Blue Ray or HD-DVD?

[Ranger REG]

Just wondering what folks here will be buying for their Hi-def viewing.

That depends. How soon will I be able to buy a 24-inch HDTV (ATSC tuner built-in) for less than $400?

I'll have to wait for a third-party player device that can play both competing patented propietary formats. Eventually, one will be a winner, like when VHS beat BetaMax.

 

[drothgery]

What would be the advantages of HD-DVD for PC's?

HD-DVD is considerably less expensive to produce (and likely will be to purchase), both for drives and for media. And when it's 15 GB vs 25 GB (for single-layer) or 30 GB vs 50 GB (for double-layer), I just don't think the capacity difference is big enough to matter, as both are more than big enough for HD movies compressed with any modern codec.

 

[buzzard]

It's honestly more useful for Data, and it may be a potential saver due to the decrease in extra disks (Imagine the LOTR Extended Eddition one 1 disk each for everything, or perhaps even just one disk).

However, if they can get the price down, it could eventualy replace CDs for cheap portable storage, particularly if the R/Ws catch on.

That's certainly true. I was only thinking in terms of video. For storage they are both quite nice, but as I said, my progressive scan DVDs look just fine right now.

buzzard

 

[TwistedBishop]

Blu-Ray for me.

Any format that would allow entire seasons on one disc is a winner for me. If I could buy an entire anime series on a single disc, well, that would make me very happy. HD isn't big enough to do this kind of thing.

From what I remember reading, HD-DVD is close to getting 3 layers at 15 gigs each. I think the two formats will be balanced to the point any average consumer needs fairly quickly.

Personally I'm staying out of it until there's a winner. If I get an HDTV before that happens, I'll just get an upscanning DVD player. The thought of having a $500 piece of junk with $40 movies I rebought, and now will have to rebuy again for the winning format, just turns my stomach.

 

[Pyrex]

Vote: Neither

I'm waiting for one of the two formats to win. Technologically they're just about a wash anyway; it all comes down to implementation, support and DRM.

 

[James Heard]

I'm betting that neither will be the winner, because the "unfortunate DRM" will inevitably be broken by the hackers in the world, which will mean an alternative format will almost certainly be needed by someone, and since no customer reallyt seems to like DRM that means that the median format will probably be the big winner. Besides, the only thing I've really seen that peaks my OMG! factor for HDTV is sports. HD sports is awe inspiring. Maybe that's simply a matter of the other HD stuff I've seen not having the same money spent on the raw cameras used to shoot it - but right now the only thing I like HD for is scooting up to my brother's during the fall to watch college football on his extra large HD widescreen.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Microsoft is staying in the other camp. The tech doesn't matter. If Sony was HD-DVD and Toshiba was Blu-Ray then Microsoft would have supported Blue-ray. At least until MS is done trying to take over the game console market.

I don't care why Microsoft is supporting HD-DVD. For all that it matters Bill Gates could just think it is a cooler name. The point that matters is that whatever tech advantages Blu-Ray may have don't matter as long as the 800 lb gorrilla is supporting the other one. So While Blu-Ray may have twice the storage and twice the studio backing which would probably normally result in it winning, as long as Microsoft continues to back HD-DVD it will remain competative. Right now I consider it too close call.

What would be the advantages of HD-DVD for PC's? Blu-ray has more capacity. They both use basically the same copy protection. Blu-ray additionally has BD+, which is additional security though some have been concerned it could present a problem with playback or could be exploited.

As has been pointed out HD-DVD is cheaper. This is in part because the technology is very close to DVD so both the existing media and the player manufacturing plants can be easily converted. This affects PCs right now because HD-DVD players can already be made simline for Laptops (and for basicly the same cost). The other posible advantage (although this could have been solved already) HD-DVD allows for both DVD and HD-DVD format to be put on the same disk at the same time. This means that an HD-DVD disk can be used in older DVD players giving both home theater and PC users the option of keeping thier old players while still buying the new media and getting the extra detail when they chose to upgrade.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I don't care why Microsoft is supporting HD-DVD. For all that it matters Bill Gates could just think it is a cooler name. The point that matters is that whatever tech advantages Blu-Ray may have don't matter as long as the 800 lb gorrilla is supporting the other one. So While Blu-Ray may have twice the storage and twice the studio backing which would probably normally result in it winning, as long as Microsoft continues to back HD-DVD it will remain competative. Right now I consider it too close call.

I don't see it. Sony makes things like DVD players and TVs as well as production. They'll be pushing Blu-Ray in as many aspects of the industry as possible since they've already invested heavily in Blu-Ray. Microsoft has a HD-DVD add on for the Xbox 360 that may come out sometime this year.

Blu-Ray wins.

Seriously, I don't see HD-DVD coming out on top. In this case, Sony is the 800 lb gorilla, not Microsoft. MS if huge in the computer software world, yes, but its not to the point where they can determine the outcome of non-computer related fields. And, in this case, they're not really trying. They're making an add on that very few people will actually buy to a gaming console. This is barely a blip on the radar to the HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray matchup.

 

[carrot]

I will probably get a Blu-Ray player (unless HD-DVD kills the format quickly, in which case I won't bother), but frankly I think that both formats are likely to be obsolete before long. Downloading films from the internet will be the way to go - Hard disks are relatively cheap and can store way more than either format. So I voted Neither.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

Blu-Ray wins.

Seriously, I don't see HD-DVD coming out on top. In this case, Sony is the 800 lb gorilla,

See VCR: History of Betamax for how an 800lb Gorilla with a (in many ways) a superior product can get their rears handed to them.

If Sony has learned from the Dragon-Stomping it recieved in that fiasco 20 years ago, then Blu-Ray has a good chance of coming out on top.

If they try the same bone-headed propriatary tactics again, look for HD-DVD to come out on top.

Me?

I'm waiting to see who comes out on top (like a lot of consumers).

This is just what a lot of industry people were fearing. VHS-Beta Round II.