Blu-Ray and HD-DVD Questions!

[Pisidan]

Im kinda new to the DVD scenen and have been reading a little on Blu-ray and Hd-DVD and was wondering when these come out will they be backwards compatible to play in a DVD player or will we all have to buy new DVD players and movies ect...for them to function I really cant find any answers to this Thanxs!!

[Dead Reckoning]

Yes, you will need a new DVD player.

Unknown if backwards compatible.

I think you will also need an HD TV

[Pisidan]

See that bites they should be backwards compatible and what if I dont want to buy a HD TV like alot of people I know dont want to fork out that money when the TV sets they have are fine now and what about DVD players I dont really want to go and buy a new one either they may make alot of people angry and lose alot of sales unless of course they continue regular DVD's but from what I read they want to get rid of them so I dont know it is fustrating these industries sometimes!!

[Bob W]

A clever plan to sell you same movies you already bought as VHS and DVD.

[bugster]

and what if I dont want to buy a HD TV like alot of people I know

So don't buy one, nor a Blu-ray/HD-DVD player. The main advantage of these new tchnoligies is the High Def content. Without a Hi-def TV, they are little better than standard DVD.

unless of course they continue regular DVD's but from what I read they want to get rid of them

Regular DVD's will continue for quite a few years yet, I doubt you have much to wory about in that respect.

[yoda313]

hi,

Well the only backward compatible ability will be the next gen players WILL play current dvds and cds. Thats about it. Just like you can't play dvds on a vcd only player. And you can't play dvdroms on a cdrom drive.

Other than that you'd have to buy the new player to play the new format. BUT they should always work on a standard tv. I assume they'll have the standard rca video cables (or scart for those in europe). You just won't have the high def ability on a standard tv.

Kevin

(though can you play them on a monitor with a dvi input on it????)

[Pisidan]

Thanxs for all the response to this...I hope reguilar DVD's are around for a while cause I would hate to have to update my movie collection every 5-10 years cause of some new thing that comes out LOL I think this is more of a way for Sony and others like them to make more money off the same films over and over again more than anything but thats M.H.O. Thanxs again guys for the response!!

[ebenton]

One of the potentials of Blu-Ray or HD-DVD with the huge amount of storage space is the possiblity that the manufacturers may put the "old format" DVD movie on the disk along with the HD format. Then you could play the same disk on old player or a new one.
It depends on whether they just want to stop producing "old" DVD disks completely or not.

[yoda313]

Hi,

may put the "old format" DVD movie on the disk along with the HD format. Then you could play the same disk on old player or a new one.

I'm sure that wouldn't work on the older dvd players. Didn't a lot of the early ones have problems with the layer switch on dual layers??? I can't imagine they'd like a next gen hybrid with standard info on it either.

But maybe current players might be able to handle it.....

Kevin

[ebenton]

Now that you mention it, maybe it wouldn't work. I'm guessing the size of the ones and zeros in a blu-ray and the wavelenght of laser needed to read them is probably different than a current DVD. Producing such a DVD would probably not be technologically unfeasible, but maybe economically not a good idea.

[compuser]

Hi,

may put the "old format" DVD movie on the disk along with the HD format. Then you could play the same disk on old player or a new one.

I'm sure that wouldn't work on the older dvd players. Didn't a lot of the early ones have problems with the layer switch on dual layers??? I can't imagine they'd like a next gen hybrid with standard info on it either.

But maybe current players might be able to handle it.....

Kevin

I think that I read somewhere here that there was talk of having the HD version on one side with the DVD version on the other side... Just a double sided issue not a dual layer issue...

[edDV]

In the USA, the only way you may be forced into buying a full up DRM HD player is if you elect one of the California congressional delegation to President. They are mostly all in Hollywood's pocket. I'm not even sure about Arnold.

[MOVIEGEEK]

^Flirting with a yellow card edDV...even though I agree with you.

I like the "flipdisc" idea but I doubt it will fly because of copyright problems.About a year ago they had a Dualdisc that had DVD-Video on one side and CD on the other but some guy in Germany sued the record companies and it is still being settled in court.

As for backward compatibilty the details are still being worked out,my guess is there will be three lasers(HD-DVD,DVD,CD).You will need an HDTV with HDMI connectors to watch the HD material.

[compuser]

^Flirting with a yellow card edDV...even though I agree with you.

I like the "flipdisc" idea but I doubt it will fly because of copyright problems.About a year ago they had a Dualdisc that had DVD-Audio on one side and CD on the other but some guy in Germany sued the record companies and it was pulled.

How would what you described be a copyright issue?

[MOVIEGEEK]

^That guy in Germany owns the "flipdisc" patent.
Sony et al owns Blu-ray,Toshiba et al owns HD-DVD,DVD Forum owns DVD.The studios and manufacturers can't even decide on Blu-ray or HD-DVD.
Let the lawsuits begin.....

[compuser]

oh ok... sorry... that is interesting...

[Krispy Kritter]

Aside from the fact that its hard to answer the question because there is no standard for the new format, the general specs for each type have been released. Blu-Ray is an entirely new format requiring new players and discs. HD-DVD is based upon the current DVD standard and is backward compatible with the current discs

[edDV]

Aside from the fact that its hard to answer the question because there is no standard for the new format, the general specs for each type have been released. Blu-Ray is an entirely new format requiring new players and discs. HD-DVD is based upon the current DVD standard and is backward compatible with the current discs

Backward compatible with existing Disc manufacturing processes that is.
Both types of HD players will play current DVD discs. Current DVD players will not play either of the new HD formats.

[Krispy Kritter]

Aside from the fact that its hard to answer the question because there is no standard for the new format, the general specs for each type have been released. Blu-Ray is an entirely new format requiring new players and discs. HD-DVD is based upon the current DVD standard and is backward compatible with the current discs

Backward compatible with existing Disc manufacturing processes that is.
Both types of HD players will play current DVD discs. Current DVD players will not play either of the new HD formats.

Exactly...that's what I meant.