I'd hold off on buying Blu-Ray until you can get a 2.0 profile machine. If you enjoy extras and bonus features then 1.0 machines will be worthless except for a ps3.

Really? I haven't heard about this. Is the new Sony S-500 player 2.0?

If you're worried about one format going belly-up, then you might want to hold off for a year.

I think after Christmas the picture may be much clearer. I'm picking up a 1080p TV this month but will be waiting unti January to pick a format.

I'm not saying the "war" will be decided this holiday season, but I predict one will outshine the other in sales, causing more people and companies to jump on the winning bandwagon.

I looked at it personally and went with the one that has the most exclusive titles that I like, which happened to be HD-dvd.

Wait for a PC drive that plays both.

Best solution.

WIth all the buy-1-get-1-free sales going on now for exclusive Sony and Disney Blu-rays, you'd be silly not to start buying them now.

I just read CNET's take on HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray and they recommend neither at this point in time. In short: "On the face of it, it's a split decision: HD DVD for price-conscious early adopters aware of the caveats; Blu-ray for PS3 gamers who want a "free" next-gen gaming system too. But we're sitting this one out for now--and we suggest that most HDTV owners do, too."

I bought a Toshiba HD on Amazon for $299 with the free movie deal(too bad I missed out on the lower prices). I am slowly selling my SD collection and "renting HD" movies on netflix along with SD movies. By the time I upgrade my 720P tv ,receiver and have sold much of my SDs-I will think things will be clearer. I'd go HD for now because you will get your feet wet with HD at little cost and see how much you like the format and enjoy your upscaled Sds for now. Meanwhile prices on Hi DEf will go down and technology will improve and maybe one format will emerge.

I jumped in to Blu Ray only because I wanted one and I heard Blockbuster was going to stock BluRay so that's the way I went. Under retail conditions I haven't seen a difference in side by side demonstrations. I'm not too worried about adopting the "wrong" format. Whatever I buy will last x number of years and chances are something new will be along by then anyway.

whats the rush ??

reading all the comments about the HD 'war' its almost like a case of 'penis envy' : my one's bigger than yours - we've got more than you - mine's gonna last longer.

can't see how your 'relatively small thing' fits in now lol

Having finally purchased my first HD set this year, I'd love to jump into a higher resolution format - but I just can't see making the investment until there's a clear leader, and I don't want to have two machines just to cover all the studios.

I still can't believe the parties involved couldn't come to a single standard format. Hopefully dual-players will start becoming reasonably priced over the next year or so.

I still think Blu-ray will ultimately win the battle, but that may be a while off. There are even some predictions that both will survive...But, as long as both formats will be around a while, I agree with the users who say go with the format that has more titles you like...

For me, I went Blu-ray initially (via PS3) because there were more supporting major studios and because I wanted the gaming machine. Now, things have evened out a little more with Paramount/Dreamworks jumping to HD-DVD exclusive, and the battle has been prolonged. With no end in sight, I just dropped the dough to get an HD-DVD player this week...

Of course, if possible, you might want to wait until holiday sales! :-) But look at the titles available and upcoming titles. Also, note that HD-DVDs are region-free and there are quite a few imports available (more so than BR, I believe). They're expensive, but if you want titles like Equilibirum or the Island in high-def, that's the only way right now...

*sigh* I'm still using DIVX.

I prefer HD DVD right now, but if (and when) Blu Ray comes down in price, I would consider picking one up. Sony is keeping the prices of these drives artificially high...because..thats what Sony does. Fox is doing a good job of releasing catalog titles at $40 MSRP which is just ridiculous to me.


Right now, most of my collection is SD DVD and honestly I won't be upgrading a lot of titles. I did upgrade Top Gun because its one of my favorites, but everything else is optional. I picked up Transformers and Planet Earth, but I am renting the rest of new titles.

I got the A2 for the $190ish price + 3 free movies + 5 mail in movies..sold the 3 free movies to drop my cost down to about $145...and returned my upconverting Sony to Costco...so there was little upgrade cost to me.

But every HD/BD player will play SDVD's and upconvert them. So HD owners can actually get more content, not less. Meanwhile, people who haven't upgraded are missing out on some amazing discs like Transformers and Hot Fuzz that contain features that aren't on the regular DVDs, as well as unbelievable picture and sound.

Once you go HD you never go back

This is a loaded statement to say the least. 1.0 machines will still be able to play non-1.1 extras as well as the main feature. Without a blip!

1.0 machines will not be responsive to 1.1 encoded extras.

And given the artificial 1.1 approach currently favored by WB I don't think grabbing one of the new 399 PS3 would be an insane move.

Ciao,
Pro-B

Something dvd can't, and never will, be able to match.

So if you buy a Blu-ray disc and it has a special feature you want to watch, you better be sure you're Blu-ray player can actually play it. Who knows if studios will put a (1.1) after the feature to tell you if its "exclusive" to that profile

HD DVDs, on the other hand, will play every extra feature on every player dating back to the launch units from April of 2006. After October it is unknown if a player you buy TODAY will play certain features in November/December (or whenever studios start putting 1.1 extras out).

Will the BD studios list 1.1 features on the back with a disclaimer that they won't work in 1.0 players? or will they just let the user find out for themselves?

That what I would like to know. So far they have not even discussed the fact that all current stand alones cannot be "upgraded" to 1.1.

Hence my note that you could get the PS3 If the much touted extra(s) should be your forte!

Suffice to say 1.0 players will not be "obsolete" as you proclaimed on this site.

As to labeling and compatibility when the time comes for the distribs to announce their presence I am positive a proper solution will be made.

Pro-B

As long as 1.0 stand alone players (i.e. all currently on the market) can not play 100% of the features of the disc, they should NOT be considered viable options to anyone. Same as players coming out next month with 1.1, because who knows if they can be upgraded to 2.0. Shame on the BDA for not educating the public buying these $400-$1,000 players that soon they may not get to go "Beyond High Definition" because of lack of finalized specs </rant>

And for the record, Ive agreed MANY times the PS3 is the ONLY way to go with Blu-ray. Its the safest option of something that will be updated on a regular basis and no need to wait for fixes to discs (i.e. Fantastic Four and Day after Tomorrow)

I'm really curious to see how the BDA respond to 1.1 features on discs and the backlash from uneducated (normal folk) who bought those players from Best Buy/Target/Circuit City etc..

I really wonder if you can even see any negatives to BD anymore Pro-B.

In addition to your blatant flaunting of this forum's well-stated stance on format bickering ("loaded statement"), you completely ignore that Giz is exactly right - owners of older non compliant 1.1 players will NOT be able to play 1.1 extras.

It doesn't make them paperweights, but it most certainly makes them obsolete.