Have lower hddvd and bluray player prices tempted you?

[yoda313]

The only scary situation I can forsee is if one of the hd players decides to play hard ball and release new movies ONLY in HD (bluray or HDDVD). Then we'd all be screwed over and have to choose if we wanted the movie. It's not like they are still releasing them on VHS anymore.


If Sony were to go to that extreme we'd be in serious trouble and have to bite the bluray bullet. Not because sony makes great movies but becuase they own so many movie studios.

That is the grim future I see. Sony has spent so much on bluray I can't imagine they'd lay down and let hddvd win if they start to really take off.....

[bbanderic]

The only scary situation I can forsee is if one of the hd players decides to play hard ball and release new movies ONLY in HD (bluray or HDDVD). Then we'd all be screwed over and have to choose if we wanted the movie. It's not like they are still releasing them on VHS anymore.


If Sony were to go to that extreme we'd be in serious trouble and have to bite the bluray bullet. Not because sony makes great movies but becuase they own so many movie studios.

The only way that'll happen is if HD were established in the vast majority of households. As long as DVD is the overwhelming format of choice, it's not going to happen any time soon. Sony is in business to make money, right now it's in DVD.

[TBoneit]

... but I remember americans were the ones preferring the biggest female breathing devices

Um - those aren't breathing devices. I've never been able to breath through mine anyway

You mean those flotation devices?

[TBoneit]

Did you mean How many actually have it in the house or did you mean how many have it available when you said
"How much of USA have HDTV cable or broadcast nowaday exactly?"

As many as could get or already have got Satellite form Dishnetwork or DirecTv have HD available to them.

I myself have a choice of four providers + OTA with HD in the little town where I live.
OTA = ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WNET, WLIW, WPIX (CW HD), WWOR (My9), NJN (4 SD Digital)
Fios 19 HD Plus locals
Cable via Cablevision 25 HD channels Including Locals
DirecTv I counted 9 HD Plus Locals + Regional Sports
Dishnetwork 32 HD Plus 4 Locals

Hmmm... Sounds like I just found the one good thing about NJ , Plenty of HD choices and 2 High Speed Internet Fios (or DSL) and Cable. I'm on cable right now >17mb normaly and sometimes over 22Mb speed.
Cheers

[dcsos]

somebodeez wrote:
DereX888 wrote:
... but I remember americans were the ones preferring the biggest female breathing devices


Um - those aren't breathing devices. I've never been able to breath through mine anyway


You mean those flotation devices?

If you put silicone in , does it still qualify as a flotation device? javascript:emoticon('')

[Xesdeeni]

Although an affordable player that does both formats (and does both equally well) is a nice idea I still say the market can only support one or the other in the long run.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

DVD-R and DVD+R still co-exist and still there is no clear 'winner' after so many years.
Unusual? Yes. But its not the same as that old Beta vs VHS example, when one company didn't want to 'share' the format with other manufacturers thinking theyre big enough to handle it itself

The Blu-Ray/HD-DVD situation is not the same as +R/-R, only 1 HD format will survive in the long run, you can count on it. You don't see movies released on +R/-R do you? No, they're released on DVD, 1 format, they're not sold on +R/-R discs. The stores can not, and will not stock both formats, they don't have the shelf space, as movies are sold individually packaged.

The only reason +R/-R have co-existed is because they're only sold as re-writables, in stacks of 25-100.

I think there are three different issues:

1. VHS vs. Beta. They were completely incompatible. But they both recorded. You could create your own content by recording OTA shows. Pre-recorded movies were only part of the mix. Legend has it that porn chose VHS and that's why it won. I believe it was for two other reasons: a) the fact that only Sony made Beta players, so competition pushed VHS player prices down, and b) the maximum length of a VHS tape was 2 hours, but only 90 minutes for Beta. When Joe Customer went to the store, he couldn't see a difference except that VHS was cheaper and would record longer.

But above all, anyone who wanted to record video had to choose one. There was no predecessor. And even when Beta went away. You could still play back (and even continue to record) with your Beta deck, which was its primary feature when you bought it in the first place.

2. DVD+/-R. Keep in mind that the format only matters during recording. Burned discs were pretty much compatible with any DVD player (yes, there were some hiccups early on, but even at the start, something like 85% of DVD players would handle burned DVDs). So player buyers didn't have to make a choice. And once burners supported both, no-one cared. Pre-recorded DVDs were obviously the focus.

But above all, the evolution made the change long but smooth. Movies just started coming out on DVD with more features (better quality, although you and I may care, was really only important to early adopters--Joe Customer didn't really notice on his 19" TV). And there wasn't a competing format.

3. HD-DVD and BluRay. There is no compatibility on playback. There are no recorders. You must choose one and commit to it. If your chosen format doesn't win, you are screwed. You can't record, so only pre-recorded movies are the only thing you have. And when that source dries up (a-la Blockbuster), it's over.

Above all, there IS a predecessor. You can stick with DVDs and be quite happy for a while. There is no need to make a choice until a clear winner is chosen.


Of course, being the anarchist I am, and because both camps chose such extreme DRM (I didn't buy my first DVD player until I knew I could exercise my Fair Use rights), I'm rooting for both to fail in favor of red-laser DVDs using h.264. But that's just wishful thinking....

Xesdeeni

[DereX888]

This is interesting discussion, with some very insightful posts in broad spectrum of subjects ranging from floatation devices to politics
Even though not always I agree in conclusions, thats what makes me come back to this forum...

[evol4pm]

I prefer a PS3 that i can use to watch Blu-ray and play my games at the same time.
I can even watch my videos in my pc on it with the wireless stream! Sweet! =)

yet, i think the price for HD DVD is coming down really fast, $199 in 2008 for sure, and freaking transformer is only on HD DVD

[Ollie6431]

I prefer a PS3 that i can use to watch Blu-ray and play my games at the same time.
I can even watch my videos in my pc on it with the wireless stream! Sweet! =)

yet, i think the price for HD DVD is coming down really fast, $199 in 2008 for sure, and freaking transformer is only on HD DVD

Toshiba is offering the new HD-A2 for $197 now (Oct 2007). This model is limited to 1080i. Sony is releasing a new PS3 version (pre-order now) with 40Gb hard-drive and Spiderman 3 Bluray movie this Holiday season for $399 (not backward compatible with PS2 games). Perhaps 600 bucks to get both?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

i recently bought a PS3, but it's Blu-Ray playback was secondary and not one of the primary reasons I bought the machine.
I currently own zero Blu-Ray discs, but I have rented one...
Also, the "5 free" rebate was mailed in (over a freakin' month ago!), but I have not actually received any Blu-Rays and am beginning to doubt that I will.

[overloaded_ide]

We need to let SONY and the other folks know WE ARE FED UP!!

The format wars are OVER for good! I personally am ripping ALL blue rays and HD DVD to 4.7gig DVD-R disks and backing those up to VHS tapes. I would back them up to Beta tapes but I only have 3 blanks left, LOL
Yes I do still have a working Beta and 3 new Blank tapes

[videobread]

No I have not been tempted. I have a 42" plasma and a DVD player that up scales to 1080. DVD9's and 5's look great. I am near sighted and I don't have to wear my glasses when I watch a movie. I just don't see the value of upgrading. The format war is irrelevant to me. I have no intention of replacing my current equipment. Long live DVD.

[JohnnyMalaria]

HD just doesn't do anything for me. Crap content is crap content whether in B&W film noire, silent sepia, analog SD or whatever the latest format is.

For me, the audio presentation is far more important. But even with old Western Electric telephone quality soundtracks, I can get fully immersed in 4:3 B&W movies much more than current day Hollywood blockbusters.

Yes, I'm a stick-in-the-mud when it comes to these things....

[edDV]

I'm looking more for a player that has Divx/Xvid HD, VC-1 and/or h.264 HD hardware decoding from DVD-5 or DVD-9 discs so that I can use my own HD material.

[gshelley61]

A boatload of new Toshiba HD-A2 units were sold for $98 at Walmart yesterday morning... plus many more at about that same price due to price matching at Sears, Circuit Ciity, Best Buy, etc. (plus 5 free HD DVD's with MIR)

The new HD-A3 can be purchased for less than $200 with 9 free HD DVD's

Since my first post in this thread last June, I sold the HD-A1 for an HD-A2... then picked up a great deal on a Samsung BD-P1200 Blu-ray player. Then I wound up swapping my A2 for an A20. I've been format neutral since early July and it's great. Renting both formats from Netflix (although I have purchased a few titles here and there). I've probably watched about 75 to 100 high def movies on HD DVD and Blu-ray so far.

Both are outstanding when it comes to PQ and AQ.

I've got about $600 into the HD-A20 and the BD-P1200

[ricoman]

Yes, it tempted me yesterday. Picked up a Toshiba HD-2A for $99 yesterday at Walmart. Wasn't planning on it but they had a 1-day "secret sale" and I couldn't resist the price. I guess that puts me in the HD DVD format side now. I was undecided before, but the Bluray prices are prohibitive. Of course the Movies still cost way too much. Now it only HD burner prices would drop under $200 and media under $8.

[starwarrior29]

Yes, it tempted me yesterday. Picked up a Toshiba HD-2A for $99 yesterday at Walmart. Wasn't planning on it but they had a 1-day "secret sale" and I couldn't resist the price.

Actually that sale is supposed to run all month for as long as they have supplies left, my local store had 2 left when I was there today and now they only have one.

I've been wanting to pick up a hd player for a while now to watch the Planet Earth hd dvds and today the price was right. 8)

[dcsos]

I've never seen a HD DVD Burner? Has anyone
That's why I'm holding out
Once I can compare the burners, the choice will be easier
But HD DVD keeps saying that their burners are available.
Where? Then there's this thing about LAPTOP burners for HD DVD
and how they're available supposedly in Japan.
But they're based on a different technology from the "soon" pc burners.
What gives, HD DVD?
I sure could use a large surface to back up files downloaded or created by me, but I think even BLU_RAY is too small and too expensive for daily use

[ricoman]

Starwarrior29 wrote:

Actually that sale is supposed to run all month for as long as they have supplies left, my local store had 2 left when I was there today and now they only have one.
I've been wanting to pick up a hd player for a while now to watch the Planet Earth hd dvds and today the price was right.

I had to go to 5 different Walmarts to find one and this was before noon, so I don't think they last for a month. The Planet Earth will be one of my first purchases. "Awesome" is an over-used word these days, but that series literally fills you with AWE. Can't wait because I only got to see a few episodes.[/i]

[ricoman]

I've never seen a HD DVD Burner? Has anyone
That's why I'm holding out
Once I can compare the burners, the choice will be easier
But HD DVD keeps saying that their burners are available.
Where? Then there's this thing about LAPTOP burners for HD DVD
and how they're available supposedly in Japan.
But they're based on a different technology from the "soon" pc burners.
What gives, HD DVD?
I sure could use a large surface to back up files downloaded or created by me, but I think even BLU_RAY is too small and too expensive for daily use

Here's one: http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/05/toshiba-unveils-sd-h903a-hd-dvd-burner-for-pcs/ Why else would Staples sell blank HD and Bluray media?

[Conquest10]

I'm looking more for a player that has Divx/Xvid HD, VC-1 and/or h.264 HD hardware decoding from DVD-5 or DVD-9 discs so that I can use my own HD material.

With the exception of divx/xvid HD-DVD players can do that.

[FulciLives]

Damn ... for $99 I want a HD-DVD player ... I need to get to WALMART !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[edDV]

I'm not even sure a $99 single format player does it for me. Not until dual format players drop under $199 do I get interested. I certainly won't invest in discs at current prices. I'm happy to wait for all this to settle out.

#1 Priority is a dual format player at $199 or less. Netflix should offer this.

[overloaded_ide]

"Damn ... for $99 I want a HD-DVD player ... I need to get to WALMART !!! "

Unless Blue-Ray counters with a $100 player also, the war is nearly over!

Ya, ME TOO want one. As long as it plays DVD I don't care about the format at that price, as long as the unit is good quality and will last a long time!
I may be needing a new DVD player, mine is skipping on some disks and also if I skip forward or back the audio sometimes gets out of sync. This is on both burned disks and commercail disks, plus my remote is broke! I'm not too lazy to press a button on the player, but half the buttons I need are only on the remote!

For $100 for a decent DVD player I might buy one, if I ever get HD DVD movie disks fine, if not oh well. Costs me what, like $40-$50 for a crappy DVD player anyway? Sooner or latter the price of a burner and the disks will get low enough that I will buy those. Since I will already have a $100 DVD player that will also play those HD disks I burn, then of course I will most likely buy that format burner. I don't care about better quality but I do want to store far more data on 1 disk for backups, and I'll end up burning several DVD movies as a series on 1 disk.
I just bought MA and Pa Kettle, 8 movies all black and white and no fancy sound! Took me like 8 4.7gig disks to back up the 8 movies. I would like the 8 movies on just 2 disks! I can compress them a little, and none of them are a complete full disk for 1 movie anyway. I should be able to fit 4 on 1 15gig disk easy.

So here we go on winning the format war! CHEAT!!
SO, I get a $100 HD DVD and my only intent at this time will be to play normal DVDs on it! I don't care about format, just DVD, so they sell people like me 500,000 players and we do not even want HD disks for them at all. Now kick out those sales to the movie companies and anyone else involved. Say Blue ray is still $200 or more and only people wanting to use Blue Ray disks will be buying them for that price, maybe they sell 50,000? Now who are you going to make movies for? 200,000 people or 50,000 people?? 4/1 on the format!

He who lowers prices first and the most shall win!
Even at a loss, kick out those HD DVD players for $50 for a year, why would anyone buy a $40 plain DVD player then? Steal the standard for the format even at a loss, then jack players back up to $150 once you won!! What can people do once the format is set and most movies are only in that format???

Blue Ray could still win if they took the same market approach. Dump Blue Ray players for $50 now, as long as it plays standard DVD disks we the people will buy them, even if we have no interest in Blueray, just because they are the same price as a cheap DVD player. All the normal average people want or need right now is still DVD players for DVD disks.

Sure the video pros and some ritzy high class folks have 150" LCD or Plasma TV's. Most average folks still have a normal old style TV maybe 25" or so.
I know a few folks that have a big screen, looks like crap, but that's the old style TV itself, so HD or blue won't help them none anyway.

[ricoman]

Just an update. I watched Seabiscuit HD and the picture quality is great. Also, though it reportedly is not supposed to be compatible with +R media, I tried a copy of Transformers +R and +Rom settings and it worked fine with very good upconversion. A very nice unit.

[yoda313]

be warned to those upgrading to bluray or hddvd - you will want to rebuy all your dvds once you see the great picture!!! (well maybe not ALL of them but certainly the biggest ones in your collection).

[edDV]

be warned to those upgrading to bluray or hddvd - you will want to rebuy all your dvds once you see the great picture!!! (well maybe not ALL of them but certainly the biggest ones in your collection).

Why don't the movie company's offer an upgrade discount if you turn in the same title on standard def DVD version?
I know, a stupid question.

[yoda313]

be warned to those upgrading to bluray or hddvd - you will want to rebuy all your dvds once you see the great picture!!! (well maybe not ALL of them but certainly the biggest ones in your collection).

Why don't the movie company's offer an upgrade discount if you turn in the same title on standard def DVD version?
I know, a stupid question.

Well actually a similar idea is in play for hd-dvd. They have some that have flipper discs that include a dvd version on the backside. That way you can still play the movie on regular dvd players. Not quite the same but that way you just buy one copy of a new movie you don't already own. unfortunately not all movies come that way in hddvd. Good idea though.

[Conquest10]

be warned to those upgrading to bluray or hddvd - you will want to rebuy all your dvds once you see the great picture!!! (well maybe not ALL of them but certainly the biggest ones in your collection).

Why don't the movie company's offer an upgrade discount if you turn in the same title on standard def DVD version?
I know, a stupid question.

Did they offer that with VHS?

[edDV]

be warned to those upgrading to bluray or hddvd - you will want to rebuy all your dvds once you see the great picture!!! (well maybe not ALL of them but certainly the biggest ones in your collection).

Why don't the movie company's offer an upgrade discount if you turn in the same title on standard def DVD version?
I know, a stupid question.

Did they offer that with VHS?

No they want you to buy the same movie a dozen times.