View Full Version : HD-DVD is go for 2005.
gandley
09-01-2005, 12:46 PM
Toshiba has confirmed that there HD-DVD offerings will launch mid-late 2005 in the USA and Japan. They have 2 vey beautiful units availbable.
A straight HD-DVD player and a recorder combi which has drop dead looks.
Price was always going to be the issue. well i dont think its that bad.
the straight HD-DVD player will launch for a confirmed $1000 so expect a similar price here. HDMI looks to be a must though as it dosent look like the higher reolutions will be availble via component but im reading between the lines abit there
http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5618766-1.html?tag=brand
watch the video to the right for a mini preview(after its done its advert rubish)
Tejstar
09-01-2005, 12:50 PM
But who will buy one of these when the battle with blu-ray is just around the corner. It could end up being a big waste of money imo. I for certain will be waiting until we have a better idea as to which format will be more widely supported.
Tejstar
09-01-2005, 12:52 PM
The pics (http://www.cnet.com/4520-10602_1-5618766-1.html?tag=brand) do look nice though ;)
gandley
09-01-2005, 1:15 PM
your right the war in on, but at least it has started, Blue ray will be sure to make a response soon.
Pioneer only showed 1 new dvd player and that was a midrange update. As a member of the blue ray group that dosent surprise me. Im sure there working on there blue ray release(as is the rumour).
One thing for sure though HDMI has found its feet. everything pretty much now has a HDMI input. DVDOs new scaler looks fantastic with multiple HDMI inputs for switching. It wall also convert analog signals to HDMI(transcode) so would realy cut down on cable work..(availble end fist Quarter 05)
Heres another Link with some great pics
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=492218
I'm impressed that the first Toshiba HD-DVD recorder is only $1,000. What's that, less than £600. Far cheaper than Blu-Ray players that were the equivelent of $4,000 in Japan. Still $2,500 ish. I've been saying it for a while now, but it backs up my sentiments that there's no point spending big money on dvd recorders. Feel sorry for those that paid £1,300 for Panny's extremely overpriced 500 DMRE. Will be interesting to see if the HDD version is 1 Terabyte, and how much it will cost. When I bought my Pan 85, with 80GB hdd I thought that was pretty good. But 1,024! :clap:
I wonder whether hi-def recorders wil ever have HDMI inputs!? :confused:
gandley
09-01-2005, 1:47 PM
Yes hidef recorder will have HDMI, infact theres a big wright up on one of the forums that says all current HD-recorders will be pretty much useless with future hardware (cant remember where i saw this but they were strongly recommending folks not to blow loads of money on current hardware.) Somthing to do with HDCP getting much stricter with future gear and only passing with HDCP compatable equipment.
So only buy a recorder if its recording side is also HDCP i guess.(thus HDMI needed or HDCP DVI to record HI-DEF content.)
KraGorn
09-01-2005, 1:48 PM
Heres another Link with some great pics
'Fraid the board screwed-up the URL, the show... should be showthread.php? .. damned silly text editor. :(
This is the correct URL, without the space before the '?':
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php ?threadid=492218
gandley
09-01-2005, 1:53 PM
Thanks m8 thread now sorted.
It looks like if it dont got HDMI then dont buy is starting to be a reality(or DVI with HDCP)
Yes hidef recorder will have HDMI, infact theres a big wright up on one of the forums that says all current HD-recorders will be pretty much useless with future hardware (cant remember where i saw this but they were strongly recommending folks not to blow loads of money on current hardware.) Somthing to do with HDCP getting much stricter with future gear and only passing with HDCP compatable equipment.
So only buy a recorder if its recording side is also HDCP i guess.(thus HDMI needed or HDCP DVI to record HI-DEF content.)
I think all hdmi equipped gear is also HDCP compliant, just some DVI gear isn't. I'm only going to buy gear in the future that features HDMI.
zAndy1
09-01-2005, 2:01 PM
The HD-DVD player will be $1000, the recorder I suspect will be quite a bit more than that...
Andy
danny daniell
09-01-2005, 2:14 PM
Is it likely that once the dust has settled,we could see players that feature HD DVD and Blu-Ray? (such as we have Sacd/DvdA players).
Dan :)
The HD-DVD player will be $1000, the recorder I suspect will be quite a bit more than that...
Andy
It says that the Toshiba behemoth recorder will be $1000, not the player. It looks to be about the same size as Sony's first Blu-ray recorder i.e. massive. Let's hope the upcoming Blu-ray recorders with the new 3-in-1 heads are rather more slimline. ;)
Steve
Just out of interest, how much were the 1st dvd players when the format was released 1997? anyone know? $1,000 for a new format, that's also a recorder seems amazingly cheap to me, (relatively that is). Will HD-DVD players also record onto dvd formats?
zAndy1
09-01-2005, 3:42 PM
Well the video featurette from CES says the player will be $1000 and the recorder more than that.. we'll see but I'd be surprised if the recorder is $1000 I must say!
Cheers
Andy
Funny, there's no mention of a player only HD-DVD in the text!? Just a recorder with, and without a HDD. Though, as you say he does say player in the video. Still, perhaps he made a mistake? or maybe the text is mis-leading and there are 3 models. A player, a recorder and a HDD recorder!?
Taken from the same page, (under the Tosh HD-DVD):
'The product: Details are still sketchy on Toshiba's HD-DVD recorder, but pricing and availability have finally been announced. The unit will be the first on sale to use the HD-DVD format, which the company is promoting as a competitor against Blu-ray to succeed the popular DVD format. The unit will include an HDMI output, naturally, but otherwise little information (including a model number) was available at press time.'
zAndy1
09-01-2005, 4:33 PM
Watch the video on the right of that page, in the video there's a player and a recorder and the bloke says the player is $1000 and the recorder more than that...
Andy
Watch the video on the right of that page, in the video there's a player and a recorder and the bloke says the player is $1000 and the recorder more than that...
Andy
Have edited my post. Either the text is right and there is a $1,000 recorder. Or it's misleading and there are 2 recorders and 1 player, or there's only 1 player and a hdd recorder. I have no idea now. :zonked: :confused:
gandley
09-01-2005, 4:44 PM
Funny thing is i was also just reading(dammit i must remember to note down the links) that there is a good chance Sony will now pull the plug on SACD to focus on blue ray. does this mean another failure for sony. There record isnt good when there trying to achieve a new format is it.
It listed some of the reasons as the trouble there having producing the Hybrid discs and on top of that lack of consumer support.
I can only imagine that Sony has lost a lot of money on SACD development. Blu-Ray has a better potential to make money it would seem. It's far easier to buy a new tv, than have an expensive 5.1 set up to take advantage of SACD. Also, there's a better chance that a software library will build up with HD-DVD/Blu-Ray formats imo. Also, it's a lot easier to see a visual improvement, than to hear it. I think.
Guys and idea on when Pal version of these players are expected ?
gandley
09-01-2005, 8:16 PM
If they lauch sept 2005 in usa then 1st quarter 2006 would be a good guess.
But i reckon for a change it could be earlier, more like pre XMAS
gandley - thanks. If it does come out by then I know what my Christmas present will be !
gandley
09-01-2005, 8:29 PM
A hefty credit card bill by any chance?
Rob20
09-01-2005, 10:56 PM
If they lauch sept 2005 in usa then 1st quarter 2006 would be a good guess.
But i reckon for a change it could be earlier, more like pre XMAS
It's been suggested that the first players/recorders may be released near or around Sky's hi-def service 2006. Still, it might be later depending on whether they think there's a market for the product, how well people respond to Sky's service etc. I would suggest late 2006/7. Early 2006 being optimistic. :)
gizlaroc
10-01-2005, 1:09 AM
Well DVD players were released towards the end of 96 in japan, I got a Tosh 3107 about a month before christmas that year, and then it would have been about March 97 when the were released in the States and I sold my Jap player and got a US one, in fact that may have been the Tosh and the Jap one a panasonic.
Anyway, it was in mid 98 that they were released in the UK, and they were going to use Mpeg Audio rather than DD as the standard on Pal/Secam units, thank god that didn't take off! the point is it was over a year after the states and a couple of months short of two years after Japan got the first Players, so i would guess at least Q4 2006 for Pal Machines to appear.
To be honest though I will go for a US machine anyway, the whole 1080i and 720p @ 60Hz is going to be easier anyway and all my dvds are NTSC apart from ones bought for my daughter.
I hope it looks as good as D-Theater, bet it doesn't, but fingers crossed :)
juniper
10-01-2005, 10:09 AM
But who will buy one of these when the battle with blu-ray is just around the corner.
Me. :grin: :grin: :grin:
i dont want to spend to much on these new players so my first Blu ray player will be the PS3. and my first HD DVD will be a PC drive.
This way if one or the other fails you can still use what you have in another way. (PS3 as a games system and the PC drive as a drive)
Once the formats become more established and a winner is clear, thats when you fork out for a decent player.
By then you will see companies like Denon and Marantz favouring one format or the other and giving us amazing players.
Never buy a 1st generation player!
gizlaroc
10-01-2005, 2:22 PM
Never buy a 1st generation player!
B0ll0CKS !
Always buy as soon as you can afford to, you could get run over whilst waiting for this stuff, or anything for that matter, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today as you may not be here tomorrow ;)
gandley
10-01-2005, 4:14 PM
Thats if the PS3 will play back hi def movies and not just be a blue ray disc reader to allow for bigger games. There is talk of different versions of the PS3 with the only the very top model being able to play back Hi def movies(which again will need HDMI).
but thats rumour mill i must admit and probaly off the mark.(although in line with microsoft as well).
I take the points about release date but this time i think it will happen quicker. In the past first they release in japan then USA etc, this time the launch seems to be both USA and Japan for 2005
If so then i will be geting something. Its not easy explaining this to the wife as I just got my denon 3910 and promissed i wouldnt buy another player of any sort for a while.
In my case ill put it off for as long as possible to allow the formats to establish themselves. If there was only 1 format I wouldnt be saying any of this but as there are 2 and no one know which will win, I feel that im not alone in my way of thinking!
gizlaroc
10-01-2005, 5:14 PM
I do know what you are saying, however I think that HD-DVD will be the winner anyway, I wish Blu-ray would as it is the better format, but being Sony I expect it to flop, everything they have released media wise that has been an excellent format has failed in real terms.
Beta-max, mini-disc etc. etc.
zAndy1
10-01-2005, 5:24 PM
I think it makes sense to get a HD-DVD player and then a PS3 with a Blu Ray drive to use for any Blu Ray releases. At least that way you get a blu ray player at a reasonable price!
Andy
gizlaroc
10-01-2005, 5:29 PM
Yeah but in a press release they said that only the top end PS3 would play HD films, and this was going to be very expensive, as it also included a HD hard drive recoder.
The basic PS3 will play games only.
zAndy1
10-01-2005, 5:47 PM
Really.. oh well that's the end of that plan then. I'll get a hd-dvd player anyway, hopefully when I'm in Florida at the end of October (will take a case just for it!). Then I'll wait and see if it's worth getting a blu-ray player as well.
Andy
gandley
10-01-2005, 5:49 PM
And theres the fact that blueray disc will be a tad more expensive to the end user( read as u and me)
most people walk into a shop and see HD-DVD on one shelf, Blueray on the other and then see the films next to them with one cheaper than the other. Which will they buy. We have seen in the past that quality is not the winning factor(VHS for instance) Cost and exceptable quality is.
Will there be any noticable difference in quality between say a blueray disc and say a HD-DVD disc @ 720p. there gonna look almost identical if not identical. so cost will be a huge factor in the winning system. I think the HD-DVD clan have started of with a very agressive stance. and they know also that there media in the first furlong will be cheaper to produce.
There hardware pricepoint is way below what sony have hinted at and below sonys japan pricing for blueray HD recorders.
Its going to be an interesting battle. in sonys favour they have some strong players on there team but i note a coulpe that have also backed doomed standards in the past.(matsu****a and 3DO anyone)
Oi matsu****a is a valid name init!!
MartinImber
10-01-2005, 6:15 PM
However all the big names are behind Bluray
betamac
10-01-2005, 6:32 PM
And theres the fact that blueray disc will be a tad more expensive to the end user( read as u and me)
most people walk into a shop and see HD-DVD on one shelf, Blueray on the other and then see the films next to them with one cheaper than the other. Which will they buy. We have seen in the past that quality is not the winning factor(VHS for instance) Cost and exceptable quality is.
Will there be any noticable difference in quality between say a blueray disc and say a HD-DVD disc @ 720p. there gonna look almost identical if not identical. so cost will be a huge factor in the winning system. I think the HD-DVD clan have started of with a very agressive stance. and they know also that there media in the first furlong will be cheaper to produce.
There hardware pricepoint is way below what sony have hinted at and below sonys japan pricing for blueray HD recorders.
Its going to be an interesting battle. in sonys favour they have some strong players on there team but i note a coulpe that have also backed doomed standards in the past.(matsu****a and 3DO anyone)
Oi matsu****a is a valid name init!!
From what i have read Blu ray will cost no more to produce than HD-DVD But blu ray requires a new produiction plat so initial costs are more, but in a full flowing production plant there is not reason atall why Blu ray will cost more sony have already said this
If sony divide the PS3 into 2 machines, then thats the end of that advantage for them!
They need to give us a blu ray player for next to nothing otherwise it wont take off. specially with HD DVD coming this year. They need to get an installer base quickly.
The PS2's DVD play ablity worked coz there was only one machine and there was no competition. But its not the same now.
They also have to consider price as well as release dates. they have to bring it forward and lower the price of the media and the players.
Current Blu Ray players are not propper ones coz they dont even have HDMI or DVI out puts. only that japanes D4 conection which is basically Component for retards. (sorry for the language but it really is)
Sony need to be carefull here!