So, here's my story.

I decided to wait to see which would win, HD or Blu-Ray.

Then I read the Digital Bits' article on why they think Blu-Ray will prevail.

Then Sony released a firmware upgrade that improved the Blu-Ray capabilities of the PS3 and allowed upscaling for DVD.

http://www.bluraysavings.com/ announced a summer special - buy a Blu-Ray player, get 5 free Blu-Ray discs.

Then Sony dropped the price on the PS3 to $499.

Amazon then announced a special where you buy the PS3 and they'd throw in a Blu-Ray remote and Memento on Blu-Ray disc for free.

I chose to throw in with Blu-Ray and ordered the package from Amazon.

Not jumping in until there's a $5 HD bin at Walmart...

HD DVD exclusively. A1 in the bedroom and A2 in the home theater.

Even though I'm mooching off of two friends systems at the moment, I find it ironic that this year alone, I'm purchasing alot more standard DVD's than say last year.

HD-DVD and would reccomend it to everyone

I'm tempted to get HD-DVD as well because of the price, but because I'm a Blockbuster online member I can rent BRD. After years of cheap DVD's I just am not going to start buying movies sight unseen for $25.

Enjoying both formats and movies in HD!

For what it's worth, I just ordered an A2 HD-DVD.

Looking forward to "Cruising" in HD-DVD!

You can still rent HD DVDs from Blockbuster online. They are just expanding the number of stores that will carry Blu-ray discs but they will still offer HD DVDs online and in the 250 test stores in which they had both formats.

Since its less than a year...

It pretty much went downhill to HD Devotees...

And to this day, there are still those whose own "pride" defend a discontinued format.

Looking back.. I feel sad to those who purchase a frakin A1-A2 HD players (even if its above $100)... in about a couple of months.. their "devoted" investment might fall less than $50..

Regular DVD for me. No one's shown me an improvement anywhere remotely near to, say, the difference from LP to CD quality. Standard DVD is light years ahead of VHS; get me light years ahead of standard DVD, and make darn sure that: 1)the bugs are worked out 110% between all the different player manufacturers BEFORE I even SEE one on the shelf, and 2)ONE FORMAT AGREED UPON BEFORE GOING TO THE MARKETPLACE, by all manufacturers.

For anyone to even consider buying either format before the "new standard" is achieved is foolhardy to say the least, IMHO.

These "new & improved" formats, regardless of what media platform we're talking about here (CD, downloadable audio, DVD video, videogames, etc) are usually just an attempt at a cash grab by the manufacturer(s) involved, unless there is a 100% mutual push for the new format to succeed amongst manufacturers. And even then, be wary. It's your money, and you allow it to line their wallets.

^I agree 110% and thank you for stating an opinion I probably wouldn't have been able to put so civilized.

I disagree completely. The difference is mind blowing. I can barely watch DVD anymore, it just looks like someone smeared petroleum jelly over my screen and I keep wishing I was watching Hi-def.

Blu-ray is the way to go right now and for the next decade. As the dominant home video platform dvd has a limited lifespan. Within three to four years I doubt you'll be able to buy anything at a retail store but a standalone Blu-ray player(though of course they will be fully compatible with dvds also). Reading this thread from the past is very sobering. Many people made the wrong decision in supporting and evangelizing for HD DVD here and I believe similar mistakes are being made right now in the posters supporting the "dvd is good enough" stance.

I bought in to both formats just because that's the type of thing I'd do. My only complaint is that I paid top dollar for a A35 just before I would have been able to get the price matches but hey, they line has to fall somewhere. I like both formats and would have continued to patronize both. I actually prefer HD over BD. Much prefer any Hi-Def over the SD. If I had unlimited income and all my titles were on HD I would gladly upgrade. Since I don't and they're not I won't but I still appreciate the beauty of HD

are you suggesting that audio quality on CD is better than on vinyl? if so, that's your first problem. ;)

i understand your sentiment and it's probably accurate for most consumers, but i will say that on an 80" 1080p front projection system, the difference between DVD and hi-definition is astronomical.

Don't bother feeling sad for me. I made the correct decision to support both and build a great library of HD films instead of spending two years waiting and buying more DVDs I would have to replace later. I'm glad we are down to one format now so things can continue to move forward, but the part of my collection that is in HD DVD still works fine and is still in 1080p so it doesn't need replacing unlike a large number of my DVDs. The format war also made it possible to build a 150 disc collection in Blu-ray and HD DVD while keeping my cost per disc under $8 not to mention a free Sharp Blu-ray player and a nearly free Toshiba A3.

I'm glad for some of you that feel DVD is good enough, but it is not for me. I can see the difference greatly on 99% of the movies I have watched and only wish I could have started buying HD movies before 2006.

Then... you should really feel depressed for me rotfl

Purchased an HD-A1 at launch for $499.
Have over 180 HD-DVD titles and continue to keep adding.
Purchased an A35 player for $149 during a Fry's Clearance Sale and then purchased a second one a few days later.
Purchased a 360 add-on for $50.


oh yeah... I have a PS3 that gets very little action and about 30 or so BD titles.

Your mistake is assuming that everyone bought their player as an "investement". Most of us just want to watch movies.

Do you consider your DVD player an investment? If you expect to sell your used DVD player for more than $50, you will be sadly disappointed.

Yeah, no need to feel sorry for me either as my A1 I bought 2 years ago (just about anyways) is still going fine and I have gotten more than my money's worth. Do I wish HD would have done better in the long run? Sure, but Im happy I went dual format last year and look forward to BD to grow more in the immediate future. Like the few others have said, to me its really hard to settle for SD now and only do so for a very very select few titles (ones I have no choice on).

Supporter of both. Went with the A1 right off the bat and then the BP1000 not long thereafter. Several more HD & BD players later and the Sammy dual format unit and I am an extremely happy camper!

Purchased an HD DVD add-on for the 360 when they first came out. After that, I picked up just a few titles (Batman Begins, Clerks II, JarHead, king Kong , The Corpse Bride and The Good Shepard). I was never that impressed with the quality of it, it lacked a certain sharpness to the picture and the sound was complete crap.

Flash forward about six to eight months later, I picked up a PS3. Since then I've picked up a bunch of titles for it and enjoyed it a ton. Now that HD DVD is dead, I've also been stocking up on cheap titles and purchased an actual stand alone Toshiba HD-A30 1080p HD DVD Player . Can't wait to hook this up to my new TV (should arrive around the same time) and see how the HD DVD's look via HDMI / 1080P.

Also considering picking up the Sammy dual player. Any one have it and if so, how does it perform?

My thoughts:

I have a 1080p 52" LCD, but haven't taken the plunge into HD discs yet. I pulled for HD-DVD to win, was a little disappointed by the result, but I'm now accepting Blu-ray as the clear choice.

A few things are keeping me from buying a Blu-ray player and discs:

- I want a Profile 2.0 player, but I don't want the PS3 to be my BD player, because of the fact that I can't use my universal remote with it. At least not without some stupid work-arounds.

- Disc prices are just way too high. My feeling is that studios now feel pretty comfy in the fact that they can change formats more quickly than in the past, and they have no trouble charging us time & time again for the same films in newer formats. Spending $10 on a new SD DVD is fine by me, but spending $30 on a new Blu-ray disc is tough to swallow.

- I have strange desire to wait until the technology matures a little more before I buy a player.

Just my thoughts....

I still have my A1 that I paid $500 for. I don't feel sad about that at all. It's still a solid dvd upconverting player and better than alot of them on the market. People have different priorities. You feel sad for those who bought HD DVD players. I feel sad for those who buy 15 versions of the same movie.

Legitimate concerns. However, the fact that you own a nice 52" 1080p LCD means you are most definitely ready for BD. Do you want a profile 2.0 player for the interactive features or so you can download updates directly into the player?

There are a few 2.0 players coming to the market this year. Panasonic is releasing the DMP-BD50 in a couple of months. I have their 1.1 model, the BD30 and it has been rock solid. Loading times on it are close to the PS3. Sony is releasing 2 models which will be 2.0 also.

The list prices for BD software is very close to dvd. The problem is the retailers don't discount them as much. But Amazon.com offers the best prices, so you end up only paying $5-$10 more than a new release dvd in most cases. Yeah, you pay alittle more for the BD version, but you are also getting MORE. You're getting lossless audio, which destroys DD 5.1 and you're getting full HD picture, which blows away anything dvd offers. DVD is limited.

If you have the funds and truly love movies, I can't imagine anyone not wanting to see them in the very best audio/video presentation possible. That is Blu-ray.