Blu-Ray Vs. HD-DVD

[Correction]

I can't really tell the difference between DVD quality and HD quality when I go to stores like Best Buy...

There's a reason for that. The monkeys who run the A/V department at Best Buy still wire everything up via coaxial cables, which is why images on their 'HD' displays still look like shit.

You have to visit dealers that hire employees who know what hell they're doing to get a proper demo, like Ken Crane's or some other specialty home theater outlet.

[Lawls]

There really wasn't a competitor with DVD's, though. It was either stick with shitty VHS, or move to the better DVD format. Now it's stick with DVD, or move to either HD-DVD or Blu ray, and watch either your choice, or the other fail.

Weren't laser-discs the competition for DVD?

Moreso in Japan than in North America. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... arison.jpg lawl

[Dustybrown]

I honestly think these things are looking to go the way of the MiniDisc. Anyone remember the MiniDisc?

http://www.minidisc.org/part_What_are_MiniDiscs.html

Over here, there were touting it as the new revolution of CD - it was a lot smaller than a CD and you had the option to record on it which played back in CD quality rather than tape quality. Needless to say, it never really took off and you don't find pre-recorded MDs anywhere anymore. It might have replaced tapes for a while, but recordable CDs were good enough for most people, and then MP3 players revolutionized things again.

I get the feeling Blu-ray and HD will be the same. They're not particularly offering anything different to a DVD - just better quality. DVDs improved on VHS in a number of ways; Storage, travel ability (imagine taking 5 VHS round to a friends house, you'd need a rucksack), durabilty ie none of that tape wear when you play a movie too much, etcetc. Blu-ray and HD don't offer anything that will make them a better option over a DVD really, especially when a lot of people have recently upgraded their VHS collection to DVDs within the last few years. The only reason I can see them taking off is if DVD production stops and the respective companies only release movies on their particular format. Which I can't see happening for a long time, if at all.

[SephYuyX]

Not this shit again.

[Ksandra]

I can't really tell the difference between DVD quality and HD quality when I go to stores like Best Buy...

There's a reason for that. The monkeys who run the A/V department at Best Buy still wire everything up via coaxial cables, which is why images on their 'HD' displays still look like shit.

You have to visit dealers that hire employees who know what hell they're doing to get a proper demo, like Ken Crane's or some other specialty home theater outlet.

I went into some ritzy Sony store in Vegas a few months ago. They had A Knight's Tale playing where this line would go back and forth across the screen. One side was regular DVD and one was Blue Ray.

I could see the difference but no way am I paying more money than a DVD for that shit.

The difference isn't big enough to be worth the cost.

I vote for the "none of the above" category.

[Devek]

Fuck em both..

I want high def in-demand video.

[Aodh]

Not this shit again.

The fun thing is that Blu-Ray is from the DVD+R people and HD-DVD is from the DVD-R people. Nether of them agreed as to which to use so we ended up with multi-drives and two versions of blank media and all kinds of compatibility issues.

Next year digital cable becomes manditory in the US, and within a few years they're expecting a larger changeover to HD TVs. People get the Blu-Ray players "conveniently" with the PS3 while people can also get the HD-DVD players cheaper as standalones or as an add on to the XB.

(And no this isn't a MS vs Sony deal, Microsoft needed to offer something like this to be competitive with the PS3 in terms of HD video playback, but, they aren't officially siding with a technology. If HD goes down the crapper, expect a Blu-Ray add on drive to appear instead. The XB is ready to handle both.)

Fuck em both..

I want high def in-demand video.

Coming soon to an XB near you. Along with on-demand TV shows in HD.

[Anyway]

WHERE'S VHS

[Boyiee]

On the verge of PS3 and with the release of the HD-DVD Drive for the XB360, we're stepping into the realm of semi-affordable HD movies (albeit through game consoles) available to most homes. As such it might be an interesting debate between which format you think will win as the DVD successor. Vote on which you think would be most likely to succeed and which you will most likely buy.

Basically both formats run off the same video and audio codecs including MPEG-2, VC-1, DTS HD, DD HD and more. Since the audio and video is the same, the difference lies in the support and branding. While Blu-ray touts a 50gb maximum capacity, HD-DVD is able to get 45gb on a tri-layered disc so long run they're almost equal capacity. Most movies aren't expected to exceed 10gb with VC-1, so it's not really an issue. Blu-Ray does offer a slightly larger level in Audio Quality, but it's above the level at which movies are mastered (HD-DVD levels) so you'll never be able to take advantage of it. The Blue Laser also uses a smaller aperture and HD-DVD claims would be more prone to errors.

didn't see anyone mention this. Yeah HD-DVD standard is 15GB on single layer, 30GB dual, and 45GB triple layer capacity, you mention that Blu-ray is 50max. 50 is the dual layer, i believe they are capable of 100GB quad layer, and 200GB sextuple layer capacity. 50gb was the max in 2004 when panasonic released their first i think.

The storage capacity of the two aren't almost equal. HD-DVD is nice for now but i think a little down the line if you give it time that Blu-Ray will end up being what we move to. It's just such a large difference over DVD that I think it's what we need. It is nice that HD-DVD is cheaper though :D

If you wait till 2008 you can get a Holographic Versatile Disc (HVD) that is planned to have standards of 200GB and 300GB storage space lol. PS4 go... actually thats a little early for ps4, maybe 2012, and 300GB might not be enough for sony then anyway.

[SephYuyX]

Ill go through my rant again, but in two sentances.

They arnt needed, fuck them both, DVD is fine, screw anyone who says otherwise. If you want a better medium, wait until HVD is finished.

[Sadler]

Philips VCD was the format after VHS... then it was DVD.

[Not Kuno]

I feel like Im the only one that doesn't give a shit about this high resolution or super fancy sound stuff. Im waiting for vitural reality at this point because whatever comes after HDVD or whatever new resolution comes out is only going to be marginally better at best.

[SephYuyX]

HDVD is only slightly better anyway.

[Boyiee]

Philips VCD was the format after VHS... then it was DVD.

but it didn't become as HUGE of a standard like VHS and DVD was. I dont know anyone that didnt have a VHS player in their house, and i dont know anyone now without a DVD player in their house.... I can name a shitload of people that didnt have, use, or ever hear of VCD.

Ill go through my rant again, but in two sentances.

They arnt needed, fuck them both, DVD is fine, screw anyone who says otherwise. If you want a better medium, wait until HVD is finished.

I have more than one HD TV in my house, DVD isn't fine. I'm not waiting another 2 years until something new when HD TV's have been around for as long as they have with video just now fucking catching up to it. Tired of waiting, DVD's are behind, sorry.

[Aodh]

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showthread.php?t=582

So it seems that the recently released X-Box 360 HD-DVD is just your standard USB drive which can be connected to any PC. They didn't include offical drivers, but there are some available in the linked thread. This means you don't need an X-Box to use it and it is now officially the cheapest HD drive available.

[solsovly]

Philips VCD was the format after VHS... then it was DVD.

but it didn't become as HUGE of a standard like VHS and DVD was. I dont know anyone that didnt have a VHS player in their house, and i dont know anyone now without a DVD player in their house.... I can name a shitload of people that didnt have, use, or ever hear of VCD.

Ill go through my rant again, but in two sentances.

They arnt needed, fuck them both, DVD is fine, screw anyone who says otherwise. If you want a better medium, wait until HVD is finished.

I have more than one HD TV in my house, DVD isn't fine. I'm not waiting another 2 years until something new when HD TV's have been around for as long as they have with video just now fucking catching up to it. Tired of waiting, DVD's are behind, sorry.

VCD was really popular in asian countries. Complete flop here though. (unelss you were a pirate yar).

[wiegraf]

So it seems that the recently released X-Box 360 HD-DVD is just your standard USB drive which can be connected to any PC. They didn't include offical drivers, but there are some available in the linked thread. This means you don't need an X-Box to use it and it is now officially the cheapest HD drive available.

I wasn't going to buy the add on for the 360, as I could be throwing my money away if blu-ray takes off. With this news I just might.. they will sell like hotcakes if it's true

[Raineer]

HD-DVD will win because it doesn't sound like a brand name. It says right in the damn name it's a high definition DVD.

wtf is a blu-ray?

and i'm a sony fanboi, go figure

[Po]

I can't really tell the difference between DVD quality and HD quality when I go to stores like Best Buy...

As far as movies go you are definitely right. When I put on HBO HD on my tv I can hardly see a diff between standard definition movies. And I use an HDMI cable which is supposed to be the best for HD.
On the other hand, I can barely watch Sports in standard def anymore, it is a huge jump when you go to HD sports.
I am sure one of these will overtake the other in movie media some day, but for a couple years yet.

[Aodh]

HD-DVD will win because it doesn't sound like a brand name. It says right in the damn name it's a high definition DVD.

wtf is a blu-ray?

and i'm a sony fanboi, go figure

Three things sold me. When I saw it was a the XB drive was USB, I figured it would be 'hacked' to use on PC, and I had an XB anyways so I grabbed one.

In terms of comparison, HD-DVD is supported by the people who standardized DVD. And they're already making HD-DVD discs with the regular DVD versions on them as well, so I don't have to only watch it on the HD drive, I can take them anywhere. The commitment to a transition is what sold me to HD over BD.

Finally the PiP Commentaries... I grabbed M:I:III when I got the drive because I heard about this, and it seems like it will be amazing. You're watching the movie while you see Tom Cruse and J.J. Abrams talking about the film in PiP. They also cut away to scenes and "pause" the movie to talk about something specific. It added a lot to the value of the movie (if you like commentaries) as well as showed what HD is capable of. (This isn't available on BD)