HD-DVD & Blu-Ray

Not a versus or smackdown thread but a general discussion of who has what, what devices they are using, which they prefer (in a non-abusive manner - I don't want this breaking down into a fanboy battle of the formats), and what their favourite discs are.

I currently use an Xbox 360 + HD-DVD drive and a PS3 for my hi-def movie watching.

Last disc I got was 'The Host' on HD-DVD which was nowhere near as good as expected.

300 is on it's way on HD-DVD / Combo and Starship Troopers should arrive today on Blu-Ray.

Currently prefer HD-DVD over Blu-Ray since it's features are better and picture quality seems to be a touch better. Combo discs HOW MANY PIGS LIVE IN YOUR BUSINESS? me off though!

Favourite discs have got to be, so far, Batman Begins (HD-DVD), The Prestige (HD-DVD), Ultimate Matrix Collection (HD-DVD) and Apocalypto (Blu-Ray)

My whole collection is viewable at http://www.SpecialEdition.me.uk.

Blu Ray.

I have the PS3 and a Toshiba XA2 HD-DVD player.

Neither. I've avoided the whole mess, I'll wait until one standard emerges or go without.

knightlie said:

Neither. I've avoided the whole mess, I'll wait until one standard emerges or go without.

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couldn't agree more

I have a Toshiba HD-A1. So I'm on the HDDVD side. I'm thinking about picking up the HDDVD copy of 300 to watch on it. That should be an incredible visual experience. The HDDVDs I already have are King Kong (awesome in HD), Apollo 13 (decent but a bit too old for HD), and Goodfellas (I don't even know why I bought this in HD).

I was going to a buy a PS3 no matter what; so having a Blu Ray player was extra. Also the A2 Toshiba was 350$; which for me isn't a big deal. If Hd-DVD fails (looks like it might) then I'm out 350$, no big deal.

I'm waiting until full 1080p screens are affordable before I jump into the whole HD mess.

If HDDVD fails, I'll be out some money. But even if it does go down in flames, I'll still be able to enjoy the HDDVDs that I have right now. I'm sure after Betamax failed people still watched the movies they had in Betamax.

Levi said:

I'm waiting until full 1080p screens are affordable before I jump into the whole HD mess.

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How big of a TV are you getting? The reason I'm asking, is you really can't tell the difference between 1080 and 720 below 45in or so.

Stretch said:

How big of a TV are you getting? The reason I'm asking, is you really can't tell the difference between 1080 and 720 below 45in or so.

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Agreed. Minimum 1080p TV size should be 42" and even then its a close call.

Blu-Ray is kicking IF I COULD ONLY HAVE PINK CHICKENS in the US but Europe seems to prefer HD-DVD a little more.

Stretch said:

How big of a TV are you getting? The reason I'm asking, is you really can't tell the difference between 1080 and 720 below 45in or so.

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No, but you can tell the difference between a 1080p image on a 1080p screen (even if it's only 40 inches) and a 1080p image that's been scaled to a 720p screen... unless you have scaler worth several thousand dollars.

I've got a PS3 which I watch Blu-Rays on occasionally..

knightlie said:

Neither. I've avoided the whole mess, I'll wait until one standard emerges or go without.

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Ditto.

I have a 720p 50" projection TV. I love the few HD channels I get. I'd love to watch movies in HD, but just can't justify spending the $$ on a player. I'll wait until after the holidays. Maybe by then, there will be a trend as to which will be the dominate format.

I have a PS3, but have watched HD DVD. I like them both, but since I've watched more blu-ray movies, I'm a little biased. I'm just waiting for a dual format player to be affordable. Right now, it's a rip off.

I have neither at the moment. Can't justify the cost. However, I do believe that Blu-Ray will 'win' the format war because Blockbuster has backed it. Major video rental stores backed VHS previously and we all know how that turned out. Also, I was in my local HMV and I noticed the Blu-Ray titles outnumber the HD-DVDs by about 3:1. I think that Blu-Ray has the momentum and industry backing to sink HD-DVD in the long run.

I know I'm desperate to see what Apple backs!

*Crosses fingers for Blu-Ray in reputed new iMacs*

Doesn't Apple already have some company-related tie-in with another company that is pretty much assuring where they'll go? I thought I read something about it.

Anyway, I have neither now, but I'm in grad school and can't afford it anyway. By the time I get done in a year I think 1080p and dual players will be much cheaper and I'll have both.

Do you think one will actually die out? With huge company backing on both sides and the technology to make dual players, isn't it possible that both can survive?

fleurya said:

Doesn't Apple already have some company-related tie-in with another company that is pretty much assuring where they'll go? I thought I read something about it.

Anyway, I have neither now, but I'm in grad school and can't afford it anyway. By the time I get done in a year I think 1080p and dual players will be much cheaper and I'll have both.

Do you think one will actually die out? With huge company backing on both sides and the technology to make dual players, isn't it possible that both can survive?

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Apple is on the board of Directors for Blu Ray; the only big company that sololey backs HD-DVD, studio that is, is Universal.

TheCustomer99 said:

If HDDVD fails, I'll be out some money. But even if it does go down in flames, I'll still be able to enjoy the HDDVDs that I have right now. I'm sure after Betamax failed people still watched the movies they had in Betamax.

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My granddad kept his Betamax tapes and player for a long long time (I didn't even know what they where when I saw them). He didn't watch them much (like anything you only watch the same stuff so many times), and when he got a DVD player he got everything on DVD anyway.

As for combo players, I remember reading something about certain conditions in the licensing agreement for one or both the formats that forbid using using the technology in a device that would also incorporate the other format.

I've seen news about combo players being made, and am wondering if anyone knows if that clause was dropped, or if it's a legal nightmare waiting to happen?

knightlie said:

Neither. I've avoided the whole mess, I'll wait until one standard emerges or go without.

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What he says......although it is starting to look like BluRay might be the winner.

Don't even own a HDTV, and have no immediate plans to buy one. Prefer Blu-Ray as it stores more data per disk, and data's what it's all about.