Russ1974

The problem is that anybody who buys a PS3 (millions of us) automatically have a BluRay player. If I was in the market to actually go out and BUY a High Def player, I'd probably choose HD-DVD. I think that format will win. But, I have a PS3, so have a BluRay player already.

Why do I think HD-DVD will win? Because BluRay is a STUPID gimmicky name. HD-DVD is what it says on the tin. Same as VHS ("Video Home System") vs BetaMax. BetaMax was a stupid name so it lost even though it was the better technology and superior in all but name!

C's Bimmer

Remember those giant Laser Discs back in the early 90's? Everyone thought that was going to be the next big thing in high quality video. LOL! Those discs were like records.

Russ1974

Ah but they WERE the next best thing, and they kicked arse until DVD arrived, which was in effect just an evolution of the laser disc.

Back to the HDDVD/BluRay debate, it looks like HDDVD is already taking over the world ... http://news.sky.com/skynews/xml/article/te...1-11254,00.html

If you look at the stats on how many people own BluRay vs HDDVD players, BluRay wins purely because of the PS3. But, people buy an HD-DVD just to watch films on. I expect a high percentage of PS3 owners will never buy a single BluRay film, having bought it for games only.

C's Bimmer

Keep in mind that Blu-Ray has more titles out. Personally, I don't care who wins this war and what name wins. I just want their to be a definitive winner and for all DVD's to be reformatted in HD. I still enjoy some of the classics.

B/T/W - If you have an upcoverting DVD player, buy some of the SuperBit DVD's. Their quality is outstanding! This was the High Definition of DVD's for a while, before Blu-Ray and HD DVD came out.

The Superbit DVD utilizes a high bit rate digital transfer process which optimizes video quality. The result is picture quality that provides outstanding detail and is the closest to the original master available, outside of Blu-Ray and HD DVD. I have most of the Superbit DVD titles and am amazed every time I watch them in my theater. The Patriot is amazing. You'd swear it was Blu-Ray or HD, with the Oppo.

http://www.sonypictures.com/cthe/superbit/

Russ1974

Thanks, will check that out. I also am looking forward to a single standard emerging - but PlayStation3 has really caused a problem! I expect I will fit an HD-DVD drive in to my media centre PC (which is in my AV cabinet and hooked up to the plasma via HDMI), and start building up my film collection. I will do what I do with DVD's now though - rip the film (minus extras/commentary/crap etc) to the PC hard-drive and play through Vista media centre, then sell throw the originals up in my loft never to be seen again!

sideeffects

Blu-Ray for the win! I have about 30 Blu-Rays and love the technology. It is for sure the better product and has many more exclusive studios like Disney solely backing it. The Blu-Ray disc currently has a 50gb stroage capacity where as the HD-DUD is only 30GB. (I beleive, maybe 25)

This war is different from the BetaMax vs. VHS fight because it is based more on studio support than anything else. Also, Blu-Ray is outnumbering HD-DUD in almost every country except for the US, where Blu-Ray is still outselling it by about 20 percent.

I want Blu-Ray to win and will continue purchasing these disks!

Russ1974

Not sure where you got your usage stats from but it contradicts this which shows HD-DVD is vastly out numbering BluRay; http://news.sky.com/skynews/xml/article/te...1-11254,00.html

Also regarding disney on HD-DVD;
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Detai...px?NewsId=16554
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/7384.cfm

I think a few studios originally said BluRay only but have realised that they will be shooting themselves in the foot as HD-DVD is outselling BluRay so much. Disney are the first to reverse their original statement, others will follow, and HD-DVD will kill BluRay within a year or so. That's my prediction.

swajames

The other side of the coin - Blockbuster video says that 70% of its high definition rentals are on Blu Ray, the two studios that dropped Blu Ray (Dreamworks and Paramount) were, according to the New York Times, paid a lot of money to do so, and Forrester Research issued a paper last month suggesting that Blu Ray is the likely winner. As for Disney, those articles are from March 2006 and the guy who is now their biggest shareholder just happens to run a computer company that's also firmly in the Blu Ray camp...

Russ1974

You know you need to post links / references for us to go and read when you make these statements ... !

I acknowledge that BluRay is the current winner, purely because of the PS3. As more people buy HD-DVD players, that format will catch up, and overtake.

It's interesting that more people are buying HD-DVDs, but more people are renting BluRay. I wonder if rental or purchase makes more money for the retailer / studios??

PS, I have no vested interest in whichever one wins ... I'll buy whatever I need to and just hope the "best one" wins! Although I have a PS3, that is for games, if BluRay emerges the winner then I will of course buy a standalone player or put a BR drive in to my media pc.

ImolaRedM

Not according to these figures.

http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/NielsenVideoscan/

And here's the NYT link to the $150 million dollar deal with Paramount to jump to HD-DVD.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/technolo...amp;oref=slogin