Do you have HD-dvd? Do you have Blu-Ray? What do I go for??

[tee]

So I have same spare cash. I am getting more and more tempted every day. Obviously I do not want a dead format so what are your thoughts?? HD-DVD seems to be doing pretty well but having read a review of Terminator Blu-Ray I am severely tempted with that even though the first players are $999. Should I wait? Should I go for it? Wait for the PS3?

What have you all done and what was your thinking?

Cheers!

[Dogers]

I'd say wait, unless you're extremely flush with cash. It's still too early to tell which way it's going to go, but once the PS3 comes out, the early indications should appear :)

[Games Guru]

If the cash is spare, spend it! Get the HD-DVD and by the time blu-ray is reasonably priced, you will have some more spare. You only live once!

[Roughneck1]

If the cash is spare, spend it! Get the HD-DVD and by the time blu-ray is reasonably priced, you will have some more spare. You only live once!

I would tend to agree with this tbh.

[add46.88]

Found a great review by Cliff Stephenson

Samsung v Toshiba

http://www.hddvd.org/messageboard/topic/10/23579/

[Sheepking]

The samsung isn't getting good reviews and the discs according to that review aren't as good picture quality wise. Maybe when blu-ray is using VC-1 will the movies be closer in terms of picture quality. That review also advises that the lossless PCM on Blu-Ray is better than DD+, but not too much in it at the moment sound wise.

By that time we should have a better idea of which way it's going to go. You would imagine that Blu-Ray machines will have dropped in price by then.

The other thing that my influence it is Disney & Fox. They have both been mentioned as Blu-Ray studios but with no titles announced who knows. Pixar and classic disney titles in HD might help one or other win the war.

[paulfoley]

Its an AV Enthusiasts worst nightmare; the second product to market is twice the price, has poorer quality pictures with less extras but vastly more studio support!

Our only hope maybe for the sudios to stab Sony in the back & announce dual format releases?

:lease:

[tee]

If the cash is spare, spend it! Get the HD-DVD and by the time blu-ray is reasonably priced, you will have some more spare. You only live once!


I would tend to agree with this tbh.


I am tending to agree with this ;)

[Siamese Cat]

Our only hope maybe for the sudios to stab Sony in the back & announce dual format releases?

:lease:

I expect the studios would stab them in the front if they thought it would lead to sales. I can't imagine why a studio cares which format it makes sales on as long as it makes them.

[Packetfront]

Found a great review by Cliff Stephenson

Samsung v Toshiba

http://www.hddvd.org/messageboard/topic/10/23579/

That was one of the best reveiws i've seen lately, very neutral.

[tee]

Found a great review by Cliff Stephenson

Samsung v Toshiba

http://www.hddvd.org/messageboard/topic/10/23579/

Just read it - great article and a really good read. Cheers :smashin:

[Timbo21]

I wouldn't buy an SD DVD Samsung player, so the same goes for Blu-ray. However, from the few months before HD-DVD was released HD-DVD was just sounding better with the internet interactivity on offer, & with Microsoft on board you know that side will deliver.

[BadAss]

I would wait. Wait for HDMI 1.3, wait for BD 50s wait for better codecs, wait for True HD, wait for DTS HD.

Lets not forget both HD formats have not been released here yet and the US is still a testing ground. For me Blu-Ray is still evolving so I personaly would buy into that one yet, even though I think it will win through in the end. HD-DVD doesn't have the software or hardware support to make me believe it could be a winner.

I can see how desperate people are to get HD movies but I wouldn't commit to a format or player that isn't finished, especialy when HD is available by other means.

[tee]

I would wait. Wait for HDMI 1.3, wait for BD 50s wait for better codecs, wait for True HD, wait for DTS HD.

Lets not forget both HD formats have not been released here yet and the US is still a testing ground. For me Blu-Ray is still evolving so I personaly would buy into that one yet, even though I think it will win through in the end. HD-DVD doesn't have the software or hardware support to make me believe it could be a winner.

I can see how desperate people are to get HD movies but I wouldn't commit to a format or player that isn't finished, especialy when HD is available by other means.

Very good points. The decsion is a tough one for sure.......

[stretcher]

I would wait. Wait for HDMI 1.3, wait for BD 50s wait for better codecs, wait for True HD, wait for DTS HD.

You gotta wait for Superbit HD as well;)

Then again, someone's bound to :grin: :grin: :grin:

[BadAss]

You gotta wait for Superbit HD as well;)

Then again, someone's bound to :grin: :grin: :grin:

Yes, you can see why its important to wait for BD50s.

[CoreyTaylor]

Ok I have an A1 HD DVD Player and to b frank its sh*t :thumbsdow

I wrote to Home Cinema Choice recently to find out why the HD movies only look slightly better than standard DVDS and they told me its because I have a 42" Plasma and therefore the differences are subtle on smaller domestic displays apparently.

So basically unless u got a proper home cinema they aint worth the money which is a dam shame, also the player is massive and weighs too much but hey its new tech n u gotta get ur moneys worth I suppose lol

I got my eye on the new Samsung BDP1000 Blu-Ray Player now and am hoping to god it lives up the hype and pisses all over the HD DVD Players :clap:

[BadAss]

I got my eye on the new Samsung BDP1000 Blu-Ray Player now and am hoping to god it lives up the hype and pisses all over the HD DVD Players :clap:

You will be dissapointed then to hear that it doesn't for reasons i've already stated. BD at the moment is like a horse with two legs.

[Packetfront]

Ok I have an A1 HD DVD Player and to b frank its sh*t :thumbsdow

I wrote to Home Cinema Choice recently to find out why the HD movies only look slightly better than standard DVDS and they told me its because I have a 42" Plasma and therefore the differences are subtle on smaller domestic displays apparently.

So basically unless u got a proper home cinema they aint worth the money which is a dam shame, also the player is massive and weighs too much but hey its new tech n u gotta get ur moneys worth I suppose lol

I got my eye on the new Samsung BDP1000 Blu-Ray Player now and am hoping to god it lives up the hype and pisses all over the HD DVD Players :clap:

Probably your display is ****.

How can you except wonders with a 42" plasma?

You need 1366x768 pixels or even 1920x1080 to get the experience.

Samsung is ****, everyone says so, so why did you buy it?

Seems like you are just trolling around on the forum.:rolleyes:

[CoreyTaylor]

Ok Packet I have a resolution of 1240x1240 yet hd dvd looks pony its utter crap so if blu-ray is the same as hd dvd basicaly its all a big con and we're better off sticking with standard dvd :)

[ianh64]

Ok Packet I have a resolution of 1240x1240 yet hd dvd looks pony its utter crap so if blu-ray is the same as hd dvd basicaly its all a big con and we're better off sticking with standard dvd :)
I have never heard of 1240x1240 panels. Don't you mean 1024x1024? If so then that an Alis panel which is really interlaced 1024x512. Thats probably why you arn't seeing much difference rather than a fault of HD-DVD - save your money and don't buy blu-ray either.

[lfletcher]

Just confirming whats already been said, HD on a proper high def screen is a million miles away from SD, so if you arent seeing any difference then I'm afraid its your screen, not the HD-DVD player. As already mentioned buying a BD player isnt going to help you as the picture quality of most of the releases isnt up to the standard of HD-DVD (Terminator and Underworld are the exceptions I believe).

[Packetfront]

Ok Packet I have a resolution of 1240x1240 yet hd dvd looks pony its utter crap so if blu-ray is the same as hd dvd basicaly its all a big con and we're better off sticking with standard dvd :)

There doesn't exist any panel with 1240x1240 :thumbsdow

So what's next? have you ever owned a HD-DVD or are you just trolling?

[CoreyTaylor]

i made a mistake packet stop being a tw@t :P it was early in the morning and i had just got outta bed! yes my panels 1024x1024 and Ive given up the ghost on all this high def bs as the tv hd is perfect but the movies suck so im gonna put the money from the sale of my hd dvd towards a ps3 instead :D

[filmman]

hi
i have a hd-xa1, looks stunning with my H78 . I tried it on a friends 42" lcd and it looked very good but not a great leap over sd dvd. IMO to get the best out of hd the only way to go is the pj route.

[paulfoley]

i made a mistake packet stop being a tw@t :P it was early in the morning and i had just got outta bed! yes my panels 1024x1024 and Ive given up the ghost on all this high def bs as the tv hd is perfect but the movies suck so im gonna put the money from the sale of my hd dvd towards a ps3 instead :D

You havent got it set to 720P by any chance have you?

[CoreyTaylor]

Paul, nah dude have it set to 1080i as i know i have an alis panel and their interlaced from what ive been told so 1080i looks better :)

biggest question is why does hdtv look awesome and a massive leap from standard digital tv yet hd dvd doesn't look much better, im not the only one whos expiernced this as stated by filmman :)

[davsdu]

Paul, nah dude have it set to 1080i as i know i have an alis panel and their interlaced from what ive been told so 1080i looks better :)

biggest question is why does hdtv look awesome and a massive leap from standard digital tv yet hd dvd doesn't look much better, im not the only one whos expiernced this as stated by filmman :)

Its an alis panel so its not even HD - go figure why you can't tell the difference.....:suicide:

[Retronana]

Its an alis panel so its not even HD - go figure why you can't tell the difference.....:suicide:

Alis panels are "HD Ready" and whilst they may not have the resolution of some of the more expensive plasma panels out in the market they offer a great picture from both HD-DVD, WMV-HD and Sky HD at either 720p or 1080i.

I'm not sure why CoreyTaylor is not loving the output from his HD-DVD player, I'm sure he is not watching it via a properly set up and calibrated Hitachi 7200/7500 :smashin:

[davsdu]

Alis panels are "HD Ready" and whilst they may not have the resolution of some of the more expensive plasma panels out in the market they offer a great picture from both HD-DVD, WMV-HD and Sky HD at either 720p or 1080i.


But they cut the vertical resolution in half!!

[Retronana]

But they cut the vertical resolution in half!!

I understand your comments, but my eyes don't lie and I like the picture, gives a great image with my Sky HD and X-Box 360.

I seen some Philips plasma panels that have higher resolutions, cost £1200 more and don't look half as good (Sorry if I offend any Philips Plasma owners;) )

[Lyris]

I was all set to go for Blu-Ray until I heard what the first transfers were like :thumbsdow

Apparently some of them are FILTERED - HD discs, filtered!!! Unlike supposedly all of the HD-DVD releases. That was enough for me to defect and go to the other side.

If Blu-Ray's winning when 3rd gen players come along, I can just pick one of those up... but for now I'm going for what is (currently) the cheaper and better format.

So, now I'm waiting on a Toshiba HD-A1 from Movietyme.

[davsdu]

I understand your comments, but my eyes don't lie and I like the picture, gives a great image with my Sky HD and X-Box 360.

I seen some Philips plasma panels that have higher resolutions, cost £1200 more and don't look half as good (Sorry if I offend any Philips Plasma owners;) )

I dont agree with you - these panels are (when talking about HD) not very good, if not terrible...

And to compare it to Philips plasma is hardly helping (hint: Phillips plasma are not very good either....)

[klr10]

Anyone near London interested in doing a comparison, bringing their HD DVD player and comparing it with my SD DVD player with SDI output scaled up by a Key Digital HD Leeza scaler into a Sony G70 CRT projector (with 8 inch tubes) onto an 8 foot screen? Maybe use the same film (an HD and SD version of Serenity perhaps?). Then we can see how much difference there really is?:confused:

[Retronana]

I don't agree with you - these panels are (when talking about HD) not very good, if not terrible...

And to compare it to Philips plasma is hardly helping (hint: Phillips plasma are not very good either....)

I think we will have to agree to disagree on that front :grin:

[number_3]

Ok Forgetting all the tech, this is how I explained it to my Dad when he asked me
about upgrading His TV & DVD player…( sales rep was pushing a HD DVD player on him )

Def go for a HD TV, HD broadcasts will make you think everything you are watching is
on DVD…..As DVD quality was already miles above SD broadcasts you instantly make
a comparison and Can see the difference…..

If you go out and by a new HD DVD player you might not instantly see the difference
as they are building on, to the average person ,an already high quality image, my dads
not gonna sit two foot from his new screen and study the image…so I told him to stick
with his old DVD Player until we know which format is going to win out, or
at lest until they have the "wow" factor down on either format.
his SD DVD player will still look good On his new HD TV, maybe even a little better….

[Uruloke]

his SD DVD player will still look good On his new HD TV, maybe even a little better….

Depends on what player it is, if it's a DVD player with only scart connections then it absolutely will not look that great. If your dad's too wary of the format war then he's probably better off getting an upscaling player, they're cheap and make DVD's look good on HDTV's. :thumbsup:

[number_3]

Depends on what player it is, if it's a DVD player with only scart connections then it absolutely will not look that great. If your dad's too wary of the format war then he's probably better off getting an upscaling player, they're cheap and make DVD's look good on HDTV's. :thumbsup:

Thanks mate, any suggestions for player??

[Uruloke]

Thanks mate, any suggestions for player??

I've got a Phillips DVP5900, they're £99.99 and there's a massive thread about them here (books only - invoiced in error - GCI 42383 refers). But shop around, and take a good look in the standard definition DVD Players forum.:thumbsup: