A lot of ballyhoo is going on about the fact that these days. All over the Internet you can find keys that allow you to break the AACS digital content management systems serving as copy protection for these platforms. It all happened a lot faster than anyone would have expected but ultimately I wonder if it really matters. Okay, we have access to these keys, What good does it do anyone? Maybe I am missing something entirely but Will we soon have an underground revolution going on swapping 50GB files over the Internet? And all just to save a lousy 20 bucks? Sorry, I don't get it, but like I said I may just be missing something. On the real business end, it is interesting for me to see how the war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is playing out every week, of course. From my end these days, and the reason is very simple. Content. in at less than a handful a week with barely any new announcements coming in. After all only 3 studios are really committed to the format trying to fill the content pipeline. On the other hand, every week. I see the stacks of Blu-Ray discs grow rapidly and not only that, they also seem to offer more exciting films, to be honest. Given the fact that the Playstation 3 is a great platform to view movies on I have to admit that when I have the choice between watching a film in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, I usually prefer the Blu-Ray version, simply because the player is not as clunky. I'm curious to hear how those of you with both players feel about these two formats in direct comparison.
John
I love my A2 HD DVD player. I wish more content was available,but the only way I'll get a Blu-ray player is when they become more affordable. I could care less about owning a PS3 and I damn sure am not buying a game system as my video player, sorry. The content will be coming and average joe hasn't bought into either format anyway so the war will continue for a while--good or bad. Mostly bad.
2/25/2007 8:37:55 PM
harry
Mmmm i am sorry but for me my PS3 and my XBOX HDDVD don't compare at all to my Toshiba A2. Picture quality, ease of use is much better compared to the PS3/XBOX360, i also found upscaling on the Toshiba much better, but that's just my personal opinion.
2/25/2007 10:31:12 AM
Tom Lawcock
My experience is almost word for word that of Bob Garrett!! Including my take on the disks.... but I would like to add an XLNT reason to rip an Hi Def Disk ----Simply to convert it to the format that wins!! Which sure is beginning to look as if it will be Blu Ray!
2/22/2007 10:34:08 PM
Alan Ang
I have both HD-DVD as well as Blu-Ray players. It seems to me as a rule, the HD-DVDs are better mastered and have extra contents. What's the use of all those extra GB in a blu-ray discs if they are not going to be utilized? The momentum seems to be on the side of the blu-ray camp right now. The key is the hardware cost. The day the player costs less than $200 (not as an add-on to a game console) is when the consumers will start looking seriously at upgrading to high def.
2/21/2007 7:57:50 PM
Johnman
Skalata's comment just once again shows that most people have absolutely no idea about video compression but talk as if they were experts.
2/21/2007 10:08:25 AM
Skalata
Blu Ray would be superior IF they used VC-1 as a standard AND at a higher bit rate than HD DVD. Otherwise, single layer BD using lower bit rate MPEG-2 is just a DVD on steroids.
2/20/2007 1:51:06 PM
Stevie 76
I am soooooooooooooooooooooo tired of this format war. I´m going back to DVD for a few more years until this bullshit war is over.
2/17/2007 6:03:46 PM
Steve S.
If you already own an XBox 360, picking up the HD DVD for an additional $200 is a no brainer. I just rent all my movies; Netflix is a Godsend with this format war.
At most, I lose out on the $200 player; however, I don't lose out on getting the full potential of my HDTV.
2/16/2007 10:45:36 AM
Kevin D. F. Highnight
I just purchased my FIRST HDTV and went ahead and got a full HD 1080p TV. The salesman told me I was wasting my time paying the extra cash unless I had a Blu-ray player! I told him I'm sure before the TV is worn out (since I bought a 5 year warranty!) I will have a HD DVD player. But unfortunately this format war is keeping me away. Why do they keep releasing so many titles on these TWO formats? We consumers should NOT support EITHER format until this battle is resolved. Why should we go through another Beta vs. VHS battle. Didn't we learn the first time? Unfortunately they think there are enough "suckers" out there who will buy their favorite films no matter what format.
What happens when the losing format is defeated and production stops. And the players become harder and harder to find like our prized laserdisc players? Ian says he has over 100 HDDVDs?!?!? I didn't even know there were THAT many released as of yet. That's really sad. He will be forced to buy these same films again. Which I'm sure he's already purchased on DVD, and laserdisc, and VHS, and that's not to mention all the special editions.........what happened to good ol' fashion BOYCOTTING!?!?
I'm choosing THAT route until this war is over. And when it's all said and done, let's hope that the two sides can work out an agreement of some sort which would make future players not just DVD compatible but also compatible with BOTH HD formats.
Hey I just charged $3000 for a TV I can't even get the potential out of yet. If I can wait - you can wait too.
2/15/2007 10:39:13 PM
Mav
The problem with Blu-ray is that it doesn't do DolbyTrueHD lossless sound. The Sony BDP-S1 doesn't even do DTS-HD, even though the Blu-ray discs are DTS-HD encoded, so that doesn't make sense either.
I own both HD players, the Toshiba A2 and the Sony BDP-S1 player. IMO, the Toshiba is much faster at loading discs, while the Sony Blu-ray is somewhat slow. I occasionally get video and audio drop-outs, as well as freeze-ups on the Sony, while the Toshiba has been running very smooth. Also, you can get the Toshiba for under $500, while the Sony is running over $999.00. Blu-ray discs are very expensive, while the HD-DVD combo will run a little less. Guess which player the average Joe6Pac will buy?
2/15/2007 7:34:00 PM
Michael Moore
Could not agree with you more. I have a PS3 and a Toshiba XA-2 HD and I find myself going Blu-Ray more and more simply because the picture the PS3 puts out is stunning. Not to knock the Toshibia, excellent picture but the Blu-Ray seems to have a depth to it. My first Blu-Ray was the Samsung, what a piece of junk! The PS3 saved Blu-Ray in my household.
2/14/2007 6:48:28 AM
Roy Lusk
I have ps3 and a hd-xa2 1080p one. To me i think the hd-dvd looks better and sound better the only thing i dont like about the hd-dvd ones are those combo ones they need to stop it are do away with the regular dvd version and lower the price 5 dollars more is to much if you do away with the regular dvd version for this combo one it would lower the price because they one only have to put one out.
2/13/2007 10:07:46 PM
Guido Henkel
The way Ian is describing it is EXACTLY the way I feel about it.
2/13/2007 10:37:18 AM
Ian Currie
I own an A1 and a PS3. I much prefer Blu-ray discs at this point because the PS3 is a better player than my Toshiba.
I did borrow an A2 and it was better and I may buy the A20 since I own over 100 HD-DVD titles, but currently, with the A1 I'm tired of:
1) audio lagging behind (better in the A2, but still there) 2) slow boot up times (better in the A2, but still an issue) 3) No stop & resume 4) spotty playback, cannot count on getting through a movie
The PS3: 1) Fast boot up 2) amazing navigation and playback options (playback at 1.5x with sound? awesome) 3) It KNOWS my audio preferences and defaults every disc to the best setting... thank you! 4) Flawless playback
2/13/2007 8:59:48 AM
Bill Prince
I have both a HD-DVD player and a Blu-Ray player. I don't regret either purchase at all. I for one hope they can both co-exist. The films look and sound great. In terms of performance of each piece of hardware I don't really notice too much of a difference. I base my type of format purchase on the title. I agree with the author that Blu-Ray seems to be releasing the better titles these days. If the same title is released on both formats, I tend to buy Blu Ray.
2/13/2007 6:56:51 AM
Mr. Weeds
This article gives me all the more reason to wait out the hi-def battle a bit longer. A couple months ago, I remember this website slamming Blu-Ray for a buggy player (Samsung) and the long release delays. Now with the PS3 out and more studio support, the scales seem to be tipping in Sony's favor. But I'm still not convinced yet. I'm waiting another 6 months at least.
2/13/2007 6:36:30 AM
Bob Garrett
I have both the PS3 and the XBox 360 with the HD-DVD add on. I with the game units instead of the stand alone players so that if the war between the high defs was won, I'd have something to fall back on. After starting gung ho about HD DVD, I have to admit that I am happier with the Blu Ray player. The reason, just as you said, is content. I look at websites that show me that 12 titles for Blu Ray tomorrow, and only 1 title for HD DVD and that 1 is The Departed (guess which version I'm purchasing). It doesn't help either that Warner Brothers won't release anymore titles without having a Blu Ray version.
Its frustrating--I see HD DVD advertising only in Electronic/Home Theater magazines, and thats it. Blu Ray is advertised everywhere. I walk into Best Buy and I see 2 endcaps with Blu Ray players; the HD DVD player is at the end of an aisles next to other DVD players. This is a great player--why don't they do move in-store advertising so that people see how good they are. HD DVD is losing the war because they are only advertising to the people that already know that it is a good product. They need to stop 'preaching to the choir' and focus on the people that want a high def player, but can't afford $1,000 for one. After all, price was their biggest selling points.
I am going to hang on with HD DVD, but I am seriously loosing my faith.
