HD/Blu-Ray Front Page Poll

[Dazog]

Makes alot of sense for Bluray to win with its BD+ and Huge anti-consumer copy protections, which are already cracked but cause you and me headaches to update our players just to load our new BD+ titles.

Awesome if you ask me!

Don't forget about confusing people with the whole profile garbage, oh sir you can't do that you don't have a profile 2.xxxx player, too bad.

[insomniac9]

I think blu-ray will win in the format wars due to it being bundled with the ps3. I've only got 2 blu-ray titles so far; James Bond: Casino Royale and Saw 3. I would get more if I bought a standalone player for downstairs, I might get a standalone player later on next year.

[RedFlow]

I don't know. I always felt HD-DVD was better. Its cheaper and such. But too bad more people aren't backing it.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Blu-Ray will be the winner with huge differences.

what huge differences?

I wouldn't say so. They're already beginning test production runs with them to find out the yields and they could be in the market relatively soon. The 100GB or 200GB discs are a futile argument though as they aren't even close to beginning production nor does anybody know if they'll work in current players.

yeah, youre right... that's all fine, but at this point you cant make that an argument for HD DVD. it's not available, and there's no firm launch date for them. same w/ the BD discs. so at this point, no one should make either an argument. that's all i meant.

it's like claiming your new car will be so much faster 0-60 in 2010. doesnt matter right now.

Got one setup in the lounge, feel free to come over and watch any of my HD movies in 1080p on my Sony Bravia.

Oh and no, it's not an Xbox.

thats not the point. he's saying that for a comparable price, you can get a high-def player PLUS a game console, internet and whatever else for $399. your HD DVD setup on your Bravia can only play movies.

dont get me wrong though... im still an HD DVD supporter (Y)

[shakey_snake]

I'd rather build a media PC than buy either standalone (or a PS3), at the moment.

The wave of the future (or present) is internet and cable distribution.

It's rather foolish to me that people will argue about hi def format and then talk about how CD's are obsolete. :blink:

[h|tcher]

I go for BluRay.

[mb3h]

HD-DVD is Microsoft, Blu-ray is Sony.

Microsoft is strong with its foundation in hardware & software & entertainment market. I think Blu-ray is trying to steal people's hearts by advertising many commercial stuff for Blu-ray products. However, since Playstation didn't really give a hit to actual market since its first launch, it's going to be hard for sony.

[abcdefg]

HD-DVD is Microsoft

Enough reason to forget it.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

Enough reason to forget it.

Microsoft is merely one of the backers of HD DVD though.

[Brian M. Veteran]

I'd say Blu-Ray will be the eventual winner, because of what's already mentioned in this thread: it coming bundled with the PS3.

Lots of people I know have no idea what the differences are, and think that Blu-Ray is just another type of DVD, but given how they own a PS3, when they buy a film, they automatically buy it on Blu-Ray if it's available. I don't know one person who even owns a HD-DVD.

[Colin-uk Veteran]

Blu-ray.

mostly because id love to eventually make huge backups on single disks. dvd's are way too small.

[Raa]

thats not the point. he's saying that for a comparable price, you can get a high-def player PLUS a game console, internet and whatever else for $399. your HD DVD setup on your Bravia can only play movies.

Actually, it can play games, do internet and "whatever else" for probably less than 399. (Keep in mind I said it wasn't an Xbox, I dont have an accurate price for it lol sorry)

Next arguement? And yes glad you back HD DVD (Y) Coz its the win!

[Coldgunner]

Actually, it can play games, do internet and "whatever else" for probably less than 399. (Keep in mind I said it wasn't an Xbox, I dont have an accurate price for it lol sorry)

Next arguement? And yes glad you back HD DVD (Y) Coz its the win!

for how long? you ain't gonna be able to build much of a games machine that'll stand the test of time?

least the ps3/x360 will last 4-5 years

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

for how long? you ain't gonna be able to build much of a games machine that'll stand the test of time?

least the ps3/x360 will last 4-5 years

so what happens when PS3 is obsolete, and HD DVD is still going strong... just an example. honestly, if PS3 didnt exist, BD would be dead by now. DVD has been out for 10 years... so whats to say HD DVD wont be around for another 10? just hypothetical.

[JohnMarsten]

I think you have to factor in stupidity of the average consumer as well .. think about it

The average consumer went from:

TV to HDTV

DVD to .. logic would say HD-DVD ... also in the US HD players are so much cheaper ... how many average consumers even know what a blu-ray player is or what blu-ray is .. but if you say HD-DVD they'll say a movie.

I myself have a HD-DVD player .. it came in my laptop and has HDMI output so it's 1080p as is my tv :)

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

Enough reason to forget it.

What's wrong with Microsoft? All that hate towards this company is really getting old.

[zivan56]

Looks like it is still wide open, as the people who are undecided will ultimately decide which format wins.

[sn00pie]

Blu-Ray.

I'm a PS3 owner and I guess a BD owner too. :D But honestly, BD has so many great movies to choose from and the fact that it's bundled with the PS3 = winner.

[+Chsoriano Subscriber²]

I don't actually own a player, but my brother is getting me an HD-DVD player for Christmas, all I've done up to now is read, but now I plan to start buying HD-DVDs.

As far as which one will win, as someone already said, it's going to be up to the millions of people who haven't decided yet. Since I'm getting an HD-DVD player I obviously hope HD-DVD wins, but if not then oh well.

As far as which one is better, I've seen way too many arguments for both formats to actually believe there is one truly better, the thing that is crucial is studio support and price. Right now Bluray has the better studio support, but HD-DVD has a better price at the moment. The interactivity and other features of HD-DVD are pretty neat, and will be a selling point for some consumers, but many won't care which format does what, they just want an HD player that's cheap and plays the movies they want to watch.

I think that Toshiba and Microsoft can push their weight around and gain more support if they wanted to, and I'm not sure why they haven't, however I really think this holiday season will have a big influence on this format fiasco, so only time will tell.

[Coldgunner]

so what happens when PS3 is obsolete, and HD DVD is still going strong... just an example. honestly, if PS3 didnt exist, BD would be dead by now. DVD has been out for 10 years... so whats to say HD DVD wont be around for another 10? just hypothetical.

it'll still be able to play Blu Ray movies as well as any other player, it does have the advantage of being software upgradable. people still use PS2 for dvd, even though thats nearly obsolete. you're also assuming hd-dvd trounces bd, which at its current state looks like it'll be the other way round.

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

Blu-Ray.

I'm a PS3 owner and I guess a BD owner too. :D But honestly, BD has so many great movies to choose from and the fact that it's bundled with the PS3 = winner.

Hypothetically speaking:

HD-DVD.

I'm a XBox 360 owner with HD-DVD add-on and I guess HD-DVD owner too. :D But honestly, HD-DVD has so many great movies to choose from and the fact that it's bundled with Xbox 360 = winner.

Cheers! :p

[Coldgunner]

Hypothetically speaking:

Cheers! :p

here in the UK, it costs ?400 for a x360 + hddvd, ?300 for ps3.

[Sheppard]

Hypothetically speaking:

Cheers! :p

The HD-DVD drive isnt bundled with the 360 though, you have to buy that seperate.

[TigerFX]

The extra interactivity on HD-DVD is neat, but to be honest, I don't know how much I'd really use it. I admit it could be fun during commentaries to see the people giving it, and studios will hopefully put it to creative use, but I was really excited about DVD's "angles" feature, which supposedly would let you watch movies from different camera angles. The only time I've seen it used is occasionally in special features. It just leads me to question how practical PIP will be.

How is Blu-ray technically superior? As far as I know, it's the same laser, same technology. The only difference is numerical aperture. And please, let's not get started on all storage capacity crap.

Storage is everything. HD movies are important but don't forget that we're deciding the future format medium for storage in our everyday lives. Case in point: computer backups. The fact that Blu-ray holds 60% more is something I know that I would use. Particularly for people who deal with large files regularly (like video editors) who would benefit from larger discs.

Consumers also do, as well. More storage = more content. The Harry Potter HD-DVD only has certain special features in 480i, though they are HD on the Blu-Ray disc. So clearly the studios are maxing out these discs.

Also imagine those huge box sets you love. Having nearly half of the discs is a good thing.

This last point isn't nearly as important as I thought it would be last year, but I'll still point it out. The name HD-DVD is a turn-off for me. This is the name of a format - not just the content that's on it. Case in point: if you were to re-release the standard defintion version of the 7-disc 1st season of Star Trek, given some re-encoding I bet it would fit on one BD disc, or definitely 2x Blu-Ray/HD-DVD discs. I realize now that Hi-Def players probably mandate a certain bit-rate, so this fantasy I think is a moot point, but I can imagine selling SD shows (they are still made) on either Blu/HD-DVD simply because of the higher capacity. You can fit more episodes per disc. And if that were the case, selling a SD show on an "HD-DVD" disc is just confusing to consumers. The name "Blu-Ray" is ambiguious and is simply a name for the kind of disc.

It also holds up for backups, to a degree. If I backup the source footage for an SD-wedding, or the family photo album, or a library of saved games, it would be stupid to name it: "HD-DVD: saved games". I like the fact that "Blu-Ray disc: saved games" makes far more sense. The DVD creators recognized this too, and quiety re-branded it "Digital Versital Disc" for this reason.

[b0m8er]

MKV lol )))) :ninja:

I want fully digital distribution system, without any physical media involved.