HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray...the format war

[chadoweasel]

Are any of you home theater buffs? Its one of my hobbies, and I want to go on record as being the first SBG to predict the failure of the Blue-Ray format. 

If anyone is up on this stuff, lets discuss.

[Tyler]

Are any of you home theater buffs? Its one of my hobbies, and I want to go on record as being the first SBG to predict the failure of the Blue-Ray format. 

If anyone is up on this stuff, lets discuss.

That's interesting because I'm predicting that Blu-Ray will quickly become the format of choice.  The reason I think this is because of the PS3.  But this isn't the only reason.  There is much more acceptance of Blu-ray from movie studios and other companies (http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/).  It's the PS3 that I think will catapult it over the edge.  Mostly due to the kids and adults that all invested in it over Christmas and won't go investing in a HD Dvd player when they can just buy Blu-Ray DVD's to play on their PS3.

[ar3inc]

I would not call myself a home theater buff, because I don't really follow thru so much on the tech side, but I don't like the idea of my +300 DVDs being phased out.  DVDs work great.  A 2-year old and DVDs don't always mix, but oh well it was only his DVDs.

[PigPen]

I'm not a buff, but I do try to keep up. I get a Crutchfield catalog in the mail regularly, and I was lookin at some Blu-Ray stuff and couldn't believe the price of the damn player. It was at least $999.99.....I'm thinkin what the hell?!?! No way would I go for that.

How about Blu-ray, the new Laser Disc?


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......or the new Beta even

[chadoweasel]

Tyler, its the other way around. Blu-Ray is more difficult to put movies on and costs a lot more. Many studios favor HD-DVD because it takes only minor upgrades of the current way DVD disks are produced. Blu-Ray needs mostly all new equipment. Another thing is that many HD-DVD disks have the DVD version AND the HD-DVD version on the disk, so it can be played in both old and new players. They say the production cost is hardly more than current DVD's. There really is only one major advantage of Blu-Ray and that is it holds more data (which really may only matter to games since movies use nowhere near a full disk)......but I remind you, Betamax was not only a bigger storage format but actually a superior format to VHS and look where that got it. I funny thing is, many say that was due to the porn industry going with VHS. And now, the porn industry has chose HD-DVD. That is the major factor to why I think HD-DVD will come out on top.

As far as PS3 is concerned, most reports I have read...and word from a few friends in game retail I have, the PS3's aren't selling well. I know a guy that works at Best Buy and he said they have like 15 PS3's just sitting there. Meanwhile the Xbox 360 is still outselling them. I'm sure thats mostly due to price, but it could also be because you can make the switch to HD at your own pace by buying the HD-DVD player later for $199.

This all is a big deal to me because I love movies and home theater. I don't why to be stuck with the losing equipment. I have a little resentment to Sony for always trying this proprietary crap, and still have a bad taste in my mouth for what they did with UMD disks. So in a way, since there is a battle of the formats, I don't exactly feel like cheering for Sony. I just wish a clear winner would come out so I can buy some sh%t. 

[Tyler]

You may be right Chad, I just have read differently on various different blogs, icluding Engadget which I linked to above.  In all honesty, I won't be upgrading anytime soon.  I'm waiting for the prices to drop.  Though, I currently use my PS2 as a dvd player and would love to upgrade to the PS3 for the high-def capabilities in movies and games.

[Tyler]

Chad, I'm not sure if you saw this article from the NY Times about how porn stars are finding that HD is showing their imperfections much more than the current format.

NY Times Article

They do mention how the Adult industry has adopted HD and doesn't know why Sony snubbed them.

[frostillicus123]

I don't care if either comes into fashion, I do however care if either playyers won't work with DVD. Cause I ahve like 300 or so DVD's and don't want to upgrade them to HDDVD or blue ray. howevre I think HD DVD will take the lead due to Blu Ray being a sony thing, and well sony really sucks.

[chadoweasel]

Chad, I'm not sure if you saw this article from the NY Times about how porn stars are finding that HD is showing their imperfections much more than the current format.

Up close porn imperfections....I can only imagine. Haha.

[Noner]

It dosen't really matter which format is technically better. It matters, who has better marketing.

Take the iPod. It's not better than any other MP3 player. In fact there are much better ones out there. But, Apple won the markting war and now it's cool to have an iPod. Can you name any other MP3 player? I have to think about it.

It also depends on 3rd party software. If they promote one format better to the industry and not the public. That means manufactuers will start making more 3rd party supplements for that format. The public will then see that one format has more accessories or in this case movies, and they will buy that format by default.