I agree with you there. It was a bit of harsh reality.

At what distance? Burger is probably referring to displays viewed at a typical distance of 10 to 12 feet or so. At that distance, the difference between an upscaled SD DVD and a true HD picture would be pretty marginal on a 42 inch screen, for an average viewer. The difference wouldn't be enough to have any sort of "Wow" factor.

Perhaps you are sitting 6 feet or so away from your 32 inch display or perhaps you have unusually acute or discerning vision. But his point is probably valid for average viewers under typical conditions.

Do you know who the poster is that said that? I've always understood that Batman Begins was going to maximize sales as a holiday release. If it's true, what's another 6 months?

Yup, exactly what I did. I've dropped my 200 bucks on a A2 and have reached my high def nirvana. It's not so bad on the other side afterall!

Good post.

The politeness of the language you choose to use doesn't make your speculation any more valid than anyone else's.

The same person also mentioned that Terminator 3 is scheduled for a BD release this year and will come with PCM & TrueHD audio. HD DVD only got a DD+ track, but did have IME.

dobyblue, who supposedly works for Panasonic.

Wow, in that case it is true. His info has been pretty consistent so far. I wonder what changed since he was stating all along that it was coming Christmas with PCM audio.

I believe the reason was Warners thinks they will maximize profits by releasing it to coincide with TDK. And at that point, they should be able to provide IME and PCM audio to the BD.

You are backpedaling!

I stated a fact: WB did not attend the press conference!

You offered a speculation - the BD asked WB to put a show of solidarity - to create a second speculation (the HD camp did not feel the need to have WB present at their briefing).

It seems pretty obvious to me what the difference between the two posts is.

As to the nature of your language...call me old-fashioned but I think that vulgarity won't encourage too many people to argue with you.

Pro-B

...but you're still speculating since you have no way of knowing if Warner's presence at Blu-ray and lack of presence at HD DVD actually means what you're clearly implying.

It's valid speculation, as is Josh's, but it's speculation just the same.

Oh give it up. Pro B. Here is your original post, so everybody can it.

Your [b]introductory statements are calls for speculation "why is it" You introduce a fact with calls for speculation. That isn't reporting the facts, thats calling for speculation. Moreover, you frame the fact that leads the reader to speculate that not being at a press conference is important...and we know your agenda on this board.

So your "statement" while containing a fact is speculative. Sorry, thats the truth.

Matter of fact, you don't even know if the WB news is "old" ... Bill Blue Balls Hunt I guess "reported it" and I use that term very loosely because he says his site is just his opinion, not news (thats a fact, he stated it, not speculation)

Furthermore, I encourage you to be the judge of the importance of this fact (1) WB considering a switch (which is a fact) or (2) WB not attending a press conference. You tell me which is more of a significant fact in the grand scheme of things.

Your zealotry is pretty idiotic and affecting your "fact" judgment.

This is crossing the line, and continuing on this path could lead to a suspension. Remember to attack the argument and not the person.

Admittedly, I do think that 'conspiring' on another forum to try to deflate the enthusiasm of HD DVD supporters on DVD Talk is more offensive than Josh's combatative but fairly tame language:

I don't understand the need to proselytize as if HD DVD supporters are pagan savages and you're an enlightened Spanish missionary. The same goes the other way too, of course. I wish the format cheerleading would just disappear.

^ Exactly! Why do people insist on making a mere commercial conflict between two corporations that do not even remotely care about you or your opinions (in the greater scheme of things outside of focus groups) such a personal thing?
This entire "format war" being waged between consumers on message boards reads like a bunch of sad rationalization and pre-emptive buyer's remorse (in case their format loses). If you buy HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, thats great, if you buy both, thats great too. But, what is the point of trying to "convert" people as if what format they buy is akin to some form of ideology? The "pagan savages...missionary" example was spot on except most people in today's civilized societies frown upon those who try to ram their beliefs down the throats of others who do not share their beliefs (regardless of the belief), so why do people feel socially justified in doing such over something as infantile and meaningless as a high-def format?
Personally, if I enjoy the film I am watching and its presentation I could not care less what other people are watching and how. For those who say the "war" is being fought to maintain said enjoyment that will cease if their format "loses," I say, it is technology, it is going to change wether you like it or not, when is irrelevant.

I bought an HD-DVD player mostly due to the upconverting DVD aspect, and my upgrade cost was minimal (i.e. about $40) , although I do favor HD-DVD because I can't stand Sony, their business practices, and the paid schills they employ.

I propose we put a moratorium on the use of 'fanboy'. Anyone that derides someone else with that term seems to be pretty much one themselves. Also, I thought name calling was not allowed. I constantly see things like Blue Bill Hunt (or worse) used derogatorily. That shouldn't be allowed, especially since (like it or not) he is a member at this site. And not just Hunt, it shouldn't be necessary to resort to name calling against any other players in this soap opera such as Ken Graffeo, etc.

Speculation sucks.

I have an HD-DVD Player now and will probably get a BD Player when the cost is reasonable ( < $200 with 5 or more free movies, which is what I paid for my HDDVD Player). I don't care who wins the format war but would prefer HDDVD since I to do not care for Sony, but if it`s where the movies are...

name calling tells us more about those using the sad little terms than those they aim at, don't u think. personally it lets me feel superior and condescending, which is kind of a double whammy!

adam, i suspect your post is one of frustration that u will regret later. draging disputes and arguments from one forum onto another is not really cricket old boy. not sure if you've personally asked others not to drag avs bickering matches over here, but i suspect u would be glad if they wouldn't. the same logic should probably apply to your own posts don't u think. (and, yes, that is patronism u detect in my voice. or not, depending on how u decide to read the electronic output on yr monitor. god i love the impersonal nature of the internet sometimes)

ps: sorry to hear you aren't loving moding here any more. personally i find u one of the few sane voices on this and other forums, and enjoy your internet "presence". if i could buy you a beer i would.

How do you feel about Toshiba, the company that illegally sold the Russians technology during the Cold War that allowed them to produce quiet submarine propellers that made the U.S. military's job more difficult in tracking their subs? It's not like they're choirboys either.

Policy-wise, anything that stops just about every thread from going off topic with "format war" bickering is a good idea in my mind.

But, I would like to state that your above statement does not seem to have much basis. I believe the evolution of the term "fanboy" is such that it can be used objectively by those who are indeed not "fanboys" themselves. In the same way one's behavior could warrant him being called a "die-hard fan" in sports, it seems to me that "fanboy" is essentially the equivalent of such for those that feel an allegiance to something (corporation, format, movie, director, etc.) that is not actually in sporting competition with another entity and has such allegiance for reasons other than personal financial gain (ie: one is not a fanboy for their stock eventhough they wish it to outperform the stock of other companies in that market).

I just want to say that it tickled me pink to see someone use this word. I love it and don't think it gets used nearly often enough.

While you're at it, don't leave out their involvement with the Axis during WWII, when they were developing RADAR for the Japanese Army.

Amen. It's especially lame when speculation is presented as fact... that's when credibility is lost.

Oh, I absolutely agree, but since this was an instance of his publicly saying that he wanted to take action against certain users of this forum specifically, I thought it would be an exception. Maybe this would've been better handled in a private e-mail or PM, and I'll try to be more conscious of that in the future. There have been enough responses so far that I can't really shove that genie back in the bottle now, though.

Thanks for the other kind words, by the way.

I have to admit to being completely intrigued by the way this thread has shifted gears towards the arming of former enemies of the U.S.