"HD-DVD or Blu Ray, that is the question..." Topic

So I am rehabbing my basement and preparing to purchase my new Home Theater System. Do I go with Blu Ray or HD-DVD?
Will both types of players play the old movies I have on DVD? What are other pros and cons of the two options?

Thanks,

Pat

Wait, or buy a one of the new players that plays both. At this time there is no clear winner in the format wars.

Blu Ray might go the way of Betamax. I prefer a regular DVD player.

I went for the HD-DVD myself for a number of reasons. One is cost for both the players and the movies with HD being cheaper.

At the time the HD disc also contained more data but that may have changed cause I think blu-ray can do two layers now as well.

The HD disc size is the same as a normal CD or DVD and my HD -DVD player will play all my DVDs. In fact, my player has a feature that tries to upconvert a standard def DVD to HD quality. It's not perfect but there is a definite improvement and hence little incentive for me to replace my movies with HD ones.

The HD discs are burnt deeper than the blu-ray discs. Because of this they are more resistant to scratches and are less likely become unusable with rough handling. Which isn't really an issue for me cause we always put them back in their cases.

The last reason is more philosophical. I don't like Sony. I remember the whole root kit debacle. And the Playstation releases where they hadn't made enough boxes to even get close to meeting demand. Doing twice no less. I also get the impression from the press (though I may be wrong) that Sony has tried to sign a bunch of studios to be exclusively blu-ray. So if you want Disney HD movies, they are only on blu-ray. I personally get offended by them trying to create a 'win' for them by limiting customer choices. Sony doesn't win any 'respect the customer' points from me.

Another issue that makes me believe the HD-DVD will be around for a while is the adult film industry. Blu-ray has not licensed any adult movies while HD-DVD has. If you remember the VHS/Betamax times, Betamax refused to license adult films as well. The adult film industry is too large a business to ignore, though I can't imagine watching adult movie in HD. Blech.

I'd either by a player that has both or hold off until a clear victor emerges. If you buy a playstation 3 you basically get a free blueray player, so that might be the way to go, eh?

AX

According to webuser magazine Blu Ray is outselling HD-DVD by 2:1 in the US.

@freewargamesrules: I'd read exactly the opposite, but I can't find the source right now…

Is an HD-DVD better in durability than a regular DVD or the same? Are there HD DVD-Roms for PCs on the market and any problems playing regular music and game CDs? Planning on a custom PC in a few years.

Hell, you are rich – buy both and in 2 years they will both be obsolete so you can buy the successor version when it comes out and it is compatible with both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD!

Neither. I bought Beta and pooh-poohed VHS for the poor quality of the recording. Guess which one won out, although it was a crappier system at the time. Wait until one or the other wins the race.

If you are a trekkie, this might swing it for you…

link

Players for both formats will play regular old fashioned DVDs.

Anecdotal I know. But everyone I know who has gone for fancy DVD players has bougtht Blu-Ray players. But it's a gamble buying now before a clear victor emerges. And just like Betamax vs VHS, it will probably not be decided on purely technical grounds.

@freewargamesrules:

I have read that Blu-Ray players are indeed outselling HD-DVD. On the other hand, it seems that HD is selling more discs (The source for this was Wikipedia, so take it with a grain of salt).

If you want to look at it one way, when the largest retailers (walmart, meijers, target) are only selling HD-DVD it is a good sigh on who will will. Add to that I can now get a HD-DVD palyer for about 120.00 vs 300 for a blue ray and it seems who the victor will be. Remember the Blue-Ray sales INCLUDE all PS3's

laser disc is the way to go!

I thought laser disc is gone the way.

Yeah I thought BR was winning the gaming sales, but HD-DVD was winning the movie media sales.

With these sort of 'hardware' competitions in the past, the cheaper one always won out… so I would say HD-DVD… but I have been wrong once before… I think ;)

I have heard the following in the UK

HD-DVD – more sales as the X-BOX 360 out sells the PS3

also HD-DVD is more compatable with older DVDs and thus easier to copy, so hence one of the reasons big Studios are going for Blue-Ray

HD-DVD is meant to be slightly better, but with Blue-Ray having the backing of WB, Disney and Sony (who own some share of the studios) will prob win.

Blockbuster here will only rent Blue-Ray disks and for every HD-DVD film released – 3 or 4 blue rays are released

But you can never tell and players for both are coming out. these are the companies that will win ultimatly

Blue Ray is also on average x2 times more expensive than HD-DVD

So buy one that will do both if you cant wait or wait

Drives are available for PCs as well in both formats but again expensive

Al

Hold on for a dual player. Having said that I have to be honest and point out that I have a PS3 so technically have bought a Blu-Ray player. However, in my defence, I am not buying any Blu-Ray discs, (I have one I got free with the machine), instead I am renting them off amazon, at least for now.

As for Sony Bashing, like any big corporation they will try and throw their weight around and they are an easy target BUT in relation to the comment about not making enough units available … haven't Nintendo done the same thing with the Wii this year?

So is there currently a model that plays both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, as well as standard DVDs? Or is this forthcoming?

I think LG have released one, don't know about anyone else.

LG makes a dual format:

link

So does Samsung:

link

LG also makes a combo drive for PCs. It's about $300 USD USD.

I believe that Blu-Ray movie discs cannot be played in a Blu-Ray player in your computer. They have purposefully made them incompatible, so archiving your discs (or burning a copy the kids can handle without worrying about it getting scratched up) won't be possible.

Personally, based on where the discs are available (Wal-Mart, etc.) and content (adult DVDs), I think HD-DVD will be the winner. Time, of course, will tell.

The picture quality of both these HD formats is amazing and I am keen to pick up one myself, but I am going to be a little more patient and wait for winner to be declaredand for prices to come down.

Old fashioned DVDs aren't that bad anyway, so I can cope with low-res for another 6 to 12 months.

We should all hope that HD-DVD format wins over Blue-Ray, as Blue Ray still have 'regions' whereas HD-DVD does not.

It seems like the winner is Blu-Ray.