Blu-Ray VS HD-DVD

[SiliconJon]

I'm throwing in the towel for Blu-Ray and calling HD-DVD the winner...but I never bet anything of monetary value, so it will just have to be the color of my face that's on the line. With Microsoft and the Porn Industry backing HD-DVD, I don't see how BluRay stands a chance. That's my bet...

[carl33p]

Simply the name "HD-DVD" has a huge advantage over "Blu-ray".
Which would the layman buy instinctively with their HDTV.

Although, there are 2 Blu-ray disks in my household, and 0 HD-DVDs.

[Tekk]

Well I recently had this discussion with my Pops who was all excited about his home entertainment purchases. He bought a 73" (ridiculous I know) Mitsubishi DLP tv along with a new Blu-Ray player. I laughed and told him I didn't think Blu-Ray would win the war. He figured I'd say that but the Ken Kranes entertainment folks were ADAMANT that Blu-Ray was the clear winner and thus sold him that player. Thinking back now Im sure they did that because the Blu-Ray was more expensive

In any case, I agree that the simple name of "HD-DVD" gives it an advantage along with its cheaper production costs. Of course just like the beta vs VHS war back in the day, it all comes down to the Porn industry. I've read a few articles that the bigger studios in that industry are supporting HD-DVD (albeit unofficially...these were interviews with folks at the various booths during the Porn convention in Vegas) mainly due to the cheaper costs of production.

Most hardcore techy articles I've looked at seem to say that technologically Blu-Ray does have more potential because it can hold more data (dual layer capabilities can hold upwards of 60GB or something ridiculous) but doing side by side comparisons with HD and Blu-Ray discs of today, its hard to tell the difference.

My vote goes for HD.

[Ebisoba]

Blu-ray sales are dominating right now. see below

Business Wire
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5364243
Casino Royale BD Marks First High-Definition Title to Ship 100,000 Units -- Confirms Blu-ray Market Leadership
- 100% of SPHE's Newly Announced BD Titles Utilize Capacity Advantage of 50GB Discs - Business Editors/Entertainment Editors MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2007--Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE)'s blockbuster Bond title, Casino Royale, released March 13 on Blu-ray Disc, has hit the 100,000 units shipped mark and is setting records at retail for greatest number of high-definition copies sold in one day, it was announced today by SPHE Worldwide President, David Bishop. The title debuted in the top 10 on Amazon's DVD top-sellers list - a first for any film in high definition. The film's director, Martin Campbell, extolled the disc quality and commented, "It's just unbelievable. Clearly, it's fantastic. The comparison between standard def DVD and Blu-ray is quite stunning and quite transparent to the master. It's precisely what would make me want to buy a copy."

Since the November launch of Playstation 3, sales of Blu-ray titles have risen exponentially - a more than 700 percent increase. "As a point of comparison, the first DVD title to ship 100,000 units took approximately 11 months (Air Force One, in February 1998)," said Mr. Bishop. "Casino Royale on Blu-ray has done it in far less time and is clearly demonstrating the format's robust growth in the marketplace." Sony DADC has replicated more than two million Blu-ray Discs for Sony Pictures since the launch of the format.

SPHE's Blu-ray Disc offering at retail has expanded with new release titles such as The Holiday (March 13), Rocky Balboa (March 20), The Pursuit of Happyness (March 27), Volver (April 3), Catch and Release (May 8) and Stomp the Yard (May 15) hitting shelves across the next two months. One hundred percent of the new release and catalog titles just announced from SPHE, detailed below, fully utilize the capacity advantage the Blu-ray format's 50GB dual-layer disc offers, with more than 20 50GB titles already in the marketplace.

"Blu-ray has accounted for approximately 70 percent of the high-definition market since the first week in January, and as that market share continues to grow, we are dedicated to providing consumers with the content they crave," added Mr. Bishop.

SPHE's Blu-ray releases will continue to utilize MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC codecs, uncompressed audio and feature high-definition added-value content.

"We are wholly committed to bringing consumers the best picture and sound quality available, with the most innovative format features, and will continue to expand our high-definition slate in 2007 and beyond," said Mr. Bishop.

SPHE has also announced a broad selection of catalog titles including: Big Fish (March 20), Identity (April 3), Donnie Brasco (May 8) and Closer (May 22). Other catalog titles scheduled for upcoming release are Warriors of Heaven and Earth (March 27), Secret Window (April 24) and Revenge (May 8). Please refer below for more details on SPHE's new release and catalog Blu-ray Disc line-up.

[Tekk]

I'd be interested to know how many of those people own PS3's.

[SiliconJon]

We're certainly still in the heat of the battle...but I can't bet against Microsoft AND porn.

[Tekk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiliconJon

We're certainly still in the heat of the battle...but I can't bet against Microsoft AND porn.

Yup...acording to a few articles I just searched through on CNet many people seem to think the battle will wage for quite a while (years). IMO...thats annoying. I guess the competition is great for innovation...sort of. Its also great for ridiculous marketing campaigns and a bunch of false advertising about competing products causing the consumer to be misinformed.

[Rootstonian]

Chiming in for the old timers here....another round of "Betamax vs. VHS".

IMHO, Sony (Betamax, BlueRay) lost the first battle, but will win the second.

And you know how you do it? Flood the market with Blue Ray players.

[vass0922]

I've also read an article (no idea where) that debunked the porn industry myth with regards to its attention to Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD..

I own a PS3 and have bought quite a few Blu-Rays

Definately a great picture!

Another nice feature of Blu-Ray (at least over standard dvd, assuming hd-dvd has a similar feature) is the ability for in-line menu options while the movie is still playing.

Hit the Pop-Up Menu button and you can turn off things like commentary, subtitles etc... and the movie never has to stop.. its a popup menu (themed to the movie of course much like the Top level menu) shown down in the corner.

[Shabow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tekk

Yup...acording to a few articles I just searched through on CNet many people seem to think the battle will wage for quite a while (years). IMO...thats annoying. I guess the competition is great for innovation...sort of. Its also great for ridiculous marketing campaigns and a bunch of false advertising about competing products causing the consumer to be misinformed.

I think the reason for that is the fact that the HD standard is going to be out for a while...you really can't go any high in resolution or you just run into problems (motion sickness, etc) and the only real upgrade to it would be if they created holographic displays or something

That is why Cnet is probably calling for such a long drawn out battle...there is so much money on they line...

I sorta think both media will coexist for a while and potentially could see some low cost dual format players flooding the market in the next couple of years...however I think in the long run one of the formats are going to die out and give into the other due to porn, storage standards, and studio exclusivity (which is in the favor of HD DVD)

The only thing that is keeping blu-ray afloat is the fact that a player is bundled with the PS3, but I think the novelty of this will slowly diminish as you see more HD dvd drives flooding the market place...its really too bad that the boys at M$ didn't replace the DVD drive on the xbox elite with a HDDVD drive....but oh well probably that was due to the cost competition with sony

Like you guys said up at the top...ask a normal consumer what blu-ray is and they'll probably give you a wierd look, but as what HDDVD is and they'll have an idea of what it is...and I found that in the beginning and I know a little about technology