HD & Blu-Ray Players

[BwanaJim]

None of this new technology supports DVD+R disks. They only handle DVD-R. I have always used +R disks as I thought they were a newer, better disk.

Should I be using -R disks instead? What is the advantage or disadvantage.

I was planning on investing in the Toshiba HD DVD player which runs around $500. If you have any opinions on that I would like to hear them as well.

[CrayonEater]

Some believe the DVD+R format is inherently superior. However, I have mostly used -R with no troubles. For noobs, the whole bitsetting thing is a real problem and way over their heads. Why burner manufacturers can't make that a default and eliminate the problem is a great mystery and shows how out-of-touch they are. But for now, I'd be pissed if I had to convert my collection - actually, I WON'T, and that's part of the reason I will not be "upgrading" to HD ever. If you feel your +Rs can serve as back ups for -Rs then go for it; otherwise, get an upconverting DVD player and forgo the whole HD thing.

[BwanaJim]

Thanks for your reply. I already have an upconvert dvd player and it does play my dvd+r disks. If I purchase the HD DVD player I guess I'll have to keep my upconvert player attached to the tv as well.

[MOVIEGEEK]

These HD players are only first generation so future models(other than Toshiba) will probably support DVD+R.Toshiba's are notorious for not supporting DVD+R but they will support DVD-ROM booktype.

[tacitus]

I really think its a bad idea to buy either format (HD-DVD or blu-ray) at this time - the players are expensive, format war, normal new product problems. Some of commercial next gen DVDs - particularly blu-ray are very inconsistent because of authoring issue - I have heard reviews complaining about this. I am leaning toward crayoneaters refusal to go in that direction ever, because of all of the extreme copyprotection bs associated with the new formats; non-support on component cables for example.

Which upconverting DVD player do you have?

[gshelley61]

The smart thing to do right now is to stick with your upconverting DVD player and wait for the HD DVD / Blu-Ray battle to run its course. In a few years, there will be some resolution to this mess and players available that don't cost as much as they do now. Plus, the selection of titles on high def disc is too limited at this time.

I've been using a Sony DVP-NS75H on my 62" 1080p DLP and it is a great performer. Some DVD's (like the Superbit Fifth Element) look really great when upscaled... almost as good as real HD.

[SingSing]

DVD+R or DVD-R disc are about $0.20 a piece. HD player are $500.00 and up.

There are no big advantage of either format. Go DVD-R to solve your issue.

Note : Thank Sony's first +R and -R DVD burner that disolved the +R vs -R format war.

[RabidDog]

Toshiba HD DVD player which runs around 500.

Yeah it goes for around 499 here in the Uk as well....however since the exchange rate is around 1=1.80 it just shows the ripoffs we contend with. Strange how the "price point" is the same in each country totally unrelated to real world production costs. These are seeder machines, so inherently not perfect.. wait for 5 years.. then spit in the eyes of fools, with there strange wars... fighting on the dance floor..la de da da

[dwisniski]

Initially I was going to hold off buying a HD-DVD player, but the prospect of being able to watch high-def movies in glorious video and audio quality was too much. I'm glad I adopted early, HD-DVD is a pleasure to behold and a substantial improvement over DVD. The HD-A1 does play DVD+R discs, I know that because mine does. The only problem mine seems to have is with double layer DVD+R's, it will play them up to the layer change and then start to choke on them. I have since been burning to double layer DVD-R's and have had no problems. The HD-A1 since the 2.0 firmware upgrade had been rock solid with no glitches or stutters, and it does Dolby TrueHD 5.1 now So if you all are content with upscaled DVD than hold off, but if you got the bug then buy one, you won't be disappointed!