Most people don't seem bothered

[soup nazi]

A lot of people i've spoke to and from looking at movie sites on the web,people don't seem bothered about hd-dvd/blu-ray.

Does it need a huge marketing push?
Or will it just be for enthusiasts?

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by soup nazi

Does it need a huge marketing push?
Or will it just be for enthusiasts?

At first I think it will be just for enthusiasts. We will buy despite the format war. I think as the number of HDTV grow - and as Sky/Freeview HD becomes more popular - then we'll see more interest from the public. By which time dual players will likely be the norm.

[Badger0-0]

It's not a quantum leap, the same way as CD/DVD was. I put the growth of CD down to it being a more convenient format which could be used portably.
This time, whilst it's a much better format, it has no advantage physically, so people don't immediately see the benefit.
Also the mention of format wars puts people right off and Joe Bloggs won't touch either with a bargepole until that's sorted out.
Prices also have a lot to do with it.
When one format has won through, or we have a dual player and prices have fallen, then I reckon HD will quickly become the standard.
For now it will remain something for the enthusiasts, IMHO.

[Donnacha]

...or could it go the way of SACD, DVD-A and minidisc and just die off despite it being superior and definitely for enthusiasts (well maybe not MD!!)

[zeroprobe]

Am I the only one who thinks dvd > hd is a greater leap than vhs was to dvd.

resolution difference between vhs and dvd is small compared to dvd > hd

[Badger0-0]

Originally Posted by zeroprobe

Am I the only one who thinks dvd > hd is a greater leap than vhs was to dvd.

resolution difference between vhs and dvd is small compared to dvd > hd

No, you have a valid point.
I was looking at the convenience side of things as having the biggest impact.

Having said that, most people don't have the gear to view HD.
And don't sit close enough to see all the benefit either.
Consider that many people can't tell the difference between 720 and 1080.

Whilst the jump wasn't that big from VHS, I'd say the biggest single difference was moving to the digital format. I had a greatest hits film on VHS until a couple of year ago, the colour smearing and blurriness put it on a par with a 405 line picture
That just doesn't happen on a DVD, well certainly not to the same extent. I put this down to the tape which wears with use.
Again, only in my opinion.

[David Mackenzie]

First up, I have to say that I think DigitalSpy is rife with this kind of "why are CE companies giving us more stuff to buy" mentality. No disrespect to the forum, it can be a great resource, but I don't think it's a 100% accurate representation of what most people think. Most of my friends, family (including an Uncle who's nearly in his 60s) have been very enthusiastic about the HD DVD movies I've shown them.

Besides, on DigitalSpy in 2003, my interest in HDTV was questioned quite a bit. I remember hearing someone be told that it was pointless and only needed in America, and that PAL was good enough, and how nobody over here would care about it. Just give it some time.

[dave1de]

Its going to take years before one of the formats is standard. Most people know what 'high definition' is, and most people have seen it (from displays in shops etc), and most people, well, almost everyone, thinks it looks excellent.

However, they don't actually want to spend hundreds, or even thousands of pounds on it, simply because what they have now is fine. It costs most people who want a decent TV and decent hardware over £1000 for it, and most people simply cannot a) afford it b) be bothered c) just don't want it

And alot of people do not actually know what hd-dvd and blu-ray is.

[Badger0-0]

Originally Posted by dave1de

Its going to take years before one of the formats is standard. Most people know what 'high definition' is, and most people have seen it (from displays in shops etc), and most people, well, almost everyone, thinks it looks excellent.

However, they don't actually want to spend hundreds, or even thousands of pounds on it, simply because what they have now is fine. It costs most people who want a decent TV and decent hardware over £1000 for it, and most people simply cannot a) afford it b) be bothered c) just don't want it

And alot of people do not actually know what hd-dvd and blu-ray is.

I agree with all this, except the first line.
If one format doesn't win out sharpish (12-18 months), Donnacha's post could well be right, IMO.
Formats don't get that long. They either take off or they don't.
Chances are something else will come along and kill both. Probably downloads.

[Kilian]

At the moment it's for the movie enthusiasts.

Cost is certainly a big factor. My old plasma is not full HD and doesn't have HDMI. My old receiver doesn't have HDMI either. So it's going to be an expensive upgrade to take full advantage of the HD format, audio and video.

[wombar]

Yup, at the moment HD is really only for enthusiasts. In reality HD doesn't really give you anything that Joe Public is that interested in (1080p/i means nothing to most of my mates), DVDs gave you a better picture, extras, chapter selection etc over tapes. HD discs just give you a better picture and that's not going to cut it with the consumers who just want to watch a film at this point in time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to HD hitting the mainstream, but your average film viewer doesn't really care about HD at this point in time. They can't justify spending £600 on a HD player when they can get a DVD player from Tescos for £30. IMO, the format war isn't going to damage sales too much at this point, because it's only the enthusiasts who are going to be buying the players. Once the players get down to the £150-£200 range(the 360 drive doesn't count btw ), that's where the format war is going to hurt the progress of HD discs.

If I'm totally honest, I'd rather see HD-DVD come out as the winner but that's just because I don't like Sony as a company, not very impartial I know but there you are

I'm certainly keeping HD in mind when I look at new purchases, but until there are a few more sources where people can be exposed to HD for free(i.e. terrestrial TV) most people won't want to make the jump to HD discs.

[aniki]

Originally Posted by wombar

Yup, at the moment HD is really only for enthusiasts. In reality HD doesn't really give you anything that Joe Public is that interested in

I agree entirely.
Out of everyone I know there are only probably 3 people I would call enthusiasts. 1 has adopted HD-DVD. The others arent so bothered given all the BS surrounding the 2 formats.
Which is kind of where I'm leaning.
Most people I know have not even heard of the two new formats & are only aware of HD due to TV advertisements for HD ready tv.
I know a couple of people who subscribe to HD tv but have old cheap dvd players and couldnt care less.
Similarly every shop I've been in are pushing TV's and upscaling dvd players for less than £100.
As has been expressed above, until the supermarkets, rental shops etc start pushing HD as 'the norm', I dont think the gen public could care less.
When I first bought a dvd player (costing £700) and a multi region chip (costing £150), I was buying dvd's from the states for a good 2 years before most people here had a clue. It was like "Wow, they get a whole movie on a CD?". But other than region coding & the innevitable re-re-re-releasing of special, super, ultimate editions, I still think it was a fairly simple adoption.
Unlike the 'new' formats
-
I've been reading about blu-ray online for almost 4 years now. Now it has become an accessible reality, I'm underwhelmed. Not with the actual quality, just the whole 'ambiguity' of the situation.
In reality there are only maybe 1 or 2 titles available currently in any HD format that I care for.
Naturally if the formats were completely equal bar region coding, HD would be my choice as I regularly buy discs from all over the world.
-
However:-
Ultimately I'm already totally fed up with the whole BDvsHD arguments.
'One film is one format, ones another' 'One films region coded, one isnt' 'One is a poor transfer, anothers fantastic'!!!!! This is the NEW technology we are being offered? Screw that!
-
My SD discs look absolutely fantastic and I'm sure not enjoying them any less since experiencing HD.
So for now I'm quite happy for the corporations to do the bickering while I kick back and enjoy some movies

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by zeroprobe

Am I the only one who thinks dvd > hd is a greater leap than vhs was to dvd.

resolution difference between vhs and dvd is small compared to dvd > hd

No you're not.

I've been arguing the same for a long time, but most people are argue otherwise. I can only assume there was something wrong with their VHS player, their HD TV, or their eyesight.

Nick

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by welwynnick

I've been arguing the same for a long time, but most people are argue otherwise. I can only assume there was something wrong with their VHS player, their HD TV, or their eyesight.

I think where people disagree is not on the quality jump - but on what sold DVD to the masses. Was it the big jump in quality? Or was it the CD style access? Avoiding clunky cassettes that you had to rewind? Extras? Ability to toggle subtitles on/off? Was it 3 for £20 offers in HMV/Virgin?

I think - when viewed as a package - DVD offered alot over VHS. HD DVD/BluRay also offers alot over DVD - but it's not so obvious unless you have decent kit.

[Nic Rhodes]

I think many people are arguing this with 720p / 768p displays when the latest HD DVD / BD high def players are capable of native 1080p, at about twice the amount of information of 720p, the extra has basically been thrown away but it is the source that is blamed not the display device that is not capable of showing what the source is actually capable of.