people don't care a lick for the interactivity features or enhanced online content. Most people just want to watch the movie with best possible video/sound quality.

I think Blu-Ray still holds the edge in content and if they lowered the prices of their players to the level of HD-DVD players, Blu-Ray would probably win. But I don't see Sony being that smart, so I think that HD-DVD will continue to gain ground and might win if they get another major defection (Disney or Fox?)

fwiw: I have a blu-ray player. I love the quality, and YES both the sound and video quality improvements are noticable vs. DVD. The worst Blu-Ray i've seen still looked better than the best DVD I've seen.

I think I might be buying an HD-DVD player this christmas though. Some movies that I really like are probably now HDDVD exclusive due to the Paramount/DW defection (Jack Ryan collection, Master & Commander, Transformers, etc).

Carlton

Oct 9, 2007, 11:05 AM

Next time you're at Futureshop or BestBuy, ask the sales guy how long it takes to boot up and switch formats on the LG hybrid and watch him grimace. LOL

WILL

Oct 9, 2007, 02:09 PM

Next time you're at Futureshop or BestBuy, ask the sales guy how long it takes to boot up and switch formats on the LG hybrid and watch him grimace. LOL

I may have to do that today. :D 'cause thats how I roll. :cool:

Is the PS3 worth while buying as a BR player or is it inconvenient to use to watch movies???

cldale

Oct 9, 2007, 03:07 PM

Next time you're at Futureshop or BestBuy, ask the sales guy how long it takes to boot up and switch formats on the LG hybrid and watch him grimace. LOL

LG Hybrid is first generation, so you have to expect delays in load times, just as there were BRUTAL load times with the first generation of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players (well documented in reviews).

I would wait for at least the next generation hybrid/combos to come out before making that jump.

And the LG Hybrid doesn't work for HD-DVD's "interactivity" layer (HDi) so it cannot officially carry the logo. Something worth noting.

You can buy stand-alone players for each format which combined are less than the single LG machine and will give you substantially better performance. Of course, it means two machines, but if you're that gung-ho about it you probably have a decent receiver with HDMI switching that will handle all that flawlessly.

Queen of the Beach

Oct 17, 2007, 09:24 PM

Interesting thread... so the important question is how much is each one going to cost? Any chance this argument can be settled before Christmas? :rolleyes:

guitarman

Oct 17, 2007, 10:21 PM

Interesting thread... so the important question is how much is each one going to cost? Any chance this argument can be settled before Christmas? :rolleyes:

The war between HD DVD and Bluray is going to be a long one.

TehFlakes

Oct 18, 2007, 08:18 AM

dekker

Oct 18, 2007, 08:29 AM

It's assuring to know that the decision for the dominating entry will come from the HO'-MOvie industry. Butt Blue-Ray is likely to back up and roll over before the go-ahead.:rolleyes:

cldale

Oct 18, 2007, 09:30 AM

the HD-DVD rom for the xbox 360 is offering 5 free dvd's when you get the drive. you have to send away for them though. I'm picking a HD-dvd drive because of this offer.

ps3 is one of the best blue ray players on the market. However Ps3 is only selling around 150,000 unit's a month which is WELL BELOW xbox 360 and the Wiiiiiiii. So Will, 549 for a blue ray player has doesnt have any good video games on it until metal gear solid hits in 08?

Heh, I think PS3 is THE best considering the problems that even the 2nd gen players are having with the BD+ and BD-J authored discs.

I understand where you're coming from regarding the volumes of PS3's shipped vs. xBox and Wii, but recall that Wii is irrelevant since it's not a hi-def player or any format (it outputs 480p as the maximum resultion) and not everyone buying an xBox can be assumed to be buying the HD-DVD add-on... whereas every PS3 sold IS a blu-ray player even if you don't buy the remote.

If HD-DVD continues to hold such a clear price margin, and the difference in quality is non-existent or at least non-apparent to all but the most discerning, then I cannot see Blu-Ray winning unless they suddenly get a whole whack of killer titles (like all 6 star wars in a blu-ray only box-set, which won't happen anyways).

The reality is that for as long as any major studio holds out to one-format, the war will rage on, because the two formats can co-exist since they share the same physical media (mostly) and use the same laser and basic hardware. That there are dual-players indicates that you could see a very protracted battle.

TehFlakes

Oct 18, 2007, 09:49 AM

I understand where you're coming from regarding the volumes of PS3's shipped vs. xBox and Wii, but recall that Wii is irrelevant since it's not a hi-def player or any format (it outputs 480p as the maximum resultion) and not everyone buying an xBox can be assumed to be buying the HD-DVD add-on... whereas every PS3 sold IS a blu-ray player even if you don't buy the remote.

I was listening to the 1up your's podcast and they were taking about august sales numbers as september's are just starting to role out.

With the xbox add on having 5 free hd-dvd's will that drive sales?

Until games come out the ps3 it is in fact a great blue ray player and a good gaming console that jack all in quality of games right now. Will people buying the ps3 as blue ray player help turn around there struggle in the market right now? Even with the 40 gig ps3 that will be hitting the market soon (will not play ps2 or ps1 games) that should have a cheaper price tag help them drive sales?.

cldale

Oct 18, 2007, 12:28 PM

I was listening to the 1up your's podcast and they were taking about august sales numbers as september's are just starting to role out.

With the xbox add on having 5 free hd-dvd's will that drive sales?

Until games come out the ps3 it is in fact a great blue ray player and a good gaming console that jack all in quality of games right now. Will people buying the ps3 as blue ray player help turn around there struggle in the market right now? Even with the 40 gig ps3 that will be hitting the market soon (will not play ps2 or ps1 games) that should have a cheaper price tag help them drive sales?.

PS3's "success" has definately been lackluster (I own one myself, for a variety of reasons, among them the built in 1080p and HDMI output, the Blu-Ray capability, and PS3 usually has better RPG offerings) but when the big titles (final fantasy for example) start comign out, it will driver more sales.

I definately agree that the 5 free titles will drive sales, but the standalone players have had the same offer before (and likely will again) and its only made marginal impact on sales.

I will say this, as a player, the PS3 is better than XBox+HDDVD addon. I've seen movies played through both setups on the same setup, and even at 1080i (where the PS3 is known not to perform as well as it can) the PS3 looked better. This was using Flags of Our Fathers as a test disk, I brought my PS3 to my uncle's (who has the XBox+HDDVD) and we checked it out (we're both weird like that, we'll both spend hours tweaking and calibrating our equipment).

BUT, the standalone HDDVD players are VERY GOOD. Even the low-level HD-A2 was quite good, better than all the standalone Blu-Rays with the possible exception of the Pioneer unit.

Personally, I will end up getting an HD-A3 of A30 when they come out, and then I won't really care who wins... I just want to watch movies in the best possible video/sound.

TehFlakes

Oct 18, 2007, 12:28 PM

Ok Ok I just got my press release from my PR guy at sony.

40 gig version will be in canada/usa for $399. you can no longer play your ps2 games on this version.
80 gig had a price drop as of today at $499 in canada and USA. - still no HDMI cable included in the box unlike the xbox which includes one

cldale

Oct 18, 2007, 02:15 PM

TehFlakes

Oct 18, 2007, 02:21 PM

I'm a metal gear solid fan, So I will probably pick up a unit when that releases in 08.

Kace

Oct 18, 2007, 03:49 PM

I will say this, as a player, the PS3 is better than XBox+HDDVD addon. I've seen movies played through both setups on the same setup, and even at 1080i (where the PS3 is known not to perform as well as it can) the PS3 looked better. This was using Flags of Our Fathers as a test disk, I brought my PS3 to my uncle's (who has the XBox+HDDVD) and we checked it out (we're both weird like that, we'll both spend hours tweaking and calibrating our equipment).

I can't remember, if you have the older version 360, that only has component outputs and you pickup the HD-DVD drive, does that mean that you will still only be able to view the HD-DVDs through component or does the HD-DVD drive allow you to use HDMI???

I'm a metal gear solid fan, So I will probably pick up a unit when that releases in 08.

Also Gran Turismo 5 will be releasing within the next 12 months and is always know as a great motivator to sell consoles. I'll be picking up a PS3 just for it.

TehFlakes

Oct 18, 2007, 05:42 PM

Should be interesting with GT, I'm still loving forza and playing it.

I can't remember, if you have the older version 360, that only has component outputs and you pickup the HD-DVD drive, does that mean that you will still only be able to view the HD-DVDs through component or does the HD-DVD drive allow you to use HDMI???

Also Gran Turismo 5 will be releasing within the next 12 months and is always know as a great motivator to sell consoles. I'll be picking up a PS3 just for it.

Knockz

Oct 18, 2007, 09:27 PM

Rumours are flying around that a sub 200$ hd dvd player will start to show up probably before christmas. It will happen eventually just like how dvd players dropped in price.

Here are two articles I just saw.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/sub-200-hd-dvd-players-just-around-the-bend/
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/format-war/rumor-198-toshiba-hd-dvd-player-coming-to-wal+mart-312462.php

Big Shooter

Oct 19, 2007, 01:47 AM

Sony just reduced the PS3 80gig unit from $659.99 to $499.99! :)

TehFlakes

Oct 19, 2007, 08:13 AM

didnt i post this on the first page?:confused: you blockbuster folks:P

Sony just reduced the PS3 80gig unit from $659.99 to $499.99! :)

cldale

Oct 19, 2007, 11:23 AM

I can't remember, if you have the older version 360, that only has component outputs and you pickup the HD-DVD drive, does that mean that you will still only be able to view the HD-DVDs through component or does the HD-DVD drive allow you to use HDMI???

Also Gran Turismo 5 will be releasing within the next 12 months and is always know as a great motivator to sell consoles. I'll be picking up a PS3 just for it.

Before the XBox Elite, you were wither outputing Component (1080i max) or if you were really really fortunate, you had a TV which would accept a 1080p input through the D-Sub connector without requiring HDCP handshaking (very few of those sets around).

The HD-DVD unit itself doesn't have dedicated outputs, it connects to the XBox and relies on the XBox's outputs, so your choices are limited to what your console provides.

The new Xbox though outputs 1080p.

Personally, I think MS screwed that up. Now if you write games for XBox360 you really cannot write them 1080p native because you're never sure if your target is 1080p aware. So everything XBox or cross-platform will have to be 720p to satisfy the legacy 360 people. Just a bone I have with XBox because it results in the PS3 version of games (Like Tiger Woods) no supporting a full 1080p res.

Kace

Oct 19, 2007, 01:52 PM

Before the XBox Elite, you were wither outputing Component (1080i max) or if you were really really fortunate, you had a TV which would accept a 1080p input through the D-Sub connector without requiring HDCP handshaking (very few of those sets around).

The HD-DVD unit itself doesn't have dedicated outputs, it connects to the XBox and relies on the XBox's outputs, so your choices are limited to what your console provides.

The reason why I was wondering this is because I was wondering that when you compared your Xbox HD-DVD player to your uncle's PS3 Blu-Ray player, were you only running 720p through the component cables while he was running full 1080p through HDMI? Maybe that was why you noticed the large difference between the two formats and systems?

The new Xbox though outputs 1080p.

Personally, I think MS screwed that up. Now if you write games for XBox360 you really cannot write them 1080p native because you're never sure if your target is 1080p aware. So everything XBox or cross-platform will have to be 720p to satisfy the legacy 360 people. Just a bone I have with XBox because it results in the PS3 version of games (Like Tiger Woods) no supporting a full 1080p res.

Yeah, this stuff I knew...I bought my 360 about a year ago, but I make sure to tell my friends that are about to buy one (a non-Elite system) to make sure to check out the manufacturer's date on the system before purchasing it to ensure they get one that has HDMI outputs.

TehFlakes

Oct 19, 2007, 02:45 PM

premiums made after july should have HDMI, there very hard to find though.

Halo 3 editions have HDMI
Elite has HDMI

I will wait for the 65nm graphics chip and 65nm CPU to put in the 360's before I upgrade my unit.

September's NPD #'s were released today.

The reason why I was wondering this is because I was wondering that when you compared your Xbox HD-DVD player to your uncle's PS3 Blu-Ray player, were you only running 720p through the component cables while he was running full 1080p through HDMI? Maybe that was why you noticed the large difference between the two formats and systems?

Yeah, this stuff I knew...I bought my 360 about a year ago, but I make sure to tell my friends that are about to buy one (a non-Elite system) to make sure to check out the manufacturer's date on the system before purchasing it to ensure they get one that has HDMI outputs.

DavidY

Oct 19, 2007, 11:04 PM

premiums made after july should have HDMI, there very hard to find though.

Halo 3 editions have HDMI
Elite has HDMI

I will wait for the 65nm graphics chip and 65nm CPU to put in the 360's before I upgrade my unit.

September's NPD #'s were released today.

Based on my readings, only the Halo 3 consoles are guaranteed to have the new heatsinks to prevent the infamous overheating issue(s). Only the recent Elites have the new heatsinks. The HD-DVD addon really makes the 360 consoles work hard. Mine would shutoff while playing a movie if it got too hot.

Dave

Queen of the Beach

Oct 20, 2007, 01:20 AM