Blu-Ray Beats HD-DVD. The War Is Over!

[Cleaner475 150]

Why not use both? Thats what I don't get...quote>

Then what if a film come sout on HD DVD that you want but not on Blu-ray and you have a blue-ray player?

I think for films HD DVD or Blu-ray but for games definetly Blu-ray, so much more space to make bigger games with bigger graphics - plus most people say the PS3 is the best Blu-ray player because it can get software upgrades whereas normal blu-ray players can't so if you bought a around

[amdinside 2]

Cleaner475: If they upgraded the player to keep ahead of pirating, they would be shooting themselves in the foot if it meant the player would not play older discs. I think they will just adapt the software on the disc like they do with DVD so you will not have an issue where your player won't show new movies. The companies want to prevent piracy but if they do it at the expense of the legitimate user, they will lose because nobody would continue to buy new players to be able to view the new movies.

To others questioning wheter the players will become cheaper, the answer is of course they will. The money is not in the players. The real money is when you buy that new movie on a blu-ray disc. Think about how much you paid for that DVD player and then add up the cost of every DVD you ever bought for it and it is easy to see where you spent the money. Same concept with the video game consoles, they don't even try to make huge profits on the consoles when the games bring in the profits.

[Haljackey 17,398]

LOL, something new I came by while looking at the sales at Future Shop.

Like the title says HD DVDs are indeed Falling Like Dominoes!

-Look at the price of HD-DVD players!  I remember them being priced at $399 and above during the Christmas season, now they're down to $169!  Something is going on!

No joke! Inventory clearance to make way for the Blu-Ray?  Its not even on sale!

Heres proof:

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10094195&catid=25324&logon=&langid=EN#

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10094195&catid=25174

As much as this may convince me to buy one, I know it will be money down the toilet if this format loses. 

(Although its tempting to me because you get 2 free movies and a mail-in rebate for 5 more.  The player pretty much pays for itself)

Best,

-Haljackey

[Sim shady 12]

Uhh...what the heck? are they expecting me to already dump my dvd collection for blu-rays...? I can hardly tell a difference between the too, except their prices....

[belfastuniguy 18]

Uhh...what the heck? are they expecting me to already dump my dvd collection for blu-rays...? I can hardly tell a difference between the too, except their prices....quote>

You will see NO difference whatsoever unless you watch on a large (over 40") HD LCD/Plasma screen.....

[Voar Tok 4]

I can see a difference on any HDTV of approximately 30" and regular computer sized monitors. It depends on the quality of the TV.

[Namesys 3]

Well i feel sorry for Sony and toshiba as I HOPE everyone will soon adopt internet over all those files. Instead buying games/films in stores you just click them and get them on your HDD or HDD storage device in minutes and don't need to worry about stuff like making damage to them or that they will get lost.

HDDVD/blue-ray < internet

[belfastuniguy 18]

Originally posted by: Voar Tok I can see a difference on any HDTV of approximately 30" and regular computer sized monitors. It depends on the quality of the TV.quote>

I meant between HD-DVD and Blu-ray, should have made that clear, of course you can you see a difference between standard DVD and those..

[crew101 0]

Originally posted by: Namesys Well i feel sorry for Sony and toshiba as I HOPE everyone will soon adopt internet over all those files. Instead buying games/films in stores you just click them and get them on your HDD or HDD storage device in minutes and don't need to worry about stuff like making damage to them or that they will get lost.

HDDVD/blue-ray < internetquote>

 

I don't know about Sony, but I know Microsoft has already started doing that on Xbox Live.  You can pay for movies and tv shows to download.  However, the movies are only a rental.  They have an expiration date.

[Haljackey 17,398]

Well, I have been one of those people who have "downloaded" HD (High-Def) content on my HD (Hard Drive).  I have a cable that connects it to a HDTV thats nearby, and, it looks nothing like the content I see on HD cable. 

It could be because I have a large HDTV (62 inches, DLP type) that downloaded content doesn't look very good.  The sound is also horrible compared to regular cable.  My up-converting DVD player makes the standard DVD picture look sort of high-def, but still not the same as HD cable. 

I think Toshiba is having a panic attack and, in order to get any sales at all, they are lowering the prices of their HD-DVD players.  The cheapest Blu-Ray player I've seen is $399 compared to $169 for HD-DVD.  Even with 7 "Free" movies included with the player, is it still worth it to buy one?  Thats the decision I'm facing right now.

---

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

I meant between HD-DVD and Blu-ray, should have made that clear, of course you can you see a difference between standard DVD and those.. quote>

From what I understand, HD-DVD has an "Maximum" output of 720p/1080i resolutions (standard for HDTV's) and the Blu-Ray can output up to 1080p (only a few HDTV's can handle this format).  DVD players outputted 480i or 480p I think.

Recently, Toshiba has released a HD-DVD player that can also output 1080p to compete with Sony, but I'm not too sure if this is just "upconverted" or is the true picture.

Needless to say, If your HDTV isn't 1080p, you won't get the "Full-potential" of the Blu-Ray.  My HDTV is 1080i, and that is what the HD-DVD player's standard format is.  If I get a Blu-Ray, I will never be able to see its full resolution because it's too HD for my HDTV to handle.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but even if I can't see everything the Blu-Ray has to offer, its still better than buying something else that will be obsolete in a matter of months.

Best,

-Haljackey

[Easy Bakes 253]

So i should hold on to my VCR?

[Sim shady 12]

lol Easy Bakes

Seriously I dont plan on wasting more money switching my dvd collectiong to blu ray

Its ridiculous the prices for movies atm. My local theatre is $9 a movie after 5 pm, rentals are cheaper but still are pricey, and buying a dvd outright is already expensive...

[Haljackey 17,398]

A new article has been posted HERE which shows with even more evidence that HD-DVD is being killed by the Blu-Ray.

Article continues below:

There just seems to be no end to the constant onslaught of bad news for the HD DVD camp.  Now it seems the sales numbers are catching up with them.

The evidence just continues to mount that Warner Brothers decision to support Blu-ray exclusively effectively killed off the HD DVD format.  Market research from the NPD Group supports that Blu-ray is pulling away to an unmatchable lead, as well as are other rumors.

Raw sales date was leaked to The Hollywood Reporter of the data collected by NPD, which they will neither confirm or deny as being correct, that paints a fairly bleak picture.  The numbers show that 1,758 HD DVD players were sold the week of Jan. 12, which was down from 14,558 players the previous week. For the same sales period, Blu-ray 21,770 player, up from 15,257 reported for the previous week.

NPD analyst Stephen Baker says “It’s always very dangerous to make long-term assumptions based on one-week sales data.” If these numbers are true, it’s fairly hard to deny the bleak the picture they paint for the future of the format.

On top of all this, there are some unsubstantiated rumors floating around message boards that electronics retailer, Circuit City, is preparing to mark Toshiba’s HD DVD players for clearance prices.  The rumor says that the prices will be dropped even further than the prices Toshiba already slashed themselves earlier this month.

No matter where you go for news on HD DVD as of late, it’s looking pretty dismal for the format.

---

This may be enough for me to consider getting a PS3.  A friend of mine hooked it up to my HDTV, and we played Rock Band.  What an amazing game!

...Anyways, back on topic, we watched Spiderman 3 afterwards, and what a picture!  I have not seen HD-DVD before, but I doubt it can be better than the Blu-Ray.

[blade2k5 1,523]

I avoided the "Gee, which one do I choose?" dilemma and went out and bought me a DVD player that plays all 3 formats. It also up-converts the 'normal' DVDs to semi-HD quality of which I own roughly 100 of, some that have not been re-released as HD or BR. To me, this is the best way to go as you can't lose when they finally get around to deciding which format they're going to go with.

[coolotter88 2]

we need 1000 mLs of epi stat.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

This just in... Wal-mart will no longer sell HD-DVDs, and is switching to Blu-ray completely.

They join Best Buy and Netflix.

[Haljackey 17,398]

Originally posted by: manticorefan This just in... Wal-mart will no longer sell HD-DVDs, and is switching to Blu-ray completely.

They join Best Buy and Netflix.quote>

Then that's pretty much it, eh?  Guess now's the time to get a PS3! 

Its too bad that my favorite movie (Happy Gilmore) and show (Battlestar Galactica) are ONLY on HD-DVD.  In time, they will make the switch as well

Thanks for the info manticorefan! 

Best,

-Haljackey

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

Uhh...what the heck? are they expecting me to already dump my dvd collection for blu-rays...? I can hardly tell a difference between the too, except their prices....quote>

You will see NO difference whatsoever unless you watch on a large (over 40") HD LCD/Plasma screen.....quote>

What about a 32 inch?

I was at blockbuster today, and I saw a Blu-Ray thing for the first time, and the quality was amazing. I don't know if it's worth buying though.

[coolotter88 2]

well, toshiba is going to be laying to rest, their HDDVD format soon.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: manticorefan This just in... Wal-mart will no longer sell HD-DVDs, and is switching to Blu-ray completely.

They join Best Buy and Netflix.quote>

 

The war is over.

[toxicpiano 125]

From engadget:

Toshiba pulling the plug on HD DVD already? - Yup it's over.

Posted Feb 16th 2008 8:29AM by Richard Lawler

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Japan's NHK has followed up The Hollywood Reporter's earlier indications Toshiba was ready to dump its money-losing HD DVD business, with news that the company is prepared to cease manufacturing software and hardware, at a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. This caps the worst week ever for red, when HD DVD was dumped by Netflix and Wal-mart, pushed to the background by Best Buy and put on -- an apparently incredibly short -- deathwatch right here. Toshiba is mum on the subject right now, but we hear there's plenty of cheap players and movies in a dumpster around back of the HQ.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in; via Reuters; warning, Japanese read link]

Update: Along with an English translation of the NHK's article (Thanks sfditty!) comes additional confirmation from Reuters sources, it's a wrap. Toshiba is shutting down its DVD manufacturing facilities in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, while official word is expected "soon".

quote>

I guess Sony will be celebrating today

[coolotter88 2]

sony has made some successful formats too, see CDs

[joe2102001 19]

Originally posted by: coolotter88 I'm supposing all the poor people with 50 inch LCD TVs will be buying those value brand Hi def disc players huh?quote>

 

No we spent all of our money on the t.v.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

C'est fin...[link]

[Rymac91 15]

It seems the battle is over, and blu ray is officially the winner.(link to the new article in the post above me by manticorefan.

[coolotter88 2]

the problem with toshiba's business model was that they didn't have enough hot women holding their stuff.

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

For all the Simtropolites who called me an idiot or buying the PS3, HAH HAH HAH IN YOUR FACE! WHAT DID I TELL YOU

[coolotter88 2]

yeah, but now the price of a standalone BD player should go down too.

[saltandsauce 0]

i still use videos on a regular basis and cassettes

but not out of choice

[belfastuniguy 18]

Well at least we now have a winner.

Though not too sure that prices will come down as a result, but you never know. I never really cared as I have a dual HDDVD/Bluray player. But now means I can go about getting Bluray on the pc....