NationStates Jolt Archive

We have a winnar! (http://gizmodo.com/357311/its-official-toshiba-pulling-the-plug-on-hd-dvd) And it's Blu-Ray.
Both Japan's NHK and Reuters are reporting that Toshiba is going to finally pull the trigger on HD DVD, ending the format war after being punted by Wal-Mart (the country's biggest retailer), Best Buy and Netflix.

I don't have an HDTV or either of these players. I'm too poor to be an 'early adapter.' I didn't have a horse in this race but I've been interested in it for whatever reason.

One side story on this-for the first time porn has been defeated as a driver of formats. I believe that Blu-Ray had rejected pornography on the HD format which led me to believe that had opened the door for HDTV. But even porn can't stand up to WalMart, it seems...

So, anyone bet on the wrong pony? Feel like gloating or bitching?

If you did and it makes you feel better, I had a laserdisc player...

Well, I sure as Hell hope that my entire DVD Collection will be on Blu-Ray. :mad:

Bwahahaha, I bet on the right pony (/obligatory victory reply)

It happens, guys, there isn't much we could do about it, anyhow.

Well, I sure as Hell hope that my entire DVD Collection will be on Blu-Ray. :mad:

See, this bothered me when I worked at the record store and people would bitch about how tiny the audio cassette section was. Then they'd say, "I don't want to have to replace all my tapes!!!"

Who says you have to? When you get a CD player it doesn't start beating up your cassette player and drive your tapes out of town on a rail. You can still use your old stuff.

Sure, in this case you might want to 'upgrade' some of your collection to Blu-Ray, but if you're still happy with the films in the format you have, why bother? Especially if your Blu-Ray player plays both standard DVDs and Blu-Ray disks...

This has been painfully obvious for months now, but plenty of people still thought HD-DVD would win in the last poll we had on this.

Who says you have to? When you get a CD player it doesn't start beating up your cassette player and drive your tapes out of town on a rail. You can still use your old stuff. I haven't seen a cassette player in years now. And sure, you can play them now, but when your cassette player breaks down in 2037, will you be able to buy a new one? I doubt it. Eventually, you will have to replace your whole collection, but it's obviously going to take a while until you reach that point.

my beta-max served me well!

I don't have either, just regular DVD's I am also too poor to be an early adapter. We just got HDTV's in November and only then because they were freaking cheap.

I'm still 15 years behind the curve, I have a big screen SDTV (50"), and then only because someone was giving it away free on Craigslist. Oh, free stuff on Craigslist, how I love you so...

Now here's something I've been wondering about for quite some time: Can you really tell from the picture on screen whether you're playing a DVD or a BlueRayDisc?

I only have a DVD player and DVDs since so far I didn't wanna spend money on something that that was still in debate/testing. Now that we know HD-DVD is out - I still don't have the money to buy a new player, let alone the more expensive high definition discs.

Besides, I'm still not convinced that I could tell a difference (hence the opening question) - I mean, wouldn't I have to buy a new television as well?

So, new TV and BlueRay-DVD set plus BlueRay-Discs? Who's gonna pay for that?!? 'Cause I sure can't!

my beta-max served me well!

I don't have either, just regular DVD's I am also too poor to be an early adapter. We just got HDTV's in November and only then because they were freaking cheap.

it not over you still have movie studios to wait on

it not over you still have movie studios to wait on
What, are they going to make the discs themselves?
my HDTV is so made of win. I don't even need cable, I have so many channels now.......6 different PBS channels!

It's worth the money. We probably won't upgrade our DVD collection for a while, can't afford a new player, since we just got our DV-r like a year ago (and it's the ghetto kind that actually has to have discs to record)
I have to wait until people start giving away their old HDTVs...or I start making more money...I think both are going to take about as long...

I'm still 15 years behind the curve, I have a big screen SDTV (50"), and then only because someone was giving it away free on Craigslist. Oh, free stuff on Craigslist, how I love you so...

my HDTV is so made of win. I don't even need cable, I have so many channels now.......6 different PBS channels!

It's worth the money. We probably won't upgrade our DVD collection for a while, can't afford a new player, since we just got our DV-r like a year ago (and it's the ghetto kind that actually has to have discs to record)

HD DVD is going bye bye? guess it's a PS3 for me then. :p

How long until a Blu Ray Xbox do you think? And how hosed are the folks who bought the HD DVD versions?

So, Blu-Ray, is it?

Finally...now I can buy a Blu-Ray burner. I've been waiting until I heard which format won before purchasing a new burner. Ought to be fantasmic for backups.

HD DVD is going bye bye? guess it's a PS3 for me then. :p

it's what format the movies are flimed in ,not who making the discs

an right now some movie studios picked one way and others picked the other way

Each movie studio picked only one of the formats not for technical reasons but for political ones. As far as I know, they're all switching over to Blu-Ray now.

Can you really tell from the picture on screen whether you're playing a DVD or a BlueRayDisc?

Yes. But to see the extra quality you need a HD display, and it needs to be either large or you need to sit pretty close to it. On my computer monitor, the difference is huge.

In the long run, it doesn't really matter. You'll move to BD just as you moved from VHS to DVD. And in another 10 years you'll move to yet another format.

HD DVD is going bye bye? guess it's a PS3 for me then. :p

The PS2 is a garbage DVD player. Why do you think the PS3 would be any better at playing BD? But it's at least cheap, I guess that's always something.

What, are they going to make the discs themselves?
it's what format the movies are flimed in ,not who making the discs

an right now some movie studios picked one way and others picked the other way

How long until a Blu Ray Xbox do you think? And how hosed are the folks who bought the HD DVD versions?

*looks at his stack of Beta tapes and LaserDisks*

er.... not hosed , yeah right!

not hosed at all hosed like a barbecue grill surrounded by 20 firefighters!

The PS2 is a garbage DVD player. Why do you think the PS3 would be any better at playing BD? But it's at least cheap, I guess that's always something.

that's your opinion, the PS2 for me was my first DVD player and it still works.

I got the remote for it and it still plays beautifully! :D

Yes. But to see the extra quality you need a HD display, and it needs to be either large or you need to sit pretty close to it. On my computer monitor, the difference is huge.

In the long run, it doesn't really matter. You'll move to BD just as you moved from VHS to DVD. And in another 10 years you'll move to yet another format.



The PS2 is a garbage DVD player. Why do you think the PS3 would be any better at playing BD? But it's at least cheap, I guess that's always something.
There was an interesting comment from that story that proposed that the next format was no format at all, by which I mean no physical medium, that it was only a matter of time and internet speeds before physical format faded away. I still have a record player, so I'm not the best one to comment on that, but it was interesting.
it's what format the movies are flimed in ,not who making the discs

an right now some movie studios picked one way and others picked the other way
No, dammit...it doesn't work that way. For the most part studios are still filming on film and yet you're not watching them at home on your 16mm projector. It doesn't matter what the content is filmed on (though if it's filmed on a standard definition video camera, upgrading it to HD might be a bit of a waste...), it's the medium it is transfered to for home consumption. They already transfer it to an HD standard (anywhere from 720i to 1080p), the format of the media is a manufacturing decision. If the manufacturer of HD DVDs throws in the towel, that's that.
that's your opinion, the PS2 for me was my first DVD player and it still works.

I got the remote for it and it still plays beautifully! :D
I just recently got my first stand alone DVD player (another free of Craigslist score...ah, time on my hands and a cargo van...)

Glad I didn't buy the HDDVD drive for my 360 then...also I've heard rumours MS was going to come out with a Blu-ray drive if HDDVD failed, so I guess we'll see about that...

Besides the fact that early-adopting is a gamble that doesn't have any payout, is phenomenally risky as far as being a potential waste of money, and is far more expensive than waiting a meager two or three years, when the current technology is more than adequate. I remember when my parents "adopted" Betamax, and that only one video store, right next to Acme Clicks, actually rented out the Betamax tapes.

I do not, and will not, early adopt. The downsides are far too great, and I see no particularly compelling reason to even consider signing up with even a fully victorious Blu-Ray for quite some time.

Besides the fact that early-adopting is a gamble that doesn't have any payout, is phenomenally risky as far as being a potential waste of money, and is far more expensive than waiting a meager two or three years, when the current technology is more than adequate. I remember when my parents "adopted" Betamax, and that only one video store, right next to Acme Clicks, actually rented out the Betamax tapes.

I do not, and will not, early adopt. The downsides are far too great, and I see no particularly compelling reason to even consider signing up with even a fully victorious Blu-Ray for quite some time.

It's sort of a catch-22, though, because without early adopters some tech will never get off the ground. This conspicuous consumers or just technerds with money to burn also get to decide for us with their gambling dollars what the rest of us get to settle for. We kinda need those suckers.

That's completely wrong, save for the part about Betamax and HD-DVD both being the losing formats.

Betamax was far superior to VHS. Blu-Ray is far superior to HD-DVD. Betamax lost because Sony had their stake on VHS. Blu-Ray is winning because that's yet another Sony product.

It's just that this time around, the better tech is actually winning.

Sony doesn't have the most consistent record when it comes to formats does it :p

I'm still waiting it out. Damn formats.

Sony doesn't have the most consistent record when it comes to formats does it :p

Ah, MiniDisc...why did you even exist?

That's completely wrong, save for the part about Betamax and HD-DVD both being the losing formats.

Betamax was far superior to VHS. Blu-Ray is far superior to HD-DVD. Betamax lost because Sony had their stake on VHS. Blu-Ray is winning because that's yet another Sony product.

It's just that this time around, the better tech is actually winning.

Betamax was the Sony format, and it couldn't record longer than an hour. And of course, VHS was the only place you could get porn...

DVDs are still fine by me. but i did bet wrong largely because i'm fed up with Sony...

Betamax was far superior to VHS. Blu-Ray is far superior to HD-DVD. Betamax lost because Sony had their stake on VHS. Blu-Ray is winning because that's yet another Sony product.

MiniDisc? ATRAC? UMD? Sony has had a few successes, but has also been behind plenty of failed formats.

HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are very similar in every way besides how much data they can hold. A normal length movie, using an efficient codec such as H.264 or VC-1, fits fine on a HD-DVD, but the extra space on Blu-Ray is good to have for longer movies, more extra material, more episodes of a TV show etc. I don't think we would have been much worse off had HD-DVD won.

I bought three HD DVD players, and I don't regret my purchases. The picture quality is great, it upconverts my old DVDs like a champ, and I've got quite a few great movies. So if Toshiba pulls the plug, I will just wait for Direct to Drive to take over in the near future, and buy DVDs until then.

That's completely wrong, save for the part about Betamax and HD-DVD both being the losing formats.

Betamax was far superior to VHS. Blu-Ray is far superior to HD-DVD. Betamax lost because Sony had their stake on VHS. Blu-Ray is winning because that's yet another Sony product.

It's just that this time around, the better tech is actually winning.

Quoi?

Sony invented Betamax. Why would they have had their stake in VHS?

There was a bright spot for Beta, though. Betacam became the cassette standard for news-gathering, defeating the VHS-derived Recam. Film studios still use Betacam as well.

PS3 IS blu-ray!!!

It's sort of a catch-22, though, because without early adopters some tech will never get off the ground. This conspicuous consumers or just technerds with money to burn also get to decide for us with their gambling dollars what the rest of us get to settle for. We kinda need those suckers.

Oh, trust me, I fully understand how important they are in getting this sort of stuff to take off, but that still doesn't improve my opinion of said group, or make me even want to consider spending such ridiculous money on a such a risky gambit.

Quoi?

Sony invented Betamax. Why would they have had their stake in VHS?

There was a bright spot for Beta, though. Betacam became the cassette standard for news-gathering, defeating the VHS-derived Recam. Film studios still use Betacam as well.

Well, nowadays they mostly use DVCAM, but that's only in the 10 years or so, before that it was betacam.

Well, I sure as Hell hope that my entire DVD Collection will be on Blu-Ray. :mad:

Don't worry Wilgrove all Blu-Ray players play DVDs

I am glad Blu-Ray won this battle as I brought a PS3 a year ago and as the PS3 was the same price as a Blu-Ray player I am happy I won't have to buy myself a HD-DVD player, I made the right decision. Shame I can't say the same for my miniDisc which is packed up somewhere and my UMD collection while small was really a waste of money.

Didn't the porn industry decide to back Blu-Ray thats the real reason why they won

Didn't the porn industry decide to back Blu-Ray thats the real reason why they won

No porn for Blu Ray (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9008579)...


It's why I kinda thought that HD DVD would get the edge. The only thing I found was Digital Underground wanted to but hadn't found someone to manufacture them.

No porn for Blu Ray (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9008579)...


It's why I kinda thought that HD DVD would get the edge. The only thing I found was Digital Underground wanted to but hadn't found someone to manufacture them.

Damn Japs

Oh well that shot my theory out of the air, I remember reading that they were going to, I hadn't read that Sony wouldn't allow it

No porn for Blu Ray (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9008579)...


It's why I kinda thought that HD DVD would get the edge. The only thing I found was Digital Underground wanted to but hadn't found someone to manufacture them.
Thats not "No porn on blueray" thats "Sony wont help convert current adult films "

They just have to find a non Sony reproducer ... they do exist

Looks like I'll be digging aroud for cheap external Blu-ray drive now.

Looks like I'll be digging aroud for cheap external Blu-ray drive now.

Dont know about external but I use http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106037 at work and is pretty happy with it, might be able to drop it in an external enclosure

All this floats right over my head. I just pick new stuff up when it becomes standard.

After staking my reputation on MDs, I have come to the same conclusion.

I still have my MD player :(

All this floats right over my head. I just pick new stuff up when it becomes standard.

Quoi?

Sony invented Betamax. Why would they have had their stake in VHS?

There was a bright spot for Beta, though. Betacam became the cassette standard for news-gathering, defeating the VHS-derived Recam. Film studios still use Betacam as well.

Yeah, I don't know what the hell was up with me on that one... I had my head up my ass all day yesterday, I guess, as there were many other things I completely fudged like that when I definitely knew better. Oh well, it was said, and the damage is done. No use in trying to wipe it clean. :p

That being said, it's about time the better format won (or is at least currently winning) out. Now, if only I can find another copy of Star Wars on original, untouched 70mm film...

They both suck. Why can't they all just work together on an EVEN BETTER product...

They both suck. Why can't they all just work together on an EVEN BETTER product...

Why does Blu-Ray suck?

They both suck. Why can't they all just work together on an EVEN BETTER product...

What is particularly wrong with the technology? AT least that can be feasibly overcome in a reasonable amount of time to accommodate the demand for HD programming that is banging on the door right now?

What is particularly wrong with the technology? AT least that can be feasibly overcome in a reasonable amount of time to accommodate the demand for HD programming that is banging on the door right now?

I suspect he/she is hinting at the DRM BS associated with it. Which will require many people to buy a new TV, a new player, or if using a computer, a new video card and a new monitor as well as the new drive. Not to mention orndinary folks being assumed criminals.

I know personally it's going to be a pain in the rear to have to get a new screen when I already have a 22"er.

Although I'm not planning on buying Blu-Ray (which is the correct spelling, btw) for quite some time anyway.

We have a winnar! (http://gizmodo.com/357311/its-official-toshiba-pulling-the-plug-on-hd-dvd) And it's Blu-Ray.


I don't have an HDTV or either of these players. I'm too poor to be an 'early adapter.' I didn't have a horse in this race but I've been interested in it for whatever reason.

One side story on this-for the first time porn has been defeated as a driver of formats. I believe that Blu-Ray had rejected pornography on the HD format which led me to believe that had opened the door for HDTV. But even porn can't stand up to WalMart, it seems...

So, anyone bet on the wrong pony? Feel like gloating or bitching?

If you did and it makes you feel better, I had a laserdisc player...

I am not gloating but we bet on Blu-Ray and Santa came through with one at my house. We love it, maybe now there will be more selections of flicks on blu-ray, it is sweet to watch. :)

I suspect he/she is hinting at the DRM BS associated with it. Which will require many people to buy a new TV, a new player, or if using a computer, a new video card and a new monitor as well as the new drive. Not to mention orndinary folks being assumed criminals.

I know personally it's going to be a pain in the rear to have to get a new screen when I already have a 22"er.

Although I'm not planning on buying Blu-Ray (which is the correct spelling, btw) for quite some time anyway.

I agree that DRM is BS but that is not a problem with the "technology" at least of the storage medium rather other technologies Sony is forcing down our throats

So "getting together and designing a better product" would not really have an impact if the companies designing such decide to integrate other DRM or DRM like restrictions and we could really do such with the existing product if removing all the other crap

Heh...
http://i26.tinypic.com/21jc7pf.gif


Sorry, but this thread wasn't that old...and that was funny to me.