actually internationally more BD stand alones have sold. But if one picks a biased sample like limiting to region or differentiating players one could find an artificial biased metric to make a total BS point.

More importantly how many CIs are insane and dishonest enough to recommend HD DVD stand alone door stops? How many CIs routinely recommend any Toshiba product?



I don't go to theatres because anyone that has one in their home knows that the home experience is way better. I go sporadically when there something that is a must see and then I wait until the crowds die down. But I guess someone that knows nothing about home AV and is just a Xbox fanboy like you would not know such joy

As for DVDs I have an extremely extensive collection (several thousand), but yes the last one I bought was The rocket when it just came to disk, can't remember the disk I bought before that. On the other hand I have over 100 BDs (could even be over 150), I slowed down on DVDs when I first heard of HD movies and stopped on major studios instead of absolute must haves in 2004. I have not found the PQ (nor the AQ) on DVD acceptable for some time now. Why would I spend my money on something that looks like crap when it is obvious that I will be able to buy them on HD soon enough?


Try PIP on the BD version of 300 sometime.

Why, I want to watch a movie. For me what matters is the PQ and AQ now being able to use my player to log on to the site to buy the T-shirt isn’t my idea of a feature. And PiP is even more useless. If I wanted someone talking and blocking the screen while I am trying to enjoy a movie I would start going to the theatre again. Most of the times the obnoxious person in there is more interesting then anything the director (or actors) will rumble about during his commentary.


Easy, right know except for the bribed studios movies are available on BD but not HD DVD by 2010 it will be even more shifted (and most likely HD DVD won’t be supported by any studio). With a BD player you can watch those movies with the HD DVD player you own now you won’t be able to play them.


None of that is even remotely true

There are HD DVDs (and BDs) that use DTS-HD there are BD players that support it and your HD DVD player won’t be able to play it


For once I agree, just try and not cry too much.

I think this is the first time you have replied without calling me a name. You're getting soft.

I do extra features all the time. First I watch the movie. Then I watch it again going thru the extras. But to each his own.

I said DTS-HD MA; as in Master Audio. Name a disc that has it please. Or a player that has it please.
You have me beat on Hi Def movies. I have about 80. Also have 1,000 DVD's. And 800 Laserdiscs. And 60 VHS tapes. I will buy a VHS tape if that is the only way I can get the movie. A lot of the movies I own will probably never be released in HD. So I watch (in your words) "something that looks like crap". Oh well.

Here is the system I watch my crappy movies on:

Pioneer Elite Pro FHD-1
LG LSS-3200A Satellite Box
Pioneer CLD-97 LD Player w/AC-3 mod
Toshiba HD-XA2 DVD player
Monitor S series speakers
Velodyne Mini-Vee
Yamaha DSP-A1 receiver
MX-850 Aeros Remote
Lutron Spacer System/Lighting control
BDI 8527 w/Plasma Bracket

Do you see an X-Box on that list?
Woops. I just realized you called me a fanboy. I take back the first sentence.

well if it fits, why should I lie about it and not say what you are. if you click on view profile and then recent posts you will see for yourself in the past month all you did was pimp HD DVD, lie and try and con people into buying an HD DVD player if you change to 3 months the same thing. Probably coulsd go farthr and the same thing would be shown.


what format?

I'm not trying to talk anyone into buying anything.

This just proves the mentallity of the BR supporter. Retaliate by calling people names. Say what you will, I will be too busy watching Transformers in HD to pay attention to adolescent behavior.

I stand corrected on discs with DTS-HD MA. It appears Fox has released a few movies with it, noteably X-Men. But no player can play it yet:

[Link: ultimateavmag.com]

I might buy a BD player someday. If and when a Profile 2 player is available at a reasonable price. Or perhaps a DF player.
My guess is you wouldn't have an HD-DVD player if it was given to you.

Bookaroni, your effort is admirable, and I agree with much of what you're saying. However, I must inform you that you are beating your head against a stone wall, which will not budge in the face of facts that may impinge on said wall's format of choice.

But I must also point out that the stone wall said only one HD DVD player does 1080p - and only the most expensive. This is incorrect - the HD-A20 and HD-XA2 both do 1080p, with the A20 selling for MSRP $399.00. 1080p/24 output will be added by firmware update in September. And actually, the X-Box 360 Add-on does 1080p over VGA as well.

I know. Perhaps I'm a glutton for punishment.
The fact is a lot of things could happen in the next few years. Both formats could die. To surpass standard DVD sales will take a lot more than either format is doing right now.
Or both formats could become a niche market.
Or one format could fail and one will survive.
Who really knows at this point. Only time will tell.

More on Paramounts decision to go exclusively HD-DVD from Alan Bell, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Paramount Pictures:

[Link: pcworld.com]

Part of the interview goes in to detail on BD-Java:

PCW: From your first-hand experiences, what can you tell us about the difference in programming languages between HD DVD, which uses Microsoft's HDi technology, and Blu-ray, which uses BD-Java?

Bell: BD-Java is a programming language. The benefit is that it's very flexible. The drawback is that you may need 100 lines of BD-Java code. HDi is a relatively compact piece of code; one command can cover quite a bit of interactivity.

BD-Java is also more complex, so the possibility of errors is greater. And when BD players are put out, [there's the question of whether] they all support the scenarios as coded up from the low level. [Some of the early problems with BD-Java discs] were in part due to the complexity that BD-Java brings. From our point of view, HDi offers all of the flexibility we need, in practice, and it does so in a more simplified way and in a way that we feel leads to better compatibility, better reliability, and lower costs.

PCW: Up until now, how have you approached coding your discs for HDi and BD-Java?

Bell: At this particular point in time, we've been able to supply more features with HDi and HD DVD than with BD-Java and Blu-ray Disc. What we have typically done in practice is that we've created the interactive scenarios in HD DVD and then tried to pull them into Blu-ray. But that has not been entirely possible: Some things we can do in HDi are not supported in BD-Java. If you're going to do BD-Java, you need someone who's capable of programming at a low level. With HDi, you don't need somebody with that additional level of training. We don't need programmers to code our discs.

none of it remotely true and none of it into the reason they went HD DVD exclusive wich were illigal bribes. 150M$ to be exact

all of them do, now look harder and you will find more then just Fox and players that support it

For $150,000,000 in my palm (which is what Paramount and Dreamworks have been reported to receive from the HD-HD-DVD-BVD-HD-DVD camp), I would never utter the words "Blue Ray " again.




HD-HD-DVD-BVD-HD-DVD........ doesn't sound as marketable as Blue Ray...... oh well for $150,000,000, I could get over it.

This can not be a serious statement!
I’ve worked with a lot of studios and have seen 17 million dollars dropped on a 4 minute scene. 150 million is a drop in the bucket for these guys, its friggin pocket change. At this point I am laughing hysterically at where this argument has gone. Personally, I like HD-DVD and I have High hopes for BD. I could care less, I just want it settled. Who needs either format when we can just be entertained by the bickering in this thread?

not sure if you meant this for the first part (the 150M$ paid) but that came directly from some executives at Viacom (Paramount’s parent company) that were not too happy that Paramount was conducting illegal activities.

As for 150M$ is chump change, the answer is yes and no. This is pure money in the coffers. How much is Paramount making per HD movie sold? 5$?10$? 15$ can’t be more then that. Even if you assumed 15$ they would need to sell 10M disks. So far BD and HD DVD and free ones put all together don’t even come near that. Do you think in the next few months (18 as reported) Paramont would have sold enough BDs to counter the 150M$?

Anthony, I dont know what to say. This is the first time in a long time that I have tasted my foot. I dont remember it being so salty. I did not do the math nor did I direct my mind to think in the way of a large business executive.

I need a drink!

Name just one player please. Just one!

This article from Home Theater:

[Link: hometheatermag.com]

says:
Transmission of DTS-HD Master Audio in any digital form- either as transcoded PCM or a native bitstream- is not supported in any current Blu-ray or HD DVD player.

So is Home Theater a liar too? Similar to Alan Bell?

Anytime I have seen disks for sale at big retail, the titles are displayed in equal numbers. The display itself is actually split right down the middle with a red and blue side - about fifteen titles available for each format.

My personal third camp, as influenced by my colleagues, is that portable media in general will go by the wayside. Everything will just be downloadable, provided most folks have access to such services. After all, downloading a movie now takes about as long as it takes one of these machines just to power up!

I don't own an iPod. I still buy compact disks, and believe in buying the whole album, taking it in the car, and taking to a friend's party to listen to. So..... I will probably buy the combo player, terrible a piece of equipment as it may be, but it could be the last player I ever have to buy. HD and BluRay could be the last formats ever.

If BluRay is winning, I think it's only because it was included with the PS3 game console and there are just more machines out there. Sony is big on their proprietary electronics marketing. They really try hard. There may not be a real winner on this one, but wow - the picture quality is truly amazing.