Sid Burn wrote:Autobot032 wrote
Boy, I'd love for HD-DVD to win. Blu-Ray is just another way for Sony to try and dominate the market. It didn't work the last time with Betamax, and when you look at this from a logical standpoint, and work with the facts...there's a good chance it won't work here either.
I have to disagree with your argument against Bluray.
Lets break down your argument.
HD-DVD Players are cheaper, perform the same level of quality in terms of Audio and Video, and give you five free movies with a rebate form.
The quality level of HDDVD and Bluray may seem identical at the moment, but that wont last. The vast difference in the storage space on each format's discs is a big factor in the potential of both platforms. Bluray discs store 50 gigs of data, while HDDVD tops out at 30 gigs. There are already 30gig HD discs on the market for both formats, so before the format war has reached the mass consumer, HDDVD is already at its potential in terms of encoding space, bonus material space etc. 50 gigs will leave more room for true HD encodings as well as extras. With consumers expecting more from the next generation of home media, 30 gigs just doesnt cut it.
XBox 360 HD-DVD is the cheapest drive around, performs with the same level as the other two, and it also gives you five free movies with the rebate form.
Xbox 360 does not perform at the same level as a PS3 or either formats standalone players. Xbox360 only supports up to 1080i and does not support HDMI cables at all(though a rumoured HDMI ready 360 may show up eventually). Therefore, even HDDVD is not fully realized on the Xbox 360.
All next gen discs are encoded at 1080p, one above 1080i, and if you think that there isnt any difference, trust me, there is.
Also, if the sega genesis/sega cd/sega 32x fiasco taught us anything, it is that consumers dont like to continually buy physical upgrades to existing hardware. PS3 runs bluray right out of the box, something xbox360 cannot claim without the consumer spending hundreds of dollars on an additional part. Even with the part, Xbox360 cannot claim full HD at 1080p.
Blu-Ray Players are more expensive, perform the same level of quality, and give you seven free movies with a rebate form.
At the moment, Bluray standalone players are more expensive, but a holiday price drop is coming and despite HDDVD's price reduction on their players, Bluray's installed base is still wider and sales continue to favour Bluray.
John Abt, VP of Abt Electronics commented, "With all of the introductions of Blu-ray product, we have seen more sales in BD than in HD DVD, because there are so many options now out for consumers."
Problem? Blu-Ray has copy protection that's far more expensive to program, and the discs are far more expensive, up to twice the cost of a HD-DVD disc. Plus the copy protection can be circumvented, while HD's is apparently a bit more tricky to crack, but it too can be cracked.
The DRM style content protection that sony offers on its discs and through the HDMI system is actually wooing the major studios and artists to support Bluray. With content piracy rising everyday, content creators are reaching out for anything that can protect them, Sony is gaining support from companies like Disney through the use of their content protection systems. It may create complaints from the end user, but that is another argument.
HD-DVD has fully interactive menus, which work right in the movie, along with other features. Blu-Ray doesn't utilize this apparently. (According to a new blurb I read.)
This is simply incorrect, I own Bluray releases such as Planet Earth with fully interactive, in movie disc menus.
Big Companies (such as Microsoft) back HD all the way.
Paramount, WB, Universal support HD, but they also support Blu-Ray. The entire Porn industry even signed with HD-DVD.
If we are talking big companies, Sony owns many of the film studios responsible for the blockbusters that mass consumers eat up. Sony owns Columbia, Tristar and MGM plus all their first party studios. Companies like Paramount that originally released statements devoting themselves to HDDVD have now stated that they will fully support both formats due to the large sales of Bluray.
Blockbuster video has stated they will be pulling their support of HDDVD due to rental sales that had a 70/30 split in favour of Bluray. Target has stated that they will only carry stand alone bluray players this holiday season. Who will buy HDDVD if rental becomes an inconvenience?
In terms of the porn industry, they will go wherever the money is, and if HDDVD falls flat, pornography wont be honouring any verbal commitments to the format.
The only reason the Blu-Ray players have sold so well? A little more than half of their sales are due to the PS3. If it wasn't included, Blu-Ray would be at a distant second to HD-DVD.
This really isnt an argument at all. The PS3 was a brilliant tactical spearhead for the Bluray format. A great example of marketing for multiple consumer groups. Xbox missed the boat on this BIG TIME, by not offering HDDVD support standard.
The gaming industry now outgrosses the movie industry, and a gamer with a PS3 is more likely to buy Bluray discs. Sony's idea of creating a stand alone media centre for the living room is coming into focus.
I don't know which format I'll choose yet. But I'm leaning towards HD-DVD. It's cheaper, it's backed by a bunch of big name companies, and it provides the same quality as the competition for a lot less dough, along with free movies.
I think that when consumers see that franchises like Spiderman, Pirates and James Bond will never see the light of day on HDDVD, the choice will be clear. Franchises like 300 and Transformers will see dual release and HDDVD exclusives like the new Matrix boxset have fallen flat in the sales because everyone already owns a dvd version of the matrix.
HDDVD is offering an inferior product. Limited in its potential to expand upon dvd enough to capture the average consumer.
Betamax failed because it wasnt licensed properly, VCR was.
Sony clearly learned from this, and is taking all the right steps to capture the marketplace. It's early adopter videophiles like myself that set the pace of the format wars.
My vote is for Sony and Bluray. I cant wait to see Transformers on my PS3 in crystal clear 1080p
Actually, all XBox360s that are shipping now, come with HDMI standardized. The only one that comes with the cable though, is the Elite.
Oh and I've seen the difference between 1080i and p. Personally, I prefer 720p/1080i. 1080p showed imperfections in the films on the displays I saw at Sears, in fact one of the salesmen noted that people went with 1080i sets, not only because of price, but past a certain screen size, you could see every imperfection, every pixel, etc.
With a really good set, a really good player, etc...of course 1080p outshines the rest, but who can really afford to get the top of the line everything to get the "perfect" picture? Plus with the new formats coming out of the labs in Japan...1080p will soon go the way of the Dodo as well. (Egads it's hard to keep up with all of this crap. Eeeesh.)
Plus, there's no saying that Microsoft couldn't push it to 1080p in the future. I'm surprised they've done what they have so far.
I'm not sure who I'll side with yet, but it's all a moot point considering I don't have the dough to put down right now anyway. Even if I did, too risky of a gamble to blow the money. Even the TVs keep evolving, etc....can't keep up with that. Too expensive, too time consuming, no thanks. Yuck.
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.
That's what the internet is for. 
