HD DVD or Blue Ray?

[AKIron]

Was gonna post in Batfink's thread but decided that might be an unwelcomed hijack.

My 6 year old RCA CRT TV bit the dust a few days ago (darnit ) so we bought a new HDTV. While normal DVD's look pretty good I just gotta have a HD player. Opinions?

[DiabloTX]

IMHO, HD DVD.  But that's only because I hate anything and everything Sony-made.

[Stott]

Blu Ray..PS3 has one built in and you get a good gaming platform. XBox's HD use to only play 1080I(nterlaced) and not P(rogressive). There may be a software d/l fix. Did you get a 720 or a 1080 HDTV?..Pixels. Blu Ray holds more data but is more prone to losing info if scratched since it writes deeper into the DVD. HD holds less but writes more shallow. I bet on Blu Ray.

[eagl]

HD DVD is cheaper than blu-ray right now due to deep discounts on HD DVD players.  They players have been on sale as low as $99 but right now I think you can find one for about $200.

I do have a "thing" against sony due to them porking my computer with their rootkit (required a full windows re-installation) but aside from that, the price difference makes HD DVD an easier upgrade right now.

If you already have an xbox, then you can get an add-on HD DVD player for just a couple hundred bucks and that's all you need.  As Stott mentioned, if you're considering a PS3, it comes with blu-ray built in but you're still paying $400ish instead of $200.

Even if the price was the same, I won't be buying blu-ray due to the rootkit thing.  But since HD-DVD is cheaper, I think it makes sense even for people who didn't have their computer's hijacked by Sony.

As for title availability, Sony is so huge that there are a few big titles that are available only on blu-ray, but frankly if Sony is going past DRM into the realm of "buy our player or you can't see our movie", then to hell with them.  HD-DVD-only titles also exist, but those guys never rooted my computer making it unusable.

[AKIron]

Appreciate the advice guys. I was leaning towards HDDVD but after checking prices it seems that to get an HD DVD capable of upscaling standard DVDs it's gonna cost at least $300. Still doing some research on that. I just read that a recent firmware update does give the PS3 upscaling. If the difference between two players capable of upscaling is only $100 I think I'm going with the PS3 since I don't have a console game and will be living near the grandkids soon. Wondering if the HD DVD for the xbox360 does upconverting?

[AKIron]

It's really irritating that these guys couldn't agree on a single hi-def standard. If history could be depended upon to predict the future then I'd guess blue-ray will go the way of betamax but who knows?

[eagl]

There are computer drives that can play both standards, but they're very expensive.

The toshiba HD-A2 and HD-B2 HD-DVD players shouldupconvert regular DVDs for around $200.  For that matter, you can get a regular upconverting DVD player for about $40 on sale at various places.

Here's a review of the HD-A2.

http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/toshiba-hd-a2/4505-6463_7-32074340.html

It shouldn't matter very much, but the HD-A2 only goes to 1080i, not 1080p.  And if you use a surround sound receiver for sound, it had better accept optical input or have an HDMI passthrough, otherwise you're going to be stuck using your TV for sound since the HD-A2 doesn't have the output jacks for every single analog sound channel.

For me, that's no biggie.  My stereo receiver has 3 optical digital sound inputs.  But cheapo surround sound in a box setups may not have the right inputs.

If you're just playing the sound through the TV though, it's no big deal.  The sound goes through the HDMI cable to the tv and it should all work no problem.

[DiabloTX]

Eagl's reasons are exactly that of mine I just didn't feel like typing all of my gripes over Sony.  I have more, like porked Sony portable CD players that freeze when you put CD-R's in them and then won't play ANY CD...but I'm slowly getting over that.

[AKIron]

I do want 1080p and my sound system does support digital audio. I will take a look at DVDs capable of upconverting, thanks for that tip eagl.

[Stott]

I dont think any none High Defintion DVD palyer is going to let your see 1080P on a standarad DVD. You can get a Blu Ray or HD to play on a 720 by DEconverting but getting a standard to upconvert to 1080P is not going to happen. I have a Standard and my PS3 connected to my Monitor TV ..a 1080P Sharp 32" Aqous and there is difference between the two. You should consdier buying a 1080P because such a large purchase will make you feel bad if you dont spend the extra money to get the best. Get a Service Agreement also. This system is something you will use for a long time...find a way to get a 1080 AND a BR or HD DVD player.


Just read the above post...you think you can get High Definition on a standard DVD player that upconverts?. Why would anyone purchase HD or BR?  Perhaps I am confused

[Dnil]

hd is losing the war.  in a couple years it will be a dead platform.

I think right now its 60/40 or so on the split.

399 for the ps3 gives you the player and a nice fancy media center.

[AKIron]

Scott, upconverting a standard dvd to 1080p does not increase the resolution but rather changes the format size to the same as 1080p hd. I've read some saying that there is a noticeable improvement in picture quality (not the same as hd) but the primary reason to upconvert is to get standard dvd to fit the screen properly.


Going shopping now.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Dnil
hd is losing the war.  in a couple years it will be a dead platform.

I think right now its 60/40 or so on the split.

399 for the ps3 gives you the player and a nice fancy media center.

LMAO I remember that EXACT phrase being used by a salesman telling me the future was in Betamax and not VHS

Glad I decided to go with the VHS player at the time.

Me Im taking a wait and see attitude.
Probably get an upconverter in the meantime.

BUT for those with the bucks. You can cover all your bases. for $999.99



LG - Super Blu High-Definition Multiplayer
Crisp, clear images, stunning sound and plenty of media options make this multiplayer an invaluable component in any home entertainment system. Check out Blu-ray Discs, HD DVDs and more with ease.

Product Features
Next-generation HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc format compatible, for true HDTV video with amazing color and incredible high-resolution surround sound
Delivers greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs by upconverting their video resolution to HDTV-compliant 720p or 1080p via the HDMI interface
Built-in Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD decoders, plus 5.1-channel audio output
Plays BD-ROM, HD DVD-ROM, DVD, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, CD and CD-R/RW discs; supports MP3, WMA and JPEG formats
Enjoy full HD 1080p video output on your 1080p display
BD-Java interactive capability for Blu-ray Discs and HDi for HD DVDs
Qdeo advanced video processing and HDMI 1.3 with deep color support
LG Simplink for convenient control of other LG Simplink products through existing HDMI connections
HDMI output provides an uncompressed all-digital audio/video link for the highest-quality connection and supports copy-protected HD broadcast content
USB media host for MP3/WMA audio and JPEG photo slideshows
27MHz/8-bit video digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion
96kHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion
Outputs: HDMI, composite video, component video, coaxial digital audio, optical digital audio, stereo audio
Includes universal multibrand remote

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8504709&type=product&id=1186004964788

[Stott]

HDi for HD DVDs


Tha HD portion only plays Interlaced.

Get your HDMI cable at Walmart or Target..BB is WAY overpriced.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by Stott
HDi for HD DVDs


Tha HD portion only plays Interlaced.

Get your HDMI cable at Walmart or Target..BB is WAY overpriced.

I just saw one that outputs normal DVD to 1080P.

However, I bought a Playstation 3.