Is the format war really about to be over and if so, what are you going to do?

**mekkanic** · **01-10-08, 12:12 PM**

I'm going to wait.....

**Mitch G** · **01-10-08, 12:28 PM**

Quote:

MrPorterhouse wrote:

Yeah, I thought so too......until I saw CARS or Ratatouille on Blu-ray. Talk about total 3D immersion. WOW! Animation has NEVER looked this good. And then there's the sound. My OH My does it sound amazing. The depth, clarity, and resolution is through the roof. I also hear that Finding Nemo is getting a completely re-designed audio in the form of a New 7.1 Home Theater Mix. I can't wait for this title.

Yeah, I forgot about the sound bit, but that's interesting that there is such a difference with Pixar movies. I guess it's not surprising that an already impressive movie in 480i would look outstanding in HD.
Well, if I could snag a PS3 for $200, I would probably do so. That plays into the "Honey, I thought we should add an HD gaming system to the family room." And, my son wouldn't mind either.

Unfortunately, I think the $200 PS3 is not going to happen any time soon.

Mitch

**Bob_99** · **01-10-08, 12:29 PM**

I've waited this long so I guess I can hang on a little longer. In the meantime, hopefully prices will drop on both the players and the DVDs.

Bob

**conchyjoe7** · **01-10-08, 04:18 PM**

Since examples are being given as to BD superiority with animation etc. Any of the BD group folks seen "Polar Express" or "Transformers" in HD-DVD? No? How about "Unforgiven" "Blazing Saddles", "2001"? I could go on and on...please, unless you've seen these as well as many others in HD-DVD; don't assume anything about Sony's technology being superior; it simply is NOT!

**ACGREEN** · **01-10-08, 04:20 PM**

Guess I bought the HDDVD for nothing. Time to buy a PS3.

**Sonnie** · **01-10-08, 05:21 PM**

I'm leaning towards a PS3 as well... who knows... maybe I'll start playing a game here and there. At least they keep it updated and working, which is more than I can say for any of the other BD players. It seems like all of the others have problems playing some BD... and/or are just too buggy for my comfort level.

**JDRoberts** · **01-10-08, 06:26 PM**

I'm going to follow the same course I have been on since I bought my XA2.
The game plan was-if/when there is a Bluray player that will match my XA2 in features,content and reliability for roughly the same price($439.00),I will buy it.

Until then,I will still purchase the HDDVDs I want to see.

**owlfan12000** · **01-11-08, 12:24 AM**

I bought a new Mitsubishi 57" 1080p DLP on Thanksgiving and got an HD-A35 from Amazon a few days later. The only HD movies I own are a Matrix collection that I got for Christmas and that is still shrink wrapped. My window for returning the player to Amazon for a refund is January 31st. Does anyone think I shouldn't return the player and the Matrix collection?

**wbassett** · **01-11-08, 12:46 AM**

Quote:

owlfan12000 wrote:

I bought a new Mitsubishi 57" 1080p DLP on Thanksgiving and got an HD-A35 from Amazon a few days later. The only HD movies I own are a Matrix collection that I got for Christmas and that is still shrink wrapped. My window for returning the player to Amazon for a refund is January 31st. Does anyone think I shouldn't return the player and the Matrix collection?

This is always a tough one, telling someone what to do...

Seeing that you don't have an HD DVD library built up already you may have some thinking. The A35 is a great unit, but it's kind of senseless to keep it just for upconverting. If you had a ton of HD DVDs I'd say yeah keep it. If you're thinking keep it for upconversion reasons, you can get that with a BD player too... depending on the player it may be close but not as good, but at least you'll be able to play high def.

Give it another week for a Toshiba press release, if they don't say anything next week, or if all they say is that HD DVD isn't dead but don't layout any specifics as to how they support that stand, it is probably time to move on. One thing I have learned is when compainies merge, or are talking about outsourcing, they always tell their employees not to worry, nobody is going to lose their jobs... well expect Toshiba to say it's not over yet so they can keep the hope of selling existing player stock. Unless they have a detailed plan and more important, if they can back it up, this is all over except for the formal concession.

I am format neutral and own more HD DVDs than BD, so I'm not trashing Toshiba, I'm being realistic. The people I personally know that have HD DVD players (some are also format neutral too) are all saying they aren't spending anymore money on discs. The feeling in the air is it's over, and sometimes that can be all it takes to really drive it home and make it a reality.

**Bradley** · **01-12-08, 11:38 AM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

I'm leaning towards a PS3 as well... who knows... maybe I'll start playing a game here and there. At least they keep it updated and working, which is more than I can say for any of the other BD players. It seems like all of the others have problems playing some BD... and/or are just too buggy for my comfort level.

I bought a used PS3 a while back just watch BD movies. It's worked well for that purpose and been trouble free for the most part. It certainly boots up faster than my HD DVD player. The Bluetooh remote is nice for me since my A/V gear isn't easily in line of sight, but I know some people want/need IR so they can use a universal remote. Somebody makes a small and cheap IR receiver that plugs into one of the USB ports on the front of the PS3, but I forget who. (Google is your friend.

)

I'm certainly disappointed with the recent turn of events. The only reason I bought into BD is to get titles not available on HD DVD. I like BD just fine but Sony's long history of pushing proprietary formats and the BDA's aggressive marketing tactics are irritating. It's too bad the studios have been choosing sides from the very beginning and denying the other side access to their catalog in high def. On more "equal footing", HD DVD would be very competitive with BD. Of course the so-called experts and the internet nerds seem to think BD deserves to win due to its higher bitrate and storage capacity. It's hard to argue that more isn't better, as far as that goes, but the reality is that it doesn't translate to a better HD experience 95% of the time.

**Sonnie** · **01-13-08, 05:28 PM**

I'm somewhat back favoring the Samsung 1400 now... I keep going back and forth. I want something that plays BD and I want it now, but just can't seem to pull the plug on something.

I would still like to hear something from Toshiba and the HD-DVD studios before a make a decision as to what I will do. I'm rather anxious though.

**PhotoByMark** · **01-13-08, 08:08 PM**

I do not like the fact that some movies are one format and others on the other. I have been considering getting a dual format player or individual players for both formats. Given recent events, I think I will just wait a little longer. Not too long, but long enough to get my speakers that I want to get. Then, if nothing changes in the next month or two I will probably just get a PS3. I suppose the only good news if you can call it that that if there is one format perhaps we will see more players from more manufacturers?

**wbassett** · **01-14-08, 10:01 AM**

More important Mark is once it's officially over we'll then see all studios putting their new releases out all on one format as far as HD.

The biggest problem now besides mass acceptance is all the people that bought HD DVD players... now they have to be not only convinced to buy a BD player, but some are very angry and it will take a bit more than an ad campaign to bring them over, at least for a long time.

HD DVD will be treated as a legacy system for awhile, or at least it should. Some people have a rather extensive HD DVD library and they need to feel secure that they will still be able to play their movies. Eventually though, it will be displaced.

**PhotoByMark** · **01-14-08, 10:17 AM**

I totally agree.

This format war is not good for anybody. In fact, IMO, the entire market looses because there are many folks like me who are struggling to adopt either platform and continue to wait to see what happens although I am really close to just buying a PS3 for now.

**Owen Bartley** · **01-14-08, 07:15 PM**

I can totally understand that if one format gets pushed out, the supporters of that one would become jaded (and rightfully so) and perhaps turn against the HD format in general, but I also think that many will come around rather quickly, because they are in it for the enjoyment of the movies, and that's tough to give up. Also, there will probably be a wave of fence sitters who cave and buy a player once a "winner" emerges, which will strengthen sales and presence quite a bit.

**OvalNut** · **01-14-08, 07:28 PM**

Stick a fork in it, it's done. Really.

Tim

**wbassett** · **01-14-08, 07:47 PM**

OJ I think that's exactly where we are at right now... If people in general feel it's over, there's not much Toshiba can do or spin to change their minds. If the fence sitters all start buying BD players because they think it's over then perception will make it real.

**Bradley** · **01-14-08, 07:50 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

I'm somewhat back favoring the Samsung 1400 now... I keep going back and forth. I want something that plays BD and I want it now, but just can't seem to pull the plug on something.

I would still like to hear something from Toshiba and the HD-DVD studios before a make a decision as to what I will do. I'm rather anxious though.

As you may have heard, Toshiba just cut prices across the board on the 3rd gen HD DVD players. For $130 you can pick up a HD-A3 at Amazon or Tiger Direct with two movies in the box and the mail-in deal for 5 more. That's less than $20 per movie with a "free" player and certainly the least expensive way to get into the HD movie game at this time. Admittedly the future isn't looking very bright right now for HD DVD but it would seem Toshiba isn't giving up without a fight.

For BD players, it's hard to beat the PS3 (which is what I use). It's the fastest and "future proof" (most upgradable) of them all. I've heard it takes quite a long time for some of the standalone players to chew through the BD-J stuff and start playing discs like Rataouille.

**Bradley** · **01-14-08, 08:03 PM**

Quote:

OvalNut wrote:

Stick a fork in it, it's done. Really.

Toshiba is definitely "on the ropes" but it isn't quite over yet. Obviously they need to reel one or more studios back in to the HD DVD fold as soon as possible.

It would appear the new price cuts are working as the HD-A3 player has gone from #13 in Electronics this morning to #7 right now.

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
#1 in Electronics > DVD Players & Recorders > HD DVD Players
#1 in Electronics > DVD Players & Recorders > DVD Players

**wbassett** · **01-14-08, 08:05 PM**

My brother just told me about the price cuts too, but as much as I hate saying it and people hate to hear it, without studio support it will only come across as inventory dump.

TOSHIBA... SAY SOMETHING! Even if it's a concession speech, they need to say something, anything...

I agree Bradley, they have to romance a studio back and soon, but people's perception is that it's over and some have even returned their players. Toshiba has to say something and quick or they won't recover from this as far as HD DVD.

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