And I dare you to post ONE...because I've read nor posted ANY that display the pompous bullshit that I've read from the other side.

And I welcome ANYONE to dispute or discuss an article that I post here for any reason they feel fit.

That's why it's called a FORUM.

Whether people are prepared to accept it or not, the DVD/HD DVD combo discs will wind up being a huge factor in this format war. The moment that production levels and expenses reach the point that a studio like Universal can start exclusively releasing combo discs without separate DVD-only editions at a price point that average DVD buyers are comfortable with, the war is going to tilt heavily in HD DVD's favor. This will be HD DVD's "Trojan horse", much as the PS3 is meant to be for Blu-ray.

Suddenly, millions of consumers will have HD DVD discs in their hands. The ones who own HDTVs are going to jones for the ability to watch the HD side of the discs, and with HD DVD players also reasonably priced we'll see hardware sales shoot upwards. At some pont after that, hardware manufacturers can phase out their standard DVD players in favor of HD DVD units that are already backwards compatible with existing DVD discs, and eventually even the need to continue supporting the DVD side of combo discs will fade away. It will take years, no doubt, but in this scenario HD DVD could very well take over as the de facto video standard.

And if you think they're all bullshit and don't agree with any of them, then it's wonderful to know that you've finally publically displayed your bias.

You have it. At least be a man and admit it.

Everyone has a "bias" when it comes to certain issues. I can respect that if it's presented in a respectable and reasonable manner. I don't believe I've ever displayed a bias that was unreasonable. I can pick on HD DVD just as easily as I can BD.

I'm posting over since you edited your post while I was responding.

This thread (original article) is no different than just about every thread that you start where you quote an opinion that is pro HD DVD. To you, any piece that shows HD DVD in good light looks like a factual article while any piece that is pro BD looks like bullshit. Why is that?

This "news" and most of the "news" that you posted are no different, except to a handful of HD DVD guys who take personal offense at any news that puts HD DVD in a bad light.

I've been clear from the very beginning: I hate Sony. I own an HD DVD player and I own several HD DVDs. I'm 100% HD DVD guy. But I try not to let that affect my objectivity.

Please do not tell me what *I* think. You're not in my head.

If that's your interpretation, then state that. But that's not what I'm posting.

I never say something is fact unless it IS fact. Otherwise, it's all editorial and i put it out there to spark discussion. When you get down to it, there have been VERY FEW concrete facts about this war put out there from either side. There's MUCH more going on behind the scenes than we will ever be aware of. And that I think i can state as FACT.

You post a myriad of pro HD DVD opinion pieces with very little criticism. You pounce on just about every pro BD opinion pieces. How else should we interprete your posts?

I feel like the Dixie Chicks. Too often, I feel ashamed to be a supporter of HD DVD because of the behaviors of so many of the HD DVD supporters (which is generally on par with the behavior of Sony). The main reason you don't see me going all gung ho about HD DVD is because I don't want to be clumped with that group.

You feel like you won a Grammy for album of the year?

Funny, that's how I look at BD. But the difference is that I don't see ANYONE here blindly supporting HD DVD and excusing it's faults. I will readily list you EVER fault it has...and how badly it's fucked up since December.

And don't compare me to a Bush supporter...EVER.

This thread needed that.

As far as Namja's comment, I felt the same way about Blu-ray. I liked the direction it was finally going, but the supporters were so damn irritating that I really didn't want to be associated with them by supporting the format. Thankfully those guys are gone from the forum.

BTW, Josh really nailed a good point on combos. These things would be brilliant ideas if they were the standard release format for all HD DVDs and if they could be priced at $19.99 on Amazon and at Target and Wal-mart.

I've lent out a few movies recently because I have the combo and people will ask about the HD DVD version and why its better. It would be the perfect way to transition people into HD DVD if they could get the price down.

Since you called me out by name, I will address this.

The above is inconsistent with my actual position. Take a look at my sig - I support BOTH formats. I have stated NUMEROUS times that I support all next gen formats. Not only that, I've also stated that I've been more impressed with BD lately and my recent purchases have been all BDs.

What I do not support are BD supporters like Bill at TDB who make arguments based on conjecture and unverifiable and unsupportable data. This has been the matra of the BD camp for quite some time. To call one format the "winner" of a war that hasn't even really started is premature and ridiculous. This is not to say that Bill did in his article, but this is the general battlecry of the more ardent BD supporters.

Please Namja, with all respect, if you are going to categorize me, I would appreciate if you would take the totality of my comments, and my comments at face value, instead of inferring from them something totally inaccurate. Since you ask us to do so above, it would only make sense that you do the same.

I'm not a HDD fanboy. I'm not a BD hater. I think both formats are incredible and support the continued development of HD and quality HD releases for BOTH formats.

it's ironic that the people he accuses of being illogically biased support both formats, dontcha think?

Okay. Fair enough. I didn't mean to categorize you, but it sure came out that way. I only meant the discounting of the original article of this thread and nothing more (please read that sentence literally without any other implications). I honestly didn't mean to categorize when I inserted your name in there.


digi, owning both formats does not equate supporting both formats. Even as you say in this thread, "I don't care which way it goes but I still hope it's not BD." You might own both formats, but you generally support HD DVD (loud and clear) while you generally attack BD.


<small>Anyhoo, anytime I have to step in to protect the BD threads from these attacks, I feel a little dirty (no offense BD fans, but doing anything pro-Sony makes me feel that way).</small>

No. He just meant to single me out...when I'd love to see when i've ripped apart Bill anywhere in this thread.

Man, consider yourself lucky. I've waited for an apology from Namja for months.

My wallet and BD's sales statistics say otherwise. So it's your opinion against those.

DarK: "I think you will find that on a site like this 99% of us are perfectly willing to support both formats."

Given the level of hostility in many posts, I find that to be unlikely though a noble goal.


"We all know that mainstream success if what will win the war, however, at this point I think mainstream success for either one is on very shaky ground. When two video game consoles are pushing the hardware sales it really doesn't bode well for a balanced library of movies. Hopefully the standalone prices for both formats drops a lot by the end of the year. We need the average consumers to buy in to one soon. The longer this goes the greater the odds of HD video staying a niche item."

I agree and the average consumer probably has several factors causing them to hold off:
1) Pricing of the hardware and software.
2) The studio release of barebone editions of high def discs (the advent of the multiple dip version scam was one of my big reasons for cutting back tremendously on buying).
3) Uncertainty of the format war, propped up by conflicting reports by the format zealots like we see here, on AVS, The Digital Bits, and other internet forums
4) A true lack of marketing strategy by both factions

I thought that The Dixie Chicks were pro Bush, and then said they were disgraced that he was from the state of Texas?

How's that pro Bush?

I've got both formats; I stand where Namja stands... I just dont want Sony to get ahead.

I'm more comfortable with making Bill Gates richer

ALSO!...

Someone said that if Universal wanted to make HD-DVD work, why not release 'a flood of titles', I dont exactly see 'Spider-man 1/2' coming out on Blu-Ray anytime soon.

even after the announce of Spidey 2 extended

The Dual DVD combo rocks in my opinion... If a movie is released in this standard they shouldnt release the regular version of the film on DVD.

It would drive sales and promote and new format that would be overlooked otherwise by the average public.

If you press the ammount of disc you would with a standard dvd then cost would be very small in comparison.

I've been jumped by a couple members of this forum for my stance on HD > BR, and as soon as i let them know i'm with both i'm left alone. I feel like its Bloods vs. Crips... I havent felt this much turmoil since the first time I watched 'The Warriors'. Makes me wish there was 'Baseball Furies' format. :P

I just have had better responce with HD films... if only the stinkin' cases would be made of glass. The last three cases I've purchased online have been cracked! grrr... lol

Why-oh-why does the Bits hate HDDVD so much?

Realllly long article here for your reading pleasure:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articl...oap060107.html

In a nutshell

Total morons. Let's count the "FAR GREATER" manufacturer support. There's Sony and then there's Panasonic. And we're done. So many to count, I can't keep up .

As for studio support, that's great and all, but what about TITLES?

TBD is a BD shill and anyone who takes their arguments seriously needs to have their head examined.

There is simply no reason to support a single format right now on the basis of anything other than personal preference, or be like me, and support both.

I'll support both when I can find a 60GB PS3 for less than $400. I have found a few, I just have to jump on them when I get the chance.

Does Bill Hunt get paid by the word to support Blu-ray?

All I know is that if you do not support HD DVD, right now you are missing out on all of these titles in HD:

Universal Exclusives
Children Of Men
King Kong (2005)
Miami Vice
Apollo 13
Assault On Precinct 13 (2005)
Cinderella Man
Serenity
Lost In Translation
The Bourne Supremacy
The River
Dragonheart
The Nutty Professor
Midnight Run
The Frighteners
Smokey and the Bandit
The 40 Year-Old Virgin
The Skeleton Key
The Hitcher (2007)
Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind
The Nutty Professor (1996)
The Game
The Jerk
Smokin’ Aces
The Good Shepherd
Meet the Parents
Jet Li’s Fearless
Alpha Dog
Accepted
The Mummy
The Mummy Returns
The Scorpion King
Hollywoodland
Half Baked
Brokeback Mountain
The Sting
The Deer Hunter
The Breakfast Club
Casino
Fast Times At Ridgemont High
Field Of Dreams
Hulk
Dune (1984)
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
An American Werewolf In London
You, Me and Dupree
Waterworld
Spartacus
Out Of Sight
12 Monkeys
The Interpreter
Slither
The Thing
The Break-Up
Waist Deep
Army Of Darkness
The Fast and the Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Land Of the Dead
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas
End Of Days
Dazed and Confused
Backdraft
Traffic
Seabiscuit
Red Dragon
The Bone Collector
Spy Game
Unleashed
Ray
National Lampoon’s Animal House
Pitch Black
The Chronicles Of Riddick
Friday Night Lights
The Rundown
Happy Gilmore
U-571
Van Helsing
Jarhead
Doom

Warner Exclusives
The Matrix Ultimate Collection
The Matrix Trilogy
Batman Begins
Terminator 3: Rise Of the Machines
Poseidon
Smallville: Complete Fifth Season
Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet: Ultimate Collector’s Set
Casablanca
V For Vendetta
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Grand Prix
Troy
Caddyshack
The Perfect Storm
Constantine
Mutiny On the Bounty
The Dukes Of Hazzard
The Polar Express
Excalibur
Adventures Of Robin Hood

Weinstein / Genius Exclusives
Feast
School For Scoundrels
Lucky # Slevin
Clerks 2
The Matador
Pulse
Derailed
Wolf Creek
Scary Movie 4

Imported Exclusives
Brotherhood of the Wolf (French release)
Elephant Man, The (French and UK releases)
Enemy at the Gates (French release)
Equilibrium (Japanese release)
Fog, The (1980) (French, German and UK releases)
Fragile: A Ghost Story (Japanese release)
Gift, The (2000) (Japanese release)
Graduate, The (1967) (French release)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (UK release)
Island, The (2005) (UK release)
Jersey Girl (Japanese release)
Killing Me Softly (2002) (Japanese release)
King Kong (1976) (French, German and UK releases)
Leaving Las Vegas (French release)
Machinist, The (Japanese release)
Mulholland Drive (French release)
Oliver Twist (2005) (Japanese and Spanish release)
Pianist, The (2002) (UK and Spanish release)
Running Scared (German Release)
Serpico (French release) (*non-removable subtitles)
Three days of the Condor (Les 3 jours du condor) (French release)
xXx (Japanese release)

Upcoming Exclusives
June 12, 2007
Black Christmas (2006)
Born On the 4th Of July
Breach
Bruce Almighty
Daylight
Harsh Times
Liar, Liar
Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life
Sneakers

June 26, 2007
American Me
Being John Malkovich
The Big Lebowski
Bulletproof
Dead Silence (2007)
Freedom: Volume 1
Mallrats
Meet Joe Black
Mystery Men
The Watcher
Arthur and the Invisibles (Spanish release)
Natural Born Killers (French release)

July 4, 2007
Pan's Labyrinth (French release)

July 10, 2007
Billy Madison
Dante’s Peak
The War
The Wedding Date

July 24, 2007
The Bourne Identity
The Contract
Hot Fuzz
In Good Company
The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps
Scent Of a Woman
Streets Of Fire

July 31, 2007
Darkman
Sea Of Love
Shaun Of the Dead
Band of Brothers-Volume 1 (Japanese release)
Band of Brothers-Volume 2 (Japanese release)
Band of Brothers-Volume 3 (Japanese release)
Band of Brothers-Volume 4 (Japanese release)
Band of Brothers-Volume 5 (Japanese release)

August 14, 2007
Erin Brockovich
Meet the Fockers
Mercury Rising
What Dreams May Come

August 28, 2007
Dawn Of the Dead
Heroes: Season 1
The Hurricane
Notting Hill

September 18, 2007
Elizabeth

The HD was easy to change in my PS3. I have a 120GB PS3 for the same price as a 60 gig model.

Built in Wifi, needed? Those are the only differences in the two models, correct?

Used to be more, but now the only differences are:

1) Bigger HD
2) Wifi
3) Memory card reader (but the 20 gig will still read USB memory of course)

Couldn't find a 60 when I wanted one, but found plenty of 20s. I figured I'd just mod since I prefer a hard wire connection whenever possible.

I was too distracted by the giant Sony-funded ad for The Messengers (now available on Blu-Ray! OMG!11!!!1) on the left to read his reasons for choosing Blu-Ray. I'm sure they were very well thought out, with data backing up all of his claims.

I'm all for long-winded articles by people who find themselves to be more important and influential than they actually are ( ), and I can understand getting concerned about an investment in a player, but why do people have to get so crazy about the format war? Today, you can buy both players for the same price as a stand-alone Blu-Ray would cost if there had been no war. Meanwhile, competition has forced both sides to step-up their quality and to offer various discounts on software. Neither seems like a reason for one "side" to so passionately oppose another... Just enjoy watching movies!

Did anyone read the origianl article yesterday? The only reason he may have come off as anti-HD-DVD is because the article wa a response to Harry Knowles at Ain't It Cool News. He wrote an article saying how much better HD-DVD was & used facts that were completely wrong- saying HD had over 200 releases & BD only 60, that only HD players could play dvds & upconvert & many other completely wrong information that he was stating as fact. Digital Bits was respnding to that article by giving actual data.
I had the 360 add-on first & got the A2 now, so I've already had 2 HD-DVD players & obviously like them, but I still only buy Universal on HD & everything else on BD. And as great as Universal's back catalog is, their new movies aren't that great. And while their catalog might be great, it's not exactly great HD demo material- yeah let me throw in Smokey & The Bandit to show you some great HD. Most of them look marginally better than the dvds. And people who say that HD has the best picture, take a look at the Pirates BD reviews. Every site says they're the best HD pictures anywhere on any format.
And no matter how mad you BD haters may be, what do you think will happen when Spiderman, Star Wars, James Bond, etc. come out exclusively on BD. And with Spielberg's track record, his movies won't be out until the war is over, so will be of no use to help HD. And add no Disney to HD. How many families do you think will pick HD? be mad at the 2 groups for starting this whole situation, but don't be mad that the one you picked isn't looking so great.
And the idiot who said combos may help HD win, I just got my email from Universal to send back the 2 defective combos I have (Good Shepherd & children Of Men) & they've been cancelling many of their combos because of this problem. Not to mention they're $10 more. So yeah, they're great.