HD-DVD verses Blu-ray

[Eagle101]

Warner Brothers has chosen the Blu-ray format over the Tosbiba made HD-DVD format. Which one is better? Is this going to be like the Beta-VHS format battle of about 30 years ago. Will just one format have to chosen? Beta and VHS tapes was not interchangeable. Will we have to have both type DVD players? This is going to be a big topic at this weeks Consumer Electronics Show.

[e_s_p33]

It's more than likely going to be like the Beta/VHS battle from the eighties. One form will more than likely win out, but right now you will have to have the corresponding player for each format. I can't say for sure, but I would guess than neither is superior.

[Brian]

Honestly, It isn't worth the investment in either side until the format war is decided. Unless you happen to have a PS3 or money to burn, I would wait. I recently got an Upconverting DVD player from OPPO. Plays everything (including Divx files right off the CD/DVD) and looks fantastic. There just isn't a that much of an incentive right now to put out all that extra cash to help fight what may be a losing battle depending on what format you chose.

[parrotthead]

	Quote:	Brian
	Honestly, It isn't worth the investment in either side until the format war is decided. Unless you happen to have a PS3 or money to burn, I would wait. I recently got an Upconverting DVD player from OPPO. Plays everything (including Divx files right off the CD/DVD) and looks fantastic. There just isn't a that much of an incentive right now to put out all that extra cash to help fight what may be a losing battle depending on what format you chose.

Exactly! My $25 Upconverting DVD player makes any dvd look awesome on my plasma. I do want a ps3 though.

[trezhamayn]

I recently purchased an HD-DVD player and my father picked up a Blu-Ray player for Christmas. Honestly, the similarities with both are so close that they could potentially be the same technology with just a different proprietary name. They both take a few minutes to load from previews to the menu screen. They are both very rich and full as far as graphics. The only thing I can tell you is that unless you have a 1080p television, you shouldn't worry about picking one up. Having a Blu-Ray or an HD-DVD player hooked up to a 720p or less television is like having a Porsche with a Pinto engine. With that being said, and if you are insistent upon buying one or the other, look at which studios are supporting which format. Find what movies are more likely to influence your buying decision and go from there.

[e_s_p33]

As of yesterday, HD-DVD has only one major studio left using exclusively HD format. Universal went to strictly Blu-Ray, as did Paramount. If I were to buy one today, I would choose Blu-Ray, because the technology that Blu-Ray offers is way ahead of HD. If im not mistaken, Blu-Ray can hold up to 3 times more data than HD. In my opinion, HD doesn't have that long left before it loses out.

[trezhamayn]

	Quote:	e_s_p33
	As of yesterday, HD-DVD has only one major studio left using exclusively HD format. Universal went to strictly Blu-Ray, as did Paramount. If I were to buy one today, I would choose Blu-Ray, because the technology that Blu-Ray offers is way ahead of HD. If im not mistaken, Blu-Ray can hold up to 3 times more data than HD. In my opinion, HD doesn't have that long left before it loses out.

The only thing that's keeping HD-DVD alive is that Toshiba is selling their players for sub $200 while Blu-Ray players are still hovering around $400. I know lots of people (myself included) that picked up the HD-DVD player for $178 over the holidays.

[e_s_p33]

	Quote:	trezhamayn
	The only thing that's keeping HD-DVD alive is that Toshiba is selling their players for sub $200 while Blu-Ray players are still hovering around $400. I know lots of people (myself included) that picked up the HD-DVD player for $178 over the holidays.

I agree with that, but what good are HD players gonna be when there are not any new movies to play on them?