HD-DVD or Blue ray

asandwhen

Ok im going to buy a hd-dvd/blue-ray player which one should I go for?

What are the cheapest models?

redmel1621

The cheapest player would be the PS3 and use it as a blu-ray player, as for best, well I know that a lot of studios have now opted for the blu-ray format as there main dvd releases, but all titles will inevitably be released in both formats anyway.

We were in a similar dilemma and went with the PS3 option.....

Sorry if i've not helped much!

Mel x

geo555

Blu Ray.
HD-DVD is not going to be supported by the big film studios.
Sony players start at around £250 with 6 free films.

ladymarmalade

i was just going to say the same thing geo555. there is no point in buting a film priduct tht isnt supported by the main film companies lol. all of them support blu ray.

sjc_2

Also had this debate and went for the PS3 it's the only Blu-Ray player out at present that is upgradeable to the later Blu-Ray Versions lots of the standalone players are V1.0 only and not upgradeable.

superscaper

ladymarmalade wrote: »

i was just going to say the same thing geo555. there is no point in buting a film priduct tht isnt supported by the main film companies lol. all of them support blu ray.

I believe Universal and Paramount both exclusively support HD DVD. That's still a third of the major studios. But in terms of majority the recent shift has been towards Blu Ray so that'd be the best choice if you can only choose one.

Looks like we'll see a majority winner but unlike the pre optical formats there won't be an outright winner and death of the other format now that more hybrid players are coming onto the market. (A bit like the DVD RAM, DVD+ and DVD- format war, we still live with all of those formats in one guise/niche or another).

ray_gillespie

The PS3 is no longer the cheapest option for Bluray players, as a quick glance down this page will show you:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/836/1052/3-/RegionHome.html?searchtype=genre

You are correct about 'upgrading' the players with new firmware however. PS3s are guaranteed compatability with the latest extra features of Bluray discs whereas current non-PS3 players might not be able to access all of these extra features and those in the future.

As far as I know however, all Bluray discs will at least play the main feature on all Bluray players including older models. I hope this helps.

Don't go near HD-DVD with a bargepole however, despite the low prices. They will be obsolete within 3 years at the most.

superscaper

ray_gillespie wrote: »

Don't go near HD-DVD with a bargepole however, despite the low prices. They will be obsolete within 3 years at the most.

A few of months ago people were saying almost exactly the same thing about Blu Ray!!!!

The studios have yet to stop transitioning their support. We've already had studios switching to HD DVD from Blu Ray so it's far too premature to be talking about either format being the one to become obsolete. And what justification or precedence do you base your opinion on that either would become obsolete considering the release of hybrid players and the development of hybrid discs? The last format war with opticals (DVD-/+/RAM) still to this day hasn't resulted in any of them being obsolete.

EssexGirl

There's quite a lot of discussion about this over on high def digest forums.

Hope I'm allowed to mention them here, apologies if not..

ray_gillespie

superscaper wrote: »

A few of months ago people were saying almost exactly the same thing about Blu Ray!!!!

No they weren't actually. HD-DVD has not looked like the leading format at any stage. It is only recently that any real indication of a winner has surfaced - and the format of choice is Blu-ray.

Don't get your knickers in a twist because you prefer HD-DVD. Personally, I wished HD-DVD was the winner too but frankly the best thing for the public is that one of the formats does actually win and that is now looking likely. You can kid yourself all you like, but HD-DVD has lost the battle and will lose the war. Just take a look at the pie-chart:



From a money saving point of view, don't buy a Blu-ray player yet. NEVER buy a HD-DVD player. Wait for 12 months and get a Blu-ray player for £150.

If you're still not convinced, read these:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6762621.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7240434.stm

superscaper

ray_gillespie wrote: »

No they weren't actually. HD-DVD has not looked like the leading format at any stage. It is only recently that any real indication of a winner has surfaced - and the format of choice is Blu-ray.

Don't get your knickers in a twist because you prefer HD-DVD. Personally, I wished HD-DVD was the winner too but frankly the best thing for the public is that one of the formats does actually win and that is now looking likely. You can kid yourself all you like, but HD-DVD has lost the battle and will lose the war. Just take a look at the pie-chart:

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

1. Yes they were saying that (and if you read my post I never said that HD DVD were "ahead" at any stage), quite often on this forum whenever this subject came up until the recent shift in studios people were saying HD DVD would be the outright winners. And also when it looked like Sony were shooting themselves in the foot by overly subsidising the PS3 people were also saying then that BR wouldn't "win".

2. Again you're completely wrong about my preference, that's just plain fact. I'm assuming again that you didn't properly read my post (IMO neither format will outright "win"). As for the pie charts, well I have actually seen them before.

You seem to have completely missed the point of my post. I've never denied there may be a majority format (and I've posted on this subject many times and argued against the statement of either format becoming obsolete) and so would you care to actually address the actual issue of my post that there won't be an absolute death of either format because there seems no precedent for that in recent years with optical discs and when there's the technology for hybridisation.

You may also when you re read my post take the opportunity to read the forum etiquette as well.