Is HD-DVD done?

[Schlitz001]

Aritcle

 

I've owned an HD-DVD player for a while now and been a big supporter of the format, but I think Warner Brother's agreement to go exclusively Blu-Ray will cripple HD-DVD's chances at hanging in the format wars. On one hand I'm pissed that the format I was supporting will in all likelyhood "lose", but on the plus side I should be able to get cheap HD-DVDs in the near future and having a single format is what we all wanted in the end.

 

I'm still going to wait at least a year to jump on the Blu-Ray train.

[Katuluu]

It's going to be a long time before one eventual format wins out. Heck, their is a third format that is supposed to be released this year, and its big selling point is that it allows you to play CD's and regular DVD's in the same player, where as HD-DVD and Blu-ray can not.

[thebruce44]

its big selling point is that it allows you to play CD's and regular DVD's in the same player, where as HD-DVD and Blu-ray can not.

 

I may be missing something here, but I can play CDs and DVDs on my blu-ray player.

 

I think it may be a while before HD DVD actually looses (in that it becomes a dead format) but I wouldn't be too surprised if HD DVD exclusives (Transformers, The Kingdom )end up on Blu-ray soon.

[valpocrewsader]

its big selling point is that it allows you to play CD's and regular DVD's in the same player, where as HD-DVD and Blu-ray can not.

 

I may be missing something here, but I can play CDs and DVDs on my blu-ray player.

 

Yeah, I don't think that first statement can be right. Look at a PS3, it plays Blu-ray discs and regular DVD. I always thought other Blue-ray and HD-DVD players could, too.

[logan82]

Doesn't Sony own part of some of the studios?

[Schlitz001]

Doesn't Sony own part of some of the studios?

 

Essentially once Warner and New Line go Blu-Ray exclusive in May '08, HD-DVD will only have the support of Paramount and Universal versus Blu-Ray and Warner, New Line, Sony, Buena Vista, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate and MGM. HD-DVD releases will only account for about 25% of all major motion picture DVD releases, coming down from about 40-45% with the support of Warner and New Line. I can't see it taking long.

 

I can play CDs and DVDs on my blu-ray player.

 

All Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players are backward compatible to DVD and most are for CDs.

[aracko]

My BETA VCR still works just fine.

[sgtcluels]

It'll be awhile. MS is pushing hard for HD-DVD as they want their codec to be the standard. It might come down to who's willing to take the biggest loses. I'd expect a huge price slashing war soon.

[Katuluu]

The new format is called VMD and uses less expensive red laser technology, which allows it to be compatible with all DVD's and CD's. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are blue laser technology, and not compatible with either unless they are formatted to do so, which is costly. Thus the big selling point for VMD is that since it is immediately compatible, it has a much lower cost. Their are rumors swirling it will cost less then $100 for a player. Problem is it doesn't have any financial backing from any Hollywood studios, and since it doesn't incorporate DRM copyright technology it never will. But for cinephiles like myself it's probably the only HD format that will support much of the harder to find Asian cinema as it is far too expensive for Blu-ray or HD DVD to put those titles out.

[Diskono]

I'd be shocked to see anything invented by Sony to win any sort of format war.

[endaround]

And if they do, I just don't see it lasting long. Sony tends to overprice its media. As long ast Blu-Rays are 2-5 times as costly as DVDs, they be an afterthought. And while the extra storage space is great for data thats about it. As HD prices continue to plummet, I just don't see a huge market developing over digital transfers.

[SmartBall]

My roomie is a huge tech guy, some might call him a "geek" and he mentioned to me that a new version of the 360 is going to come out with a HD-DVD player included. That would probably give blu-ray a run for its money as they gained quite a bit from being included in the PS3.

[rluzinski]

Your friend needs to learn the difference between a rumor and fact. MS has already shot down that rumor and I'd bet a pile of cash that they will never include any high def optical format internally. They'd rather you download HD movies through live.

[Tailgat0r76]

Microsoft may have shot down that rumor; but since when is a company shooting down rumors a sign that something won't happen? Much like a GM in baseball stating that they're not interested in trading someone.

 

I didn't see much to that rumor either, but the rumor keeps arising, and with different supposed sources each time. I don't know if it'll happen (especially now with WB's decision) but I wouldn't put it outside the realm of possibility.

 

 

As far as Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD; you can pretty much consider the battle over. I have an HD-DVD player and have been a supporter all the way through. I have around 50 movies and don't want to admit it, but Blu-Ray has won. Warner Brothers (along with New Line Cinema's and HBO) decision to go Blu all but finishes it. I can't believe it; but a sony format has actually won. I was one of the people that wanted minidisc to win prevail over HDD mp3 players, but of course Sony screwed that up. Beta, UMD, even the memory stick can be considered a failure. I guess I'll be looking into either a 1.1 profile blu-ray player or a BD-live player in the future.

[pitchleague]

not to mention that "Blu-Ray" is MUCH more cooler sounding than "HD-DVD"

 

I won't convert my library. I refuse after investing so much dough into it already. I think they look fine and dandy on my television.

 

When I get a large plasma HDTV, then I will look into hi-def movies, but this is still several years away for me.

[Hammer]

I just bought the Toshiba HD-A3 HDDVD player and this bums me out. I really hope this format doesn't die...

[Schlitz001]

There was definitely a rumor going around that Microsoft was teaming up with Toshiba to develop an Xbox 360 with an HD-DVD drive. It would have made a lot of sense until just recently. It was something that Microsoft had to deny. Look at how many stand alone HD-DVD players they have out on the market to sell. If a company announces that an upgraded version of a product is coming out, demand for the current version is going to drop. That said, it would be a stupid move for MS to release a built in HD-DVD Xbox 360, with the lack of studio support and inflated production costs, but who knows.

 

I just bought the Toshiba HD-A3 HDDVD player and this bums me out. I really hope this format doesn't die...

 

That's the risk of buying HD-DVD in the middle of a format war, but I really wouldn't be worried. There are still a ton of great movies out there for HD-DVD and still a bunch more that will get released. Paramount and Universal are still in contract to turn out HD-DVDs and not Blu-Ray. Paramount for the next 18 months (although details of the contract are unknown).

 

HD-DVD doesn't simply cease to exist because Warner decided to support Bluray. I think the format is still better and I'll keep renting HD-DVDs as long as the one place in town that I can get them continues to rent them to me.

[Fatter than Joey]

The other big factor is the porn industry -- Sony has not allowed the porn industry to use Blu-ray. They did the same thing way back when with Betamax -- Porn could use VHS and VHS won out. I suspect that the porn industry is not going to go away, and HD-DVD will exist if the porn people are unable to use Blu-Ray.

[bjkrautk]

The other big factor is the porn industry -- Sony has not allowed the porn industry to use Blu-ray. They did the same thing way back when with Betamax -- Porn could use VHS and VHS won out. I suspect that the porn industry is not going to go away, and HD-DVD will exist if the porn people are unable to use Blu-Ray.

I used to buy into that line of thinking....but there are two big problems with it:

1) 1080p is much better than 480i at pointing out someone's imperfections (besides the one which involves working on camera in a particular industry)

2) The Internet.

[jwill535]

not to turn this into a porn thread, but porn movie sales is a 2-3 billion dollar a year buisness.

 

Here is an article that reaffirms what was said above.

 

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070112-8602.html

[sgtcluels]

I think we all know what's in FTJs massive DVD collection!

[jwill535]

only thing left now is hearing "finsh him!" and HD-DVD getting its head ripped off.

 

Paramount now going to Blu-ray

[sgtcluels]

Rumors jwill.

[Schlitz001]

The porn industry has no bias one way or the other this time around. Movie studios like Digital Playground and the Girls Gone Wild logo have been releasing both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

 

Paramount may be a rumor, but Warner Bros. was also a rumor. For Paramount it's not a matter of if, but when.

[Fatter than Joey]

The porn industry has no bias one way or the other this time around.

 

Sony will not let the porn industry produce Blu-ray DVDs. I don't think Digital Playground or GGW qualifies as porn.