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HD-DVD/Blu-Ray
robotbebop
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, high-definition content. I've been googling for image comparisons between plain old DVD and HD/Blu-Ray, and every image is scaled down, so the actual comparison is lost, and then I remembered that HD content is basically just higher-resolution everything and thus looking for visual comparisons online is silly anyway.
Can anybody with HD equipment confirm that it is at least significantly superior to regular DVDs in regards to visual and audio quality? Is HD-DVD or Blu-Ray noticeably inferior/superior to one another? Is anybody else annoyed by the fact that it's essentially another VHS/Betamax war that's only made worse by format-specific releases?
Can anybody with HD equipment confirm that it is at least significantly superior to regular DVDs in regards to visual and audio quality? Is HD-DVD or Blu-Ray noticeably inferior/superior to one another? Is anybody else annoyed by the fact that it's essentially another VHS/Betamax war that's only made worse by format-specific releases?
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Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
Anecdotal lol, but the last time I was in Best Buy I saw a 54" Plasma playing some movie with a blonde chick and that Adrian Brody dude on Blu-Ray at 1080p, and I thought I was going to shit myself. It looked like little people in a box. I was actually disturbed by how realistic the image was, like my brain could not comprehend that a television screen could be displaying something that looked absolutely real.
Total mindjob.
The main difference between an HD-DVD release and a Blu-Ray release is the quality of the transfer. They both are capable of the same image quality. They'll both do 1080p and they'll both look fantastic.
The only real difference between the two is disc capacity for stuff like special features (where Blu-Ray wins), studio support (where Blu-Ray wins arguably, since Sony Pictures owns half of Hollywood), and the price of the actual player (where HD-DVD pulls ahead in spades).
HD is much more of an issue of your display, moreso than the media you're playing on it.
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One coworker always pipes up "Just buy a PS3"
Holy fuck when will people realize that $400 isn't exactly cheap.
Edit: That being said, I only like B-R more for the Disney support.
Though that $100 HD player is tempting just because I'd love to see Corpse Bride in HD.
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Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
Dual-format players I think are going to end up being the best option in a couple years once the kinks are ironed out and the price becomes reasonable. Either that, or since most of us already have (or will have in the next couple of years) a PS3 or 360, all you need to do is get the rival player standalone and you won't have to worry so much about clutter.
I understand your frustrations on the clutter front, though. One of the reasons I don't use a standalone DVD player anymore is because I've got like nine goddamned consoles and a stereo surrounding my entertainment center.
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While there are difference between the specs for the formats its pretty much irrelevant and it all comes down to finding out which studios produce the films you want to watch the most and then buying a player for that format.
maximumzero: Corpse Bride is available on Blu-ray so I'm a little confused by your comment.
What about regions, though?
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HD-DVDs aren't region locked and you can find a list here, though its not all Blu-rays are available and some of the releases have forced non English audio tracks so you'd have to watch the movie subbed. The link I gave explains a little about it and gives the audio, menus, and subtitles available and what country its from.
I believe Xploited Cinema is a way to order them all from a English site.
And Warner trumps everyone when it comes to modern releases, and they are still platform agnostic.
Also, just because Blu Ray has more room for special features does not mean they use it. HD-DVD has consistently better special features due to the finalized standard, which allows for PIP and other really neat interactive content. BD-J, sony's answer to this, is still largely MIA, and will invalidate many of the non-PS3 players on the market when it hits.
Blu Ray may very well win at some point, though it is nowhere near as locked in as they would lead you to believe... but I really hate the business practices they have used thus far (2x more expensive players with far less features and constant pr LOL WE HAVE WON THE WAR when in actuality the difference in sales between the two formats can be measured in one busy Best Buy store's standard DVD sales).
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
I know which format I'm supporting. damn that is good news.
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Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
Blu Ray players in the homes: 10:1 advantage over HD-DVD
HD Standalones over Blu Ray Standalones: 3:1 advantage over Blu Ray
Film sales?
Two weeks ago, it was 51:49 in favor of Blu... this week it is 55:45 in favor of Blu, with no real exclusive releases for the week. Lifetime to date puts them at 60:40 in favor of blu, or a 3 to 2 advantage.
What this all means is that if HD-DVD can even increase their playerbase to a 1:5 ratio against the console, they could own the market outright.
Paramount / Dreamworks switched camps a couple months back, possibly because they caught wind of the cheap players.
This is not a desperation move; this is clearing out old stock. If they were selling the HD-A3 at this price, i would call it desperation... maybe.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
This makes the UNDER $200 walmart toshiba standalone HD-DVD player, the $200 xbox addon (on sale for $100 with larger installed xbox user base) AND the sale of a stand alone HD-DVD player today at walmart for $98 a HUGE effort to get HD-DVD moving from one of the largest retailers in North America.
http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html
(roll your mouse over each image for the HD version to compare)
I've got both, and it seems HD-DVD has better audio quality (Hot Fuzz!), and Blu-Ray has better video quality (FINAL FANTASY: SPIRITS WITHIN looks amazing like a completely different movie, but Pirates on 1080p looks TOO realistic to the point that it looks like a TV soap opera staged in front of a green screen). HD-DVD wins out on special features though.
As said earlier, the transfer matters the most. Check out the tier thread to see which transfers are the best:
Blu-Ray http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=858316
HD-DVD http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=856119
People keep saying Blu-Ray sells more, but everywhere I look, Blu-Ray is on "clearances" and "Buy 2 get 1 Free" sales. I guess they needed that to catch up to HD-DVD.
The difference is barely noticeable when shrunk down and animated!
*sigh* stupid format war.
and for $100 dollars it's also a pretty good upconverting DVD player , so you win anyway you slice it, that price was to good to pass up, and I didnt.
Oh, hey I'm making a game! Check it out: Dr. Weirdo!
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Arg, fuck you for making me want to go buy a Blu-Ray player to see Corpse Bride in High Definition even though all I have is a 19" HDTV.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
If you buy a $500 blu ray player to watch shit on a $200 TV you're dumb.
Well I personally think you're dumb for buying a $500 glorified DVD to player to begin with.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
get it for HD DVD instead?
Who says i bought a blu ray player?
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fuck, i am still going to go look around and see if there is one on the shelf some where. i really hope there is... i just cant see myself paying any more than that, but i now really really want one.
Me personally I support the HD-DVD standard, hence why each mention above puts HD-DVD first, and I currently own a few HD-DVD movies already, but can't watch them.... Its a simple matter for me initially with these because I intend to most likely buy the 360 HDDVD drive when I upgrade my media center PC to be fast enough to support it, and then later on I'll buy the combo drive....
Movie Collection
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BTW, When I get to work tomorrow, I'll take a look at the list of BR titles in the $14.96 promo and make a list so you guys know what to expect.
XBL : lJesse Custerl | MWO: Jesse Custer | Best vid ever. | 2nd best vid ever.
I have a pretty good upconverting DVD player already.
I seriously hope this format war dies soon so I can make the move to HD for my movies.
the format war cant end until people like you decide to pick a side, go with the side that is giving you the best deal, that player was not just a pretty-good upconverting player (no upconverting restrictions over HDMI btw) but it is capable of HD movies right now today, it comes with 5 free HD-DVD movies, which would run you more than the price of the player, and ofcourse its a damn good deal. the war is over when you pick a side, and not before then.
I have King Kong (came packaged) and got 300 and Transformers as the two free in store (although I left sad that I didn't get Hot Fuzz. Or Shaun of the Dead
On to the fights!
Category A:
Babel vs. The Italian Job: I've heard awesome things about Babel, that it's a very well done movie and is all around good. I've seen The Italian Job several times and enjoy it as a light heist movie. I'm leaning toward Babel just to get something new, unless I'm warned that it actually sucks.
Category B:
The Thing wins
Category C:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vs. Full Metal Jacket: Own the non-Hd version of the former (would sell it), never saw the latter. Don't know if I should just wait and get a Kubrick collection instead of getting them all piecemeal.
Category
Firewall vs. The Frighteners: Harrison Ford does kick ass, but I hear the movie was average. Don't really know anything about The Frighteners, but it's one of those movies that I feel like I should know about it.
Category E:
Black Rain vs. Darkman vs. Troy: Never even heard of the first two, heard Troy is greatly epic, but also really dull. I figure it'd be good as a show off DVD if nothing else, if the general consensus is that the other two choices are even more meh.
And as for the format war, I was a hardcore fencesitter until this deal rolled along. I was going to wait it out, but I realized that all the free movies more than offset the cost of the player, so even if HDDVD does crash and burn, I'm just out the cost of the movies, which would become 'outdated' if I bought them on regual DVD anyway (and it's not like I wouldn't be able to watch them). Plus since Netflix does HD for the same cost, I'm glad I dove in and can enjoy the OMGSHARP LIEK RAZ0R movies on my beautiful Samsung.
My only complaint is its been 3 months since I sent off for those 5 free blu-ray movies and I still haven't received them.
Alexander (unrated final cut)
Blood Diamond
Last Samurai
Swordfish
Unforgiven
Underworld
Fifth Element
Black Hawk Down
House of Flying Daggers
Final Fantasy: Spirits Within
Resident Evil 2
Layer Cake
XXX
Terminator 2
Stargate
Reservoir Dogs
The Patriot
Crank
Night At The Museum
X-men 3
Flyboys
Rocky
Terminator
Windtalkers
XBL : lJesse Custerl | MWO: Jesse Custer | Best vid ever. | 2nd best vid ever.