The Official HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Thread

[mechman]

I'd also like to add that I'm tickled that everyone thinks HD-DVD is dead! 50% off movies left and right! I've bought 15 in the last two days!!

mech

[louthewiz]

I just got my 5 free HD-DVDs rebate , I sent my rebate form around black friday.

[bonehead848]

To those still hot on hd dvd looks like a number of retailers are dropping prices like crazy. Check out these slickdeals threads for some awesome deals.
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthr...ghlight=hd+dvd
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthr...ghlight=hd+dvd
Enjoy!

[bonehead848]

http://checkoutblog.com/entries/2008..._platform.aspx

Moderator edited. The quoted blog references Wal*Mart urls that do not back up her statement. Nothing in the Wal*Mart links says that they are dropping Toshiba. In fact their Toshiba HD-A3 url shows the A3 back in stock for $139.28 . Bob

[bonehead848]

To the mod who edited my post. Here is an official Walmart press release via Gizmodo.

Wal-Mart Moving Exclusively Toward Blu-ray Format Movies and Players

Bentonville, Ark., Feb. 15, 2008 - Wal-Mart Stores, U.S. today announces that its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores will move forward this year with one hi-definition movie and hardware format: Blu-ray. The change will take place quickly over the next several months whereby the retailer will phase out HD DVD offerings and reorganize shelf space. By June, Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs, www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com will offer only Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, as well as standard definition movies and DVD players, and up converts.

"We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," said Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S. "With the customers best interest in all we do, we wanted to share our decision and timeline with them as soon as possible, knowing it will help simplify their purchase decision, increase selection, and increase adoption long term. We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home."

Wal-Mart will continue to sell through remaining HD DVD product, but in less than 30 days customers will see a more predominant move toward Blu-ray in stores, clubs and online. As the nation's largest retailer, Wal-Mart thoughtfully reviewed all areas and impact in making its decision, and is excited to move forward with one format and share its future plans with customers.

http://gizmodo.com/357024/wal+mart-g...lusive-in-june

[bobgpsr]

Yes, something like: http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5673.aspx is an official announcement.
No question about it. Very bad news for Toshiba's HD DVD effort.

[imbeaujp]

The war is over... Blue Ray is the way !

[mechman]

There's been rumblings of Toshiba quitting in the next few weeks. Too bad the good product lost to a bad product.

mech

[MatrixDweller]

I hope we don't have to suffer with $400+ players for the next few years and media prices don't stay above the $30 mark. Competition was nice, too bad Sony et al had to pull out a trump card with Warner. I'd like to know the official number of HD-DVD player owners out there.

[mechman]

I'll hold out until it's the same price that I paid for my A2. What was the final dollar value on that trump card anyways? Half a billion? Makes me want to wait until the next format comes out! But I need a Playstation anyways.

Is it still true that the BluRay players out there right now cannot be upgraded to the final standard? And if they cannot why are people buying them?

mech

[MatrixDweller]

I don't think I've heard anything that was fact based about the payout to Warner. I bet it mostly intangible stuff like advertising, buying movies to include with players and post production work to make Blu-ray discs. Though one rumor said $500M + other incentives to make it more like $800M. I would think there would be anti-competition laws that forbid that sort of thing. I'm sure Toshiba has their corporate lawyers working on something.

[bobgpsr]

Blu-ray was/is designed for recording 2 hour movies using the MPEG2 video codec with LPCM audio. This required the 50 GB storage size and 48 Mbps transfer rate. A good technical fit for this recording application -- but makes for a non-compatible with DVD production and expensive stamped production process for mass produced two layer 50 GB BD-ROM (hard to get the protective clear coat to be even on the outer part of the disc -- it bunches up).

HD DVD was design for lower cost, mass produced, HD DVD-ROM that can use existing DVD lines with an upgrade that is not outragous. It does required advanced video codecs (VC-1 or AVC) and advanced audio codecs to get a 2 to 3 hr movie to fit on a two layer 30 GB disc.

Each was designed with different constraints -- but each works well at providing 1920x1080p24 movie playback with improved audio. Both use 405 nm blue/violet laser diodes.

To call either a "gimmick" is not valid, IMHO.

BD has won -- but not for technical or even mass market reasons (PS3 users != people have spoken) -- again IMHO.

[Anthony]

I just posted in another thread on this same topic. It's over, which is good from a "moving forward" perspective.

However, the damage is done. Sony is dead to me and always will be. If I ever get a BR player it will be when Toshiba releases one for under $200.

Until then, upconverted regular DVD is the way to go. I'm hoping a download ownership model is in place by then and I'll forego a disc-spinner altogether.

[mitchok]

Interesting article on the subject. Not a technical battle of the best technology... only one of marketing momentum.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/japan_toshiba

Mitch

[imbeaujp]

Now, I am waiting for ROTEL to announce their new HD player... Hope it will be soon...

JP

[JDRoberts]

Anthony wrote:

I just posted in another thread on this same topic. It's over, which is good from a "moving forward" perspective.

However, the damage is done. Sony is dead to me and always will be. If I ever get a BR player it will be when Toshiba releases one for under $200.

Until then, upconverted regular DVD is the way to go. I'm hoping a download ownership model is in place by then and I'll forego a disc-spinner altogether.

thats not looking so good.......

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/toshiba-...going-blu/5255

Todays press conference in Japan had Toshiba CEO comment on possible Blu-ray products now that they have discontinued HD DVD.

Toshiba CEO Nishida said Toshiba has "absolutely no plans" to make or sell Blu-ray players.

Wall Street Journal also writes, "Though the latest development is a huge setback, Mr. Nishida said Toshiba was still committed to electronics and it planned to rethink its vision for the business. In a hint of the direction the company might take, he said Toshiba might think about its role in the online video-downloading market more seriously. Toshiba has no plans to start selling Blu-ray players, he said."

[Richard W. Haines]

Well we knew this was coming. Too bad I bought the top of the line player, HD XA2, shortly
before Warners pulled out but at least I'm getting some enjoyment out of it and will continue
to use it for upscaling and my small HD DVD collection until it dies.

HD DVD can join the enormous list of defunct video formats:

Two Inch Videotape (Professional)
One Inch Videotape (Professional)
3/4" Videotape (Professional and Home Use)
Betamax Videotape (Home Use)
Beta SP Videotape (Professional)
Laserdisc (Home Use)
SelectaVision CED (Home Use)
Digital Videotape (2K resolution) (Professional)
HD DVD (Home Use)

For the time being, the surviving formats are Standard DVD, VHS (barely), Digital Videotape (4K resolution) and Blu-ray DVD.

In the near future VHS will probably disappear. They are developing 8K resolution digital Videotape
for professional use which will eventually replace 4K.

In contrast the standard for most film presentations is 35mm from 1897 through
2008. I shoot all of my feature films in 35mm which can be transferred to any format currently in use or that may be developed in the future.

Most of the companies involved in video transfers have gone out of business
over the years because they have to borrow heavily to install the equipment
which ends up obsolete before they can pay back the cost. Labs are having
difficulty staying in business too. Both the lab that processed my negative
and the video transfer house have gone under since I shot my current feature
in June. Of course I always keep the master negative in my own storage
vault. I would never leave my negative or video master at any lab since
they can go out of business at any time and they don't have archival vaults,
just storage rooms.