Hi all.

I didn't really find a thread that focused on how Blu-Ray and/or HD DVD adoption has affected your SD DVD purchasing. I thought that this thread might not only be useful to the members of DVD Talk, but could also be of potential interest to the studios as well.

Now that I have taken the plunge with HD DVD, the decision to purchase a SD DVD has become a lot more complicated for me. The studios are doing there part to make the decision as difficult as possible by avoiding day and date announcements on titles, the most notable example of this is V for Vendetta. Furthermore, these studios almost seem to be going out of their way to make the release dates for their titles a mystery. While I'm not really sure how they think this helps adoption of their product, it is a problem we have to live with in the short term and persuade them to fix for the long term.

Of the four HD DVD titles I own, I also own all four on SD DVD. This makes sense because I'm not buying titles to just look at the pretty pictures, if I want to do that I will rent them, but I bought them because I truly enjoy the films themselves. Of those four SD DVD, three of them I hadn't even gotten around to watching. Now, I realize this is a MP (my problem), but it sort of underscores my point. With so much product out there, where do you draw the line if you've taken the plunge on high definition pre-recorded media?

Until recently, I thought I was safe still buying classics on SD DVD. For example, I recently purchased the John Wayne John Ford Film Collection not really expecting any of those titles to be released in HD DVD anytime soon. Low and behold, yesterday I see an unofficial announcement that The Searchers will be coming to HD DVD. So, perhaps classics are still safe, but only the more obscure ones?

I'm almost to the point where I want to hold off buying any new SD DVD, even if it comes from a studio that doesn't support my chosen format (HD DVD), with the possible exception of SD DVDs that come from the independents (e.g. Anchor Bay Entertainment, Blue Underground, Criterion, etc.)

This is a frustrating situation made tolerable by HD bliss, but I could use some suggestions on how to cope, and I'm sure others could too, if you got them.

Thanks.

The only things I buy on SD DVD anymore are TV shows pretty much. I'm going to get a PS3 eventually and I've got an HD DVD player now, so any title that comes out should eventually be upgraded. Exceptions are absolute personal favorites, such as I'll pickup Poseidon and Pirates of the Carribean 2 on SD DVD and double dip for the upgrade. But I haven't purchases a single new movie release on SD DVD since I got my HD DVD player.

I don't buy anymore SD dvds and havn't for quite some time, but I rent them often at Hollywood Video.

While the prospect of HD releases on the horizon does make me think twice, I haven't completely stopped purchasing SD titles. If a title that I am considering will obviously benefit from HD, and it isn't something that is a "must-have" (such as Pirates DMC), then I will wait. But if it is a must-have title, or I know that having an HD version isn't going to add much to my viewing experience, then I go ahead and buy the SD version.

Another factor in my decision-making process is price. For example, I was recently able to pick up the first four seasons of Smallville for $25 each. Assuming that the eventual HD releases will be selling for at least $50 each for quite some time, I had to decide whether the savings outweigh the lack of HD. In this case, the lack of HD was not significant enough to make me wait.

I buy movies where I know I won't need it in HD...example: Happy Gilmore! The DVD version is JUST FINE!!

SD will pretty much be done with except for a few titles here and there. Those will be MEGA-rare though.

The only thing that I really thinking twice about at this stage is:

1. Double- and triple-dips, etc. Do I really need a *slightly* better version of Grease or Nightmare on Elm St. or Halloween 5 or Apocalypse Now... or can I just wait for the eventual HD-DVD?

2. Major theatrical releases. Once the studios gear up with day-and-date releases, it's going to be tough to rationalize buying things like Slither or Superman Returns or whatever when I know that there's an HD-DVD out there with better quality.


But, the truth is that most of my DVD purchases for the past year or so have been relatively obscure things that I will continue to buy. The War Game/Colloden double-feature ain't hitting high def any time soon. I feel pretty comfortable buying stuff like that. But things on the list above definitely make me pause now, and at the very least wait for amazing bargains.

I don't yet have an HD-DVD player, but I'm 99% certain I will within 8 months or so.

I'll still buy TV shows on DVD, and maybe a catalog title here and there, but I'll probably stick with HD DVD whenever I can.

Just wait for the PS3; HD DVD will be a dead format in a few months' time anyway.

On SD, I'm only buying big releases and just a few super deals.
I'd say I'm still at least 6 months from making the Blu-Ray/HD decision.

To further complicate this issue for me the SD release of Lemony Snicket looked frigging amazing on
my plasma last night while other titles are grainy with poor rendering of dark scenes.

I'm still going to pick up SD releases that I don't see coming to HD-DVD for some time, for example: Clean, Shaven. But anything from the last 5 years I will be hesitant of.

I doubt I will be doing much upgrading. I don't need an HD version of Friday.

I'm done with SD for the most part. I think I've bought 5 since I got my HD-A1 in April. New releases that aren't on HD DVD can be had via Netflix for the time being, and I'm going on a case-by-case basis really for the titles that I'll double-dip on HD DVD. Fortunately, the titles I've gotten so far are titles that I haven't owned yet, which will change when Dazed and Confused and Fear and Loathing come out - these are my first replacements. We'll see if it's worth it.

I don't buy SD DVDs anymore. Even titles I wanted dearly like Double Indemnity is getting a pass from me. I have so many SD DVDs that I haven't watched that it doesn't make sense to buy another SD DVD when I know down the line there will be an HD DVD.

The only exception are TV shows that my fiancee has to have, such as Reno 911! and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Same here...I'm buying TV series on standard, but holding back on any features. But most of my HD purchases haven't been double-dips, since I never owned them on standard DVD. Lethal Weapon, GoodFellas, Apollo 13, Unforgiven, The Fugitive and Million Dollar Baby have been my only double dips of the 40+ titles I own. And in the case of Unforgiven, I had the original version, not the 10th anniversary one, so that one wasn't so bad.

About the only thing I might get in standard that's upcoming (assuming it's not announced for HD-DVD at the same time) is the SUPERMAN releases this fall (including the Donner cut and SUPERMAN RETURNS) and the Blade Runner release that's coming NEXT year (the multi-disc/multi-version one).

I only buy obscure TV shows, (like The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.) and films, (like The American Astronaut), that I know won't be on HD DVD for a loooong time, if ever. I however won't buy any tv show that is broadcast or has masters in HD since they could easily come to HD DVD. I also won't buy any SD DVD from studios that currently don't support HD DVD like $ony. I rather just wait to get them when BD buckles and they start releasing on HD DVD.

I don't buy too many anymore but it is more because of Netflix than the HD format war.

That sums up my thoughts pretty well. I'll continue to buy things that won't be on HD because they weren't shot on film or HD video, but hold off on major movies. If I get an HD-DVD player and decide either to wait on BD or not get into BD at all, I may buy titles on BD-only studios if I just can't wait.

I'll buy titles that I don't think are coming to an HD format for a while if at all. That includes the Disney Platinum titles, because even when they do decide to start releasing them, they're going to stick to that schedule. (My guess is they'll start doing day and date with DVD, no earlier than spring of 2008.)

I will definitely be holding off on buying major studio releases on standard DVD. If the movie is from WB, Universal, or Paramount, then I'll wait (and perhaps rent it). But if it's something obscure from a boutique studio, I won't worry about it at this point. The only exception will probably be The Little Mermaid, since I already sold off my old copy in anticipation of the new edition (which I'm sure will be heavily discounted the first week).

As far as TV shows go, my last TV purchase on DVD was Battlestar Galactica. Since then, it's been announced for HD DVD. So, you never know. It's probably safer to buy older shows that weren't shown in HD.

I've been sticking mainly to TV shows / anime on DVD and HD-DVD / BD haven't even come out here yet .