Blu Ray AND HD-DVD

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swiftideas

34 posts

Geek

#10453 23-Nov-2006 10:16

Hi

Anyone know of any universal players for high def formats?
I know that there are disputes over licencing etc but just wondering if anyone has or is planning to release a hybrid?

Chur

Shin

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#53353 23-Nov-2006 11:08

There is non available currently.

But there was news that lab succeeded run both format on a player with developing universal chip set.

Frankei

66 posts

Master Geek

#53369 23-Nov-2006 13:32

So far many have tried and failed

But why would you want HD DVDs BluRay is so much better as a technology

swiftideas

34 posts

Geek

#53381 23-Nov-2006 15:31

Is it though? It's all about who wins the war at the end of the day isn't it?
I know Blu Ray has been touted as the big boy but does that mean that HD-DVD will fall off?

Blu Ray is more costly to manufacture for instance.
Blu Ray is more fragile and has had production issues. (Reason for PS3 backdates etc)
HD-DVD already has more software and is already is 2nd Gen production.
Blu-Ray was supposed to "win" due to higher capacity but NEC has developed a triple layer disc for HD-DVD.

Now don't get me wrong, I favour Blu-Ray on the whole but they are both well backed and either could win really and I don't want a DVD doorstop.

(I did hear that Ricoh are apparently releasing a HD universal player but that's like buying a games console from Xerox.)

Frankei

66 posts

Master Geek

#53398 23-Nov-2006 18:51

Awesome a triple layer HD-DVD so at 15GB per layer thats a mind blowing 45GB; which by the way was done by Toshiba
Where as BluRay is 25GB per layer and dual layer disks are 50GB

Really its not about how many layers you have; but the total capacity per layer

Sony backing BluRay; probably single biggest player in the movie industry, combined with Panasonic = win

Sure HD DVD maybe be 2nd Gen now and more movies for it (because its been out longer) and its easier to make... But that doesn't make it superior... Just means its easier and cheaper to make; and its been out a bit longer.

bradstewart

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#53401 23-Nov-2006 19:01

Microsoft are heavily backing HD-DVD so there will be no clear winner for quite a while.

When I read the first reviews of HD DVD vs Blu Rray, HD DVD was the winner in quality. In the end it will come down to price and quality.

Highest capacity doesn't always mean best quality.

Frankei

66 posts

Master Geek

#53405 23-Nov-2006 19:39

That would come down to the transfer from film to disk rather than the disk itself
But in reality higher capacity = better quality; unless they skimp or rush..

Funny how you don't see Microsoft making music or movies...

I would say that BluRay will come out on top for movie buffs and the like
HD DVD would be a go for storage media; games, software etc etc due to lower cost

At the end of the day big players and backing both formats; but in the end I think thats what it will come down to

Just adding to that: Personally I'm waiting for the Sony BluRay player; having seen the latest prototype in the works and having a play with it Tuesday night... Although still obviously buggy being a preproduction model; faster than the Panasonic BluRay player and a lot sexier
Twas a shame that SCEE pulled the plug on letting us molest the PS3 at the last minute too :(

Shin

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#53440 23-Nov-2006 22:45

As long as they're both based on 12cm disc, there will be universal player within 2 years.

Electronic makers already developing universal players because consumer won't buy until whether there will be clear winner or universal player is available.

Blu Ray is may be better in overall, but don't forget BetaMax was far better than VHS which also backed by Sony but failed.

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swiftideas

34 posts

Geek

#53461 24-Nov-2006 08:45

Frankei - any ideas on price or release dates for the Sony Blu Ray player?

Funny how someone mentioned Betamax.. all this talk of movies but what about pr0n... what will the pr0n industry go with?

davidcole

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#53464 24-Nov-2006 09:36

Has anyone actually seen any HD-DVD players over here?? I've seen the Pioneer blue ray, which normally has a pretty big display, but if the HD-DVD's are here, they snuck in pretty quietly...

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lchiu7

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#53465 24-Nov-2006 10:02

On a similar vein, has anybody seen the HD DVD addon for the Xbox360? That would be probably the lowest cost way to get into HD DVD. I have seen reports that folks have been able to get to work on a regular PC and play HD DVD but there are some technical considerations like

1. Needing a video card that supports HDCP
2. Needing a fairly grunty PC
3. Needing a copy of WinDVD8 that can play HDDVD

I wouldn't mind going this way since my PVR could also then be my HD DVD player

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Shin

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#53466 24-Nov-2006 10:10

swiftideas: Frankei - any ideas on price or release dates for the Sony Blu Ray player?

Sony announced release of PS3 on March 2006 about $1300.

Pretty good price for blu-ray player + sa-cd player + hdmi 1.3 + may be some gaming as well

bradstewart

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#53476 24-Nov-2006 11:42

lchiu7: On a similar vein, has anybody seen the HD DVD addon for the Xbox360? That would be probably the lowest cost way to get into HD DVD. I have seen reports that folks have been able to get to work on a regular PC and play HD DVD but there are some technical considerations like

1. Needing a video card that supports HDCP
2. Needing a fairly grunty PC
3. Needing a copy of WinDVD8 that can play HDDVD

I wouldn't mind going this way since my PVR could also then be my HD DVD player

Vista even has the drivers for the drive... Just plug it in and you're sorted. This what I'll be doing to get HD DVD, probably the cheapest way to get HD.

lchiu7

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#53495 24-Nov-2006 13:46

Looks like XP is okay also. See

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=325&type=expert&pid=3

or here

http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2006/11/8303/

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

Frankei

66 posts

Master Geek

#53533 24-Nov-2006 17:00

I have no idea when the Sony BluRay will be released to be honest with you

But if for PS3 its listed on their site as $1,199 for the 60Gb due March 2007

BetaMax had by far a superior picture quality but lacked the playing time that VHS had... Which is why most people chose to use VHS over BetaMax

But now in the digital era picture quality is no longer limited by the media but the capacity which is where BluRay is a winner

lchiu7

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#54328 30-Nov-2006 17:45

The Sony shop in Wellington has the Sony BluRay player but it's a demo only. It was connected to a Sony LCD RP (1080i). He showed me the US release Fifth Element and I could see why everybody complained about this title. THe quality wasn't much better than an upscaled DVD. But he also showed me the trailer for Underworld Evolution on the same disc and the quality of that was superb.

Since it's not released yet he could not give me a price but hinted it would be competitive with the Panasonic. But then he said, it would be better to get the PS3 at $1100 when it comes out. From what I have read about the PS3 BluRay playback (which is mainly very positive), that might be the best option for us here. The main question will be, will the local PS3 here adhere to the Zoning restrictions for BluRay and so we cannot import titles from the US to view

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.