HD storage format war is over

aMIGA_dUDE

toasterman wrote: »

Ah fair enough. Just wondered.
I dunno. I have not-particularly-fond memories of watching a film round a friend's house on a ps2 and having to pause it every 20mins - at which point the sound and video would catch up, and then carry on watching another 20mins before it looked like it was a dubbed film again, pause, resyncs..etc.

At the time I mentioned it to various other friends, I was told it was a then-common problem. Picture quality was watchable, just not in sync with the sound.
As they must surely have been making it at a loss, I'm not really surprised.

I've heard the same rumours re: the Wii.
I do find it incredible the Wii is at a profit, considering what's in it. I know its not the greatest graphics, and its purely for gaming - no HD suggested or intended, and die hard oldskool gamers complain about the interface, but I love mine.
I'm not sold on the ps3 yet at all - I'm gonna need a new console to play GTA4, and I'm definitely swaying towards the 360...what with me not having a HD tv, nor plans (or room...or money) for one where I am now, the Blu-ray player doesn't mean much to me.
Plus now they've picked a format to support they'll get cheaper and cheaper like dvd players did - you'll be getting standalone ones in Asda for £25 in no time.

Wii really is just a Game Cube at speed. Same as Game Cube CPU on Wii but runing faster, same GFX as Game Cube but running faster on Wii. Wii has some more system memory. Even DRM system is same, it keyword is same work both systems. The DRM keyword on Game Cube is all in lower case and on the Wii it same word but upper case:rotfl:The big difference user control system on Wii. Which I think is cool.
Persionaly I not in movies that much. So using PS2 DVD didn't happen to much, did on a computer at time that was only LCD I had and PS2 was connect to my TV CRT. As sead early people in family did not own PS2 and there not in to gaming but movies but they now use PS3 for DVD and Blu-Rays.

With XBox360 make shore it one with HD drive, you will need it. Also remember that XBox360 doesn't have WiFi connection that costs extra and there yearly subscription of about £50 for on-line usage on Xbox360. Both these things are in PS3 and Playstartion Network (PSN) stated they will never charge subscription for basic on-line usage like download game demos etc. Very soon to being launched is PS3 Home that is going to free to use and that going to be big. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyquAXKeEI0


PS The PS2 is able to display 720HD, that no same as playing HD video at 720 the CPU is not up to that job.

PPS XBox360 it so important that make shore it has HD (hard drive). Unlike on PS3 you can not buy HD from anywhere and change it your self. I will not talk it RRD issues.

aMIGA_dUDE

aMIGA_dUDE wrote: »

Diehard HD DVD backer Universal bands up with Blu-Ray!
Ow what a shock, horror. I would never thought this would happen.
How would I be able to cope with all these movies now coming on Blu-Ray I thought that would never be happen on Blu-Ray.:rotfl:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981147.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562

I do not belive it, more movies that where HD-DVD exculsive now coming to Blu-Ray. Paramount are going Blu-Ray, soon I will be able get Transformers on Blu-Ray :T

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2118265320080221

wolfman

The PS2, regardless of chip was quite awful at DVD playback. I found even a budget DVD Player to be better. It was just not worth trying. Even the Xbox (with Media Center) has better playback.

The PS3 is regarded as a good value HD player, although I wouldn't say it's one of the best around. You get a lot for what is costs though.

And from what I've read. The PS3 sells at the greatest loss, followed by the 360 and then the Wii which makes a profit.

Also, why do you need the HD drive for the 360? You can only benefit playing movies by having that. I don't know of any games that use an HD disc.

Also the subscription is nowhere near £50. Look around and you can pick it up for nearer £25 (even £15 if you're lucky). Lack of Wifi is a pain though.

donnajunkie

i find it hard to have any sympathy. well both hd dvd and blu ray are over priced so if you have bought either you are not short of cash. secondly anyone with common sense is waiting until one has definitely won and the prices comes down. i think most people will wait until standard dvd is virtually dead.

vyseyboy

Given that both formats require the same wavelength laser, is it not possible (and likely) that hybrid drives will become available, in the same vein as DVD+R and DVD-R, which are largely interchangable now?

superscaper

vyseyboy wrote: »

Given that both formats require the same wavelength laser, is it not possible (and likely) that hybrid drives will become available, in the same vein as DVD+R and DVD-R, which are largely interchangable now?

It's a bit more complex than that but there are already hybrid drives available. It's due to that complexity (the laser needs to read at different apertures for example) that they are still quite expensive. LG BH100 is one hybrid player already available. In fact it's arguable that it's actually cheaper just to buy separate HD DVD and BR players.

Edit: Just had a look and the BH100 which has already been out for quite a while and cheapest I've seen it is £825. When you compare that to a PS3 (£280) and Toshiba EP30 (£78) from amazon giving £358 it's less than half of the hybrid player (not to mention the gaming element of PS3), in fact you could change that HD DVD player for an Xbox360 and HD DVD add on. So I'm guessing trying to hybridise them is just impractical manufacturingwise. Although it would be nice just as a matter of compatibility to add HD DVD readability into future BR Players but I it seems we're still a way off that even if there will still be a demand for it. It'll be more likely in PC drives to be honest and I think there are already drives that can read both. That's certainly more comparable with DVD+/-.

toasterman

aMIGA_dUDE wrote: »

With XBox360 make shore it one with HD drive, you will need it. Also remember that XBox360 doesn't have WiFi connection that costs extra and there yearly subscription of about £50 for on-line usage on Xbox360. Both these things are in PS3 and Playstartion Network (PSN) stated they will never charge subscription for basic on-line usage like download game demos etc.

Wifi doesn't really bother me. I've got great bit thick walls in my house, so there's a repeater in one corner of my room (with a 4 port switch built in), which my mac is cabled into. No problem running an extra cable a few metres to the 360.

I'd never buy into anyone saying they will "never" charge for something. They'll just rename it, or launch an extra that isn't free - that they know people will want, if they want to start charging for the "free" service. I get your point though that xbox charge for theirs currently.

That said I've never done any online gaming on pc, Wii, or anything, so I'm not sure it needs to go online at all.

BigBouncyBall

aMIGA_dUDE wrote: »

How strange I already have Blu-Ray disks that are 1080p and not using AACS.
Well I have never payed anyone $2000 for disk I produced. I used Nero 8 burning which only cost about £60. I should inform Wanor Brothes/Disney/Fox/etc as they will save a lot of money useing this software as use of AACS from AACS LA is mandatory on Blu-Ray.:eek:

zomygod! You must have stumbled on something amazing there! Tell them at once, i'd love to hear what they say.

tomstickland

I'm quite content with standard DVDs on a PC. I always let some other mugs follow the technology and then I follow along 5 years later when it's cheap and established. Quite funny considering I work in a reasonably hi-tech job. I don't get excited about personal electronics though.

tomstickland

donnajunkie wrote: »

anyone with common sense is waiting until one has definitely won and the prices comes down. i think most people will wait until standard dvd is virtually dead.

Yes, I agree.