Well having lost the "Betamax" war years ago, Sony seems to have won the DVD wars, with it's Blu-Ray format. At least things seem to be going that way enough for Sony to have the prize in it's cross hairs.
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Walmart Drops HD-DVD, Blu-Ray Seems To Win DVD Wars
- Thread starter DADoES
- Start date
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I've read that many consumers are still satisfied with the standard DVD format. I'm not switching. I have too many DVDs to even think about replacing them with HD. I've tried an HD-DVD player, and cannot see a difference, my 42" screen isn't large enough to bring out the additional detail.
I can definitely see the difference between 1080p and DVD resolution, but the DVD is still very good.
I read a local electronics column recently that stated that while Blu-ray is technically superior to HD-DVD, the only Blu-ray player worth buying at this point is a Playstation 3. The rest either don't do the most recent revision right, or they are unreliable, or both.
I'm also willing to wait a while. I just got a DVD recorder and am enjoying the ability to time-shift digital broadcasts with it (it records in DVD NTSC from ATSC signals).
Once Sony starts letting other mfgs produce reliable and uptodate units for a reasonable price, I'll be there. Meanwhile I'm trying to stay off the bleeding edge - it's too time consuming and much more expensive than waiting a year or two for the stuff to winnow out.
I read a local electronics column recently that stated that while Blu-ray is technically superior to HD-DVD, the only Blu-ray player worth buying at this point is a Playstation 3. The rest either don't do the most recent revision right, or they are unreliable, or both.
I'm also willing to wait a while. I just got a DVD recorder and am enjoying the ability to time-shift digital broadcasts with it (it records in DVD NTSC from ATSC signals).
Once Sony starts letting other mfgs produce reliable and uptodate units for a reasonable price, I'll be there. Meanwhile I'm trying to stay off the bleeding edge - it's too time consuming and much more expensive than waiting a year or two for the stuff to winnow out.
I have both formats-machines that can play HD discs and another machine for Blu-Ray.I have been very happy with them.Works really well on my 1080I set-sure can see the difference---and can HEAR the difference too.Both HD and Blu-Ray discs don't have digitally compressed soundtracks as standard DVD does.also lately,I have twice the number of Blu-Ray discs as HD ones.I am betting as well Blu-Ray will be the winner.Its getting more studio support.also disc rental companies such as NetFlix and BlockBuster are carrying only Blu-Ray movies.Currently there is a price war between the two types of players.Now if they could make a price war for the discs!
Unusual,
Blu-ray is, in many ways, the higher quality product. Usually, it is the lesser quality one which wins. Hmm, perhaps because the market is already saturated with DVDs?
Strictly speaking, both HD standards can also use lossy audio compression, it depends on many factors.
Unfortunately, Blu-ray is still a work in progress. I would wait a few years, not only for the standards to stabilize, but also for the price to come down. The NY-Times says they currently cost 150$ to make, so there's a long way to go yet before these players are priced right (for my wallet, anyway.)
There is a secondary aspect to these disks which is worth noting - because their data tracks are only 0.1mm under the surface, they could be very easily scratched if they been covered with the same plastic as used in DVDs. Various firms have come up with new polymers in the last few years to protect them. These anti-scratch/stain coatings may well revolutionize the use of other delicate products such as OLED screens.
Blu-ray is, in many ways, the higher quality product. Usually, it is the lesser quality one which wins. Hmm, perhaps because the market is already saturated with DVDs?
Strictly speaking, both HD standards can also use lossy audio compression, it depends on many factors.
Unfortunately, Blu-ray is still a work in progress. I would wait a few years, not only for the standards to stabilize, but also for the price to come down. The NY-Times says they currently cost 150$ to make, so there's a long way to go yet before these players are priced right (for my wallet, anyway.)
There is a secondary aspect to these disks which is worth noting - because their data tracks are only 0.1mm under the surface, they could be very easily scratched if they been covered with the same plastic as used in DVDs. Various firms have come up with new polymers in the last few years to protect them. These anti-scratch/stain coatings may well revolutionize the use of other delicate products such as OLED screens.
No, no, no, no, no!
I've been buying a dvd now and then since I got my dvd player in 2005. I have fewer than 20. However, this is making me deeply unhappy. I had lots of vinyl. Then, cassettes. Then, CDs.........I get so tired of replacing media every 20 years or so.......
Lawrence/Maytagbear
I've been buying a dvd now and then since I got my dvd player in 2005. I have fewer than 20. However, this is making me deeply unhappy. I had lots of vinyl. Then, cassettes. Then, CDs.........I get so tired of replacing media every 20 years or so.......
Lawrence/Maytagbear
I don't have an HD player so I guess I don't know what I'm missing. My only DVD player is the $50 RCA up-convert model I got at WalMart a year ago after I bought the LCD tv. Only last week we finally upgraded to HD tv with the cable co. and got the digital/HD receiver because there was a promotion on. Granted the picture is very good but we still can't find much worth watching too often regardless of 200 channels, seriously.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Lawrence:
"I've been buying a dvd now and then since I got my dvd player in 2005. I have fewer than 20. However, this is making me deeply unhappy. I had lots of vinyl. Then, cassettes. Then, CDs.........I get so tired of replacing media every 20 years or so....... "
I hear you. In my lifetime, I've been through:
- 78s
- 45s
- LPs
- 4-tracks
- PlayTape
- 8-tracks
- Quadrasonic on vinyl
- Quadrasonic on 8-track
- Reel-to-reel
- Cassette
- CD
- Beta
- VHS
- DVD
- AM radio
- FM radio
- Satellite radio
- NTSC television
- ATSC television
And now they'd like me to upgrade everything again. No thanks. Maintaining players for legacy formats is much cheaper than going out and re-buying my movies and music every time the media companies get a new wild hair. I have equipment for 78, 45, LP, 8-track, cassette, and CD, as well as VHS and DVD. That'll do this consumer for one lifetime, thank you very much, Corporate America.
P.S.: Is it just me, or is mp3 really crappy-sounding? To me, it's rather like listening to music through a telephone- all tinny and muddy. I don't have an iPod or anything, because everyone else's sounds terrible.
"I've been buying a dvd now and then since I got my dvd player in 2005. I have fewer than 20. However, this is making me deeply unhappy. I had lots of vinyl. Then, cassettes. Then, CDs.........I get so tired of replacing media every 20 years or so....... "
I hear you. In my lifetime, I've been through:
- 78s
- 45s
- LPs
- 4-tracks
- PlayTape
- 8-tracks
- Quadrasonic on vinyl
- Quadrasonic on 8-track
- Reel-to-reel
- Cassette
- CD
- Beta
- VHS
- DVD
- AM radio
- FM radio
- Satellite radio
- NTSC television
- ATSC television
And now they'd like me to upgrade everything again. No thanks. Maintaining players for legacy formats is much cheaper than going out and re-buying my movies and music every time the media companies get a new wild hair. I have equipment for 78, 45, LP, 8-track, cassette, and CD, as well as VHS and DVD. That'll do this consumer for one lifetime, thank you very much, Corporate America.
P.S.: Is it just me, or is mp3 really crappy-sounding? To me, it's rather like listening to music through a telephone- all tinny and muddy. I don't have an iPod or anything, because everyone else's sounds terrible.
"P.S.: Is it just me, or is mp3 really crappy-sounding? To me, it's rather like listening to music through a telephone- all tinny and muddy. I don't have an iPod or anything, because everyone else's sounds terrible."
Nope, it isn't you, just highly compressed media. 320Kb compression is fairly tolerable, but still compressed 4 times that of cd (even redbook cd is compressed).
I prefer a pure analog source, but it is far from cheap to do it right.
Nope, it isn't you, just highly compressed media. 320Kb compression is fairly tolerable, but still compressed 4 times that of cd (even redbook cd is compressed).
I prefer a pure analog source, but it is far from cheap to do it right.
I have a PlayStation 3, but I got it mostly for the games. The Blu-Ray player was an added bonus. I got a couple Blu-Ray movies, and while they are pricey, the quality from them is really worth it. I have Ratatouille on Blu-Ray and a 32" HDTV, and you can see almost every little whisker and strand of hair that would be hard to see on a normal DVD, even upscaled (the PS3 also doubles as a pretty good upscaling DVD player). I don't have surround sound, but I watched a Blu-Ray movie on a friend's PS3 with surround sound (Dolby True HD) and the sound is mind-blowing. Gaming in HD is great also. I like the fact that the PS3 is internet capable, so I can always update the Blu-Ray profile on it if a new one comes up.
Blu-Ray movies are a lot easier to navigate through than DVDs. The movie starts playing immediately once the disc is put in, and the menu pops up over the movie when you need (while it's still playing), instead of the annoying cut scenes found in regular DVDs. Also, it seems like Blu-Ray discs are impossible to scratch. The game that came with the PS3 has been unscathed, while most of my PS2 games (on DVD) have a scratch or two on them.
Blu-Ray movies are a lot easier to navigate through than DVDs. The movie starts playing immediately once the disc is put in, and the menu pops up over the movie when you need (while it's still playing), instead of the annoying cut scenes found in regular DVDs. Also, it seems like Blu-Ray discs are impossible to scratch. The game that came with the PS3 has been unscathed, while most of my PS2 games (on DVD) have a scratch or two on them.
The Problem...
The problem with Blu-Ray winning is that prices are now going up! I just bought an HD DVD player a few weeks ago because it hit my price point $125. NetFlix had 400 HD DVD movies to choose from and I was happy. Last week I got a note form Netflix that they are dropping HD DVD and going BLU-Ray only. Got to say I was upset. I'm sending the player back to Amazon and looking for a Blu-ray unit. They are all $300-$1000, and in the various forums i checked out people are complaining that prices are now going up since they won the war. Not cool.
I've been making the rounds looking for clearance units, no luck yet. I've read in many placed to avoid Samsung units at all costs, they are the cheapest, and stuff on eBay is pricey used. So, basically I'm angry. There is nothing on TV to watch at the moment and wont be for 5 to 6 week until production ramps back up. I had intended to OD on movies, now unless I find a cheap player I wont. Having had HD for 6+ years I quit watching DVDs long ago since they looked pretty poor in relation to HD stuff, quality just isn't there. I basically can't understand anyone not seeing the difference. If you can't you really don't need HD - save your money.
The problem with Blu-Ray winning is that prices are now going up! I just bought an HD DVD player a few weeks ago because it hit my price point $125. NetFlix had 400 HD DVD movies to choose from and I was happy. Last week I got a note form Netflix that they are dropping HD DVD and going BLU-Ray only. Got to say I was upset. I'm sending the player back to Amazon and looking for a Blu-ray unit. They are all $300-$1000, and in the various forums i checked out people are complaining that prices are now going up since they won the war. Not cool.
I've been making the rounds looking for clearance units, no luck yet. I've read in many placed to avoid Samsung units at all costs, they are the cheapest, and stuff on eBay is pricey used. So, basically I'm angry. There is nothing on TV to watch at the moment and wont be for 5 to 6 week until production ramps back up. I had intended to OD on movies, now unless I find a cheap player I wont. Having had HD for 6+ years I quit watching DVDs long ago since they looked pretty poor in relation to HD stuff, quality just isn't there. I basically can't understand anyone not seeing the difference. If you can't you really don't need HD - save your money.
<blockquote>I basically can't understand anyone not seeing the difference.</blockquote>I've tried both the 1st-generation and the 2nd-generation Toshiba HD-DVD player and I don't see any difference on my Panasonic 42" plasma panel. The panel is 5½ years old, and although it is HD, it apparently doesn't have enough resolution to bring out the difference in the DVD formats. Maybe newer models do, but I've heard "smaller" screens are a factor. I don't have an HD TV feed to see how it does with that, although I suspect I would see a difference there. That being said, I do see an appreciable difference in the DVD formats on RJ's larger projection wall-screen. I've not yet seen HD-DVD on his newer-than-mine 50" plasma.
while driving home from my mid shift last tuesday morning-the newscast on the NPR station announced that Toshiba officially threw in the towel on HDDVD-production of HD players and discs was going to end that Tuesday,2-19.so now its down to BluRay-guess their hand has been raised in victory.I am expecting closeout sales on HDDVD machines-if you have a collection of HD discs-may be a good idea to get one when it real cheap.I plan on it.Also a BB and CC the salespeople were gleefully announcing the end of HDDVD.Will check on "HDDVD.org" for more details-its a website that has information on both HDDVD and BluRay discs and machines.
Amazon...
I shipped mine back to Amazon with 2 sealed HD DVD disks, I'm sure it will be resold. I've seen reports of open box units at Amazon in the $70 range. I paid $125, for $40 or $50 I might repurchase but I doubt it.
I shipped mine back to Amazon with 2 sealed HD DVD disks, I'm sure it will be resold. I've seen reports of open box units at Amazon in the $70 range. I paid $125, for $40 or $50 I might repurchase but I doubt it.
On my 1080I Hitachi Rear Projection set-"Ultravision" its a CRT type set-last of its kind.the 1080 formats of BOTH HDDVD and BluRay look much better than standard 480P DVD pictures.I can make out details that I cannot see on regular DVD.DADoES:Can your Panasonic Plasma set be set to 1080I or P if so you should then notice a diffrence.I can't tell a diffrence on my TV between BluRay and HDDVD-but sure can versus standard DVD.Also make sure your player is set to the same resolution format your TV is set to.You will have to go to the setup menus in both the TV and the player.And of course the sound quality on both HD formats is better-both HD disc formats devote more digital "bandwidth" for the soundtracks so there is slightly more dynamic range and better support for 7.1 soundtracks-I am not setup for 7.1 yet.would have to get a new Receiver-amp for that.My present Onkyo 5.1 receiver works just fine with the new HD formats and I can tell a diffrence on it.I am pleased with both-sadly I haven't been to a movie theater in awhile since I went to HD.Mainly its just not as convenient--even though 35MM film has more resolution than ANY digital format-even those slated to replace film in theaters.Haven't watched a program presented in the cinema digital format-the Carmike here now has it.they conveerted all of their audiotoriums to it.they got christie Digital projectors and support equipment.Folks that I know like the 35mm format that the Consildated Cinema still uses better.also theaters need to carry a wider range of concessions in my area-their selections are pretty lame.And I have gotten too used to watching movies when its convenient for ME and not the theater.Still need to watch at the theater though to establish a reference.Just need to find a movie I want to see.
I'm pretty sure all the settings were correct. The player threw up an on-screen flag advising of the active output resolution, and I definitely saw 1080 advised when running HD-DVD material. Keep in mind also that my plasma predates HDMI. Component is the "best" connection it can do, so maybe that has something to do with not seeing a substantial difference. As for sound, any surround effect is lost on me since my right ear went dead last summer. Dammnit.
Component is fine, many tests have shown it difficult at best to determine if the signal on the screen came from one or the other. Some with "golden eyes" who are related to those with "golden ears" claim there is a great difference but 98% of the population would be hard pressed to see it. HDMI does keep the signal in the digital world and the conversion can impact the picture to be sure, but HDMI's only reason to exist is to make the studios happy, though anyone with a little knowledge can copy a DVD, HD DVD or Blu-Ray disk. So In the end we get to pay for something that makes our life more difficult and has no real deterrent to copying.
DaDoES:My TV doesn't have HDMI connectors either-mine is a little older than your TV.Got mine just as Plasmas were coming out to market.I have to set my TV and players to 1080I and it works with the 1080 pictures.And I am using the Component video connections-Not long ago there was an interesting display at Circuit city-they had two Indentical Plasma TV's Panasonic I think-and two HDDVD players-one player and TV was 1080I,the other was 1080P.the pictures looked the same to me and about everyone else that watched them.1080 is 1080-wether it be Interlace or Progressive-same resolution factor.Therefore the pictures would be the same.Yes I have read somewhere that both the HDDVD and BluRay copy protection protocols have been "hacked"and pirate copies made.The studios should just give up on worries of copying movies-soon everyone with a computer and an optical drive that can record in the BluRay format can make the copies.Its like folks having tape recorders starting in the forties and fifties-the record industry was not threatend.Already have seen computers that can record in the BluRay mode.
I haven't noticed THAT big a difference.
I have a Playstation 3 plugged into a 40" 1080p television and to be honest, while I can see a difference it's not mind blowing.
Perhaps it's because PAL region DVDs are higher resolution than NTSC, also in general broadcast and cable television here is higher resolution even without HD
The typical video resolution for an NTSC disc is 720 × 480, while a PAL disc is 720 × 576 (roughly 20% better resolution)
D-1 NTSC Square Pix (resolution 720 x 540)
D-1 PAL Square Pix (resolution 768 x 576)
I have a Playstation 3 plugged into a 40" 1080p television and to be honest, while I can see a difference it's not mind blowing.
Perhaps it's because PAL region DVDs are higher resolution than NTSC, also in general broadcast and cable television here is higher resolution even without HD
The typical video resolution for an NTSC disc is 720 × 480, while a PAL disc is 720 × 576 (roughly 20% better resolution)
D-1 NTSC Square Pix (resolution 720 x 540)
D-1 PAL Square Pix (resolution 768 x 576)
