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The relative stock prices of Sony and Toshiba since the release of HD DVD
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=3m&...n&z=m&q=l&c=SNE |
So the big advantages of BR were supposed to be:
So the initial releases come in at 25GB using MPEG 2 compression vs. 30GB HD-DVDs using VC-1. The realistic gap is really even bigger than 5GB due MPEG2 vs. VC-1 compression being used... And apparently because of the MPEG 2 compression they couldn't find room to port over all the SD-DVD extras. So these discs come in damaged with double dip written all over them. That and price were the big reasons I'm using (and enjoying) HD-DVD right now. When I buy an HD-DVD, I at least feel like it doesn't have double-dip written all over it... plus I can sell my SD-DVD version and recoup some of the cost since the HD-DVD version has all those extra features ported over (so far at least). It seems pretty tenuous for BD to be leaning so heavily on studio support at this point given that their promises to get that support have not panned out (i.e. PS3 delays, BD delays, no DL discs, etc.). Plus the Samsung does 1080p->1080i->1080p inside which destroys the "true HD = 1080p" banner that some have been flying. From alpha.cnet.com: 1080i vs. 1080p was a wash. Much ado has been made of the fact that Blu-ray players can output 1080p resolution while first-generation HD-DVD players, namely the Toshiba HD-A1 and its ilk, can output "only" 1080i. I've said before that it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between 1080i and 1080p sources on a 1080p HDTV, and after the following test, I feel even more confident that 1080p output capability is overrated. Using the same two players hooked up in the manner described above, I put a Memento Blu-ray disc in each and set one to 1080i mode and the other to 1080p. I chose one of the few scenes with a lot of motion--Leonard's final drive back from the vacant lot to the tattoo parlor--where interlaced artifacts from 1080i, such as jagged or moving lines, should be more visible. Bouncing back and forth between the 1080i and 1080p versions, I could see no differences whatsoever. From the white lines dividing the street to the buildings and the parked cars alongside the road flashing by, to close-ups of Leonard and his wife (Jorja Fox), the two looked identical. I can imagine material that might show more of a difference, such as sporting events with lots of camera movement, but it wasn't there in the scene I watched. |
Originally Posted by awmurray
So the big advantages of BR were supposed to be:
So the initial releases come in at 25GB using MPEG 2 compression vs. 30GB HD-DVDs using VC-1. The realistic gap is really even bigger than 5GB due MPEG2 vs. VC-1 compression being used... And apparently because of the MPEG 2 compression they couldn't find room to port over all the SD-DVD extras. So these discs come in damaged with double dip written all over them. That and price were the big reasons I'm using (and enjoying) HD-DVD right now. When I buy an HD-DVD, I at least feel like it doesn't have double-dip written all over it... plus I can sell my SD-DVD version and recoup some of the cost since the HD-DVD version has all those extra features ported over (so far at least). It seems pretty tenuous for BD to be leaning so heavily on studio support at this point given that their promises to get that support have not panned out (i.e. PS3 delays, BD delays, no DL discs, etc.). Plus the Samsung does 1080p->1080i->1080p inside which destroys the "true HD = 1080p" banner that some have been flying. From alpha.cnet.com: |
In defense of 1080p its worth noting that the Samsung player is cheating. It is really converting the 1080p/24 to 1080i/60 and then converting it to 1080p/60 for output. So really it has zero advantage over the Toshiba. The playback of the Sony may be better if it converts straight to 1080p/60.
The Samsung player is a complete joke and I feel really bad for anyone dropping a grand on the thing. Be patient and wait for the Sony player which should have true 1080p playback which still may not look any better than 1080i now that I think about it. :lol: |
Originally Posted by darkside
The Samsung player is a complete joke and I feel really bad for anyone dropping a grand on the thing. Be patient and wait for the Sony player which should have true 1080p playback which still may not look any better than 1080i now that I think about it. :lol:
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Where did you hear that the picture sucks? I just read a review of the Terminator BD disc saying that it is jaw-dropping.
http://www.upcomingdiscs.com/dvd_rev...pe=date_posted Blu-Ray has finally arrived after numerous delays on Sony’s part. With the recent purchase of MGM by Sony, Sony has decided to release the 1984 classic The Terminator as one of their leading Blu-Ray titles. After watching the film, one can clearly understand why this is so. The Special Edition release of this film had a few areas of noticeable grain and some issues with colors. I’m happy to report that the Blu-Ray release is jaw-dropping. Colors are accurate, so accurate that I sometimes wondered if I was watching a brand new release and not a film that is 22 years old. A majority of the grain has been cleared away giving the film’s setting and theme a more horrifying and terrifying feel as the Terminator chases Sarah and Reese. The 1:85:1 Aspect Ratio brings new life to an old classic as former scenes that looked gritty and dirty (the TechNoir and the final factory setting) look completely new and fresh. Flesh tones are spot on giving new meaning to how scary this machine really easy. For a visual feast, at least in my own eyes, look to the scene where the Terminator is repairing himself after his run in with Sarah and Reese. Talk about crystal clarity on his endoskeleton. Ladies and Gentlemen, Blu-Ray has arrived and it’s off to a fine, albeit delayed, start. |
Originally Posted by Suprmallet
Where did you hear that the picture sucks? I just read a review of the Terminator BD disc saying that it is jaw-dropping.
http://www.upcomingdiscs.com/dvd_rev...pe=date_posted |
so...where are the rumors coming from that one of the major studios is going to announce their HD DVD support soon? The people on AVS keep talking about it. Is it all bullshit?
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Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
so...where are the rumors coming from that one of the major studios is going to announce their HD DVD support soon?
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Wasn't most of MGM's catalogue bought by Sony? So this would only be for recent MGM films, right?
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Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
The rumor buzzing around is that it's MGM.
When I think of MGM, all I think about are my $7 DVD's. Being someone who never got into Bond, that studio does nothing for me. |
Originally Posted by Suprmallet
Wasn't most of MGM's catalogue bought by Sony?
Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
When I think of MGM, all I think about are my $7 DVD's. Being someone who never got into Bond, that studio does nothing for me.
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HD DVD versions of Bond would be very tempting for a double dip. I really wish we could get support across the board for both formats. If Fox would switch over and support HD DVD it would eliminate my need for Blu-ray all together. Nothing Sony owns is worth a player purchase for me.
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Originally Posted by darkside
HD DVD versions of Bond would be very tempting for a double dip. I really wish we could get support across the board for both formats. If Fox would switch over and support HD DVD it would eliminate my need for Blu-ray all together. Nothing Sony owns is worth a player purchase for me.
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I agree that Fox is clearly the ace in the hole for Sony.
After reading reviews of the Samsung, I went ahead and ordered the Tosh along with a stack of HDD movies from DDD. I figure that I can go ahead and get my BD stuff when the PS3 comes out in November. |
Originally Posted by wewantflair
I agree that Fox is clearly the ace in the hole for Sony.
After reading reviews of the Samsung, I went ahead and ordered the Tosh along with a stack of HDD movies from DDD. I figure that I can go ahead and get my BD stuff when the PS3 comes out in November. |
Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
The rumor buzzing around is that it's MGM.
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There are plenty of MGM titles I'd like to have on HD DVD. Silence of the Lambs immediately comes to mind.
I'm still wondering where the hell Paramount is. Do they even care? I know their original titles are supposedly back on schedule, but I haven't read anything about that. Nothing on their site. And from what I've read on here a couple months ago, New Line isn't going to release any HD DVD product until near the holiday season. If the MGM rumor turns out to be true, that would give HD DVD 5 studios of support (4 if you equate WB and NL), which is pretty good. We just need Fox. :( I can easily live without Sony and Disney titles. |
Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
You definitely should have done Amazon. DDD's prices suck. Plus amazon still has the 10% off deal.
1 WBD080931 HDD : FULL METAL JACKET $ 18.62 In-stock 1 WBD080932 HDD : GOODFELLAS $ 18.62 Backorder 1 WBD080934 HDD : THE LAST SAMURAI $ 18.62 Backorder 1 WBD080937 HDD : MILLION DOLLAR BABY $ 18.62 In-stock 1 WBD080945 HDD : TRAINING DAY $ 21.11 In-stock 1 WBD080948 HDD : UNFORGIVEN $ 18.62 Backorder I don't think a single item on this list is cheaper at Amazon, plus I get 3 months w/ no payments @ DDD (not that this makes much of a difference). That said, I'll probably hit up amazon for new releases as they come out. |
Originally Posted by wewantflair
1 TOS000001 TOSHIBA HD-A1 HD-DVD PLAYER $ 481.38 Pre-order
1 WBD080931 HDD : FULL METAL JACKET $ 18.62 In-stock 1 WBD080932 HDD : GOODFELLAS $ 18.62 Backorder 1 WBD080934 HDD : THE LAST SAMURAI $ 18.62 Backorder 1 WBD080937 HDD : MILLION DOLLAR BABY $ 18.62 In-stock 1 WBD080945 HDD : TRAINING DAY $ 21.11 In-stock 1 WBD080948 HDD : UNFORGIVEN $ 18.62 Backorder I don't think a single item on this list is cheaper at Amazon, plus I get 3 months w/ no payments @ DDD (not that this makes much of a difference). That said, I'll probably hit up amazon for new releases as they come out. Either way, I hope you're happy with what you get. Make sure you let us all know what you think: the good and the bad. |
Originally Posted by Paul_SD
It would be great if it were MGM for the Bond films, and I would probably be even more happy with Fox ('cause they already 'get' what matters with standard def dvd)- but I believe the rumour is going to turn out to be Disney.
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In March '06, CEO Bob Iger said "We probably will publish in both formats." Between late '04 and then, Disney never said that it would support HD DVD but didn't rule it out either.
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Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
Disney has (apparently) always supported HD DVD. There's an article floating around where they said they'd support both.
this could be wrong- there are many things going on now behind the scenes that are not being reported and the people that are in the know are under NDAs. I would prefer MGM or Fox myself, but Disney support would be a big positive for the format- no question. as to Paramount, I believe the reson here is the same reason we are seeing a slowdown in HD DVD releases in general- Toshiba can't supply anymore players at the moment. Supplies of the intel chip they were using are now exhausted and it is no longer in production, so they are trying to find another alternative and will need to re-jigger things a bit for this 1.5 version of the player- which will also have to be QC'd and tested before it ships. Supplies of the Tosh are going to be very sparse for the next month. I think the initial popularity of the player caught them a little off guard. |
Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc
Ugh. Zero interest.
When I think of MGM, all I think about are my $7 DVD's. Being someone who never got into Bond, that studio does nothing for me. Also MGM has many great foreign films I'd love to have in HD... titles such as:Jean de Florette, Manon of the Spring, Babettes Feast, Fellini's Roma, Fellini's Satyricon, Cyrano de Bergerac, Small Change, etc. Although I'm not sure the studio's would release foreign films in HD since the market is much smaller. One can hope I guess. |
Originally Posted by Coral
There's definitely a few Woody Allen films I'd pick up.
Also MGM has many great foreign films I'd love to have in HD... titles such as:Jean de Florette, Manon of the Spring, Babettes Feast, Fellini's Roma, Fellini's Satyricon, Cyrano de Bergerac, Small Change, etc. Although I'm not sure the studio's would release foreign films in HD since the market is much smaller. One can hope I guess. and given the price of the players (and the format war), adoption is not likely to be all that fast which means costs won't be coming down all that soon. This is one reason you are going to see more cult and indy labels release on HD DVD first (and only?). |
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