Blu-Ray or HD DVD?

[CrimsonCable]

If you have joined the next generation, which do you use? Feel free to drop an opinion for why you chose one over the other or why you haven't tried either.

 

[NYBamaFan]

I have used both, but currently only have a Blu Ray. Both are about the same - neither is clearly better as the ability to store more on a DVD (BD) becomes less important as DVD technology continues to improve. In short, there is no clear winner. Cost will probably determine the winner..

 

[Queasy1]

I like HD DVD because it is cheaper, already ready to support all interactive features and players be upgraded over the internet. Blu-Ray is behind on all three aspects.

I haven't jumped on with either yet though.

 

[NYBamaFan]

I like HD DVD because it is cheaper, already ready to support all interactive features and players be upgraded over the internet. Blu-Ray is behind on all three aspects.

I haven't jumped on with either yet though.

99% of users never use those features and will never upgrade over the internet. To almost everyone, it is a DVD player - nothing more. While I agree with you, only us tech geeks will ever care about this stuff...

 

[Queasy1]

99% of users never use those features and will never upgrade over the internet. To almost everyone, it is a DVD player - nothing more. While I agree with you, only us tech geeks will ever care about this stuff...

I'll disagree with you about the extra features and kind of agree with you about hooking it up to the internet. People use extra features (deleted scenes, commentary, etc) all the time. HD DVD has supported additional features like PiP commentary since release while Blu-Ray has not. Additionally, Blu-Ray players made before the recent upgrade to 1.1 will never be able to support the added features. The only comfort from the consumer standpoint is the knowledge that not very many stand-alone Blu-Ray players were sold. Most of the Blu-Ray players sold are PS3s.

 

[ElkhartTider]

Blu-Ray
Sony
Sharp
Samsung
Panasonic
Blockbuster

HD DVD
Toshiba
any others?

I wonder who will eventually win this thing?.. :conf2:

 

[Queasy1]

Blu-Ray
Sony
Sharp
Samsung
Panasonic
Blockbuster
End-caps at Target

HD DVD
Toshiba
Microsoft (they wrote all the software tools for HD DVD)
Wal-Mart
K-Mart/Sears
any others?

I wonder who will eventually win this thing?.. :conf2:

Added in bold above. Your question on who will win is part of the reason why I haven't jumped in. The $99.99 HD-A2 player at Wal-Mart was very tempting though.

 

[cbi1972]

I'm waiting for the Samsung player that will play both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD with all the features.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I have a cell phone with a color display.

 

[gmart74]

im thinking this brand new betamax is about to become huge.

 

[BamaSC]

I'll wait until one of the formats wins and the other Beta-Maxes on us. I only watch 5 or 6 DVDs a year anyway, so it doesn't really matter to me.

 

[CrimsonCable]

im thinking this brand new betamax is about to become huge.

Heh. It's like Sony proprietary formats always do this, but I don't think Blu-Ray will pull a Betamax, if for no other reason because drives are very easy to make and cross-platform.

 

[Rising-Tide]

Blu-Ray. If for no other reason than the PS3 has it default in the game console. Sony was smart to do this for the long run, even if it means losing some money on hardware costs upfront. The only real obstacle is Microsoft, and they have proven they can play in the hardware side of the game with the success of the X-Box/360.

The best thing would be for both standards to continue on - competition means faster to market features and upgrades as well as cheaper prices.

 

[jthomas666]

The latest obstacle in the format wars is the introduction of upconverting DVD players, that can take the 480p signal from a standard DVD and convert it to the higher definition. The unconverted picture is not as sharp as a true ND/BR picture, but it's noticeably better than standard DVD, and--more importantly--it does not require buying new discs.

Both formats are dug in, and their use by the major game consoles makes a clear win for either format unlikely.

 

[cbi1972]

The latest obstacle in the format wars is the introduction of upconverting DVD players, that can take the 480p signal from a standard DVD and convert it to the higher definition. The unconverted picture is not as sharp as a true ND/BR picture, but it's noticeably better than standard DVD, and--more importantly--it does not require buying new discs.

Both formats are dug in, and their use by the major game consoles makes a clear win for either format unlikely.

Or both will be replaced by some non-optical solid state media cartridge.

 

[rpeastep]

I have a cell phone with a color display.

No way! :wink: I just learned how to run my 29 dollar DVD player.

 

[bamanut_aj]

No way! :wink: I just learned how to run my 29 dollar DVD player.

I'm calling BS!!