HD DVD: Format of choice for geek TV?
(Credit: NBC)Are you a dork? Do you love TV? If the answer to both those questions is yes, you'll probably want to select HD DVD as your next- generation format of choice, because there are some seriously exciting sci-fi TV shows hitting the format in the next few months.
We already know that Heroes is on the way to HD DVD, which is tremendously exciting for fans of the show who haven't been able to catch it on its BBC HD outing. We're also aware of the impending arrival of Star Trek: The Original Series, series one, which hits U.S. stores around November 20. But now, as if to make sci-fi fans explode with joy, we see (the new) Battlestar Galactica will be getting an HD DVD release on December 4.
The BSG discs will feature audio commentaries on selected episodes as well as the usual behind-the-scenes documentaries and featurettes. There's also a picture-in-picture behind-the-scenes commentary, which promises to make the most of the HD DVD release. BSG and Heroes won't be appearing on Blu-ray because their owner, Universal, is exclusively backing HD DVD, at least for now.
Of course Blu-ray has a few tricks up its sleeve, with a show you may have heard of--Lost--which is due to make its Blu-ray debut in December, just in time to be stuffed into stockings the world over by high-definition Santa.
Our interest in shows on HD DVD and Blu-ray is in no small part down to the scarcity of high-definition TV shows in the U.K. We'd love to see shows such as House and CSI in their original gory HD glory. Even if you're lucky enough to have seen these shows in HD, it's unlikely you'll have seen it in proper 1080p, as they are presented on HD DVD.
(Source: Crave UK)
i have yet to have any pals that have an xbox360 or hdtv that has a standalone hd dvd player. currently all of my pals that did the HDTV upgrade all either have an upconverting dvd player or a PS3.
i wish universal would jump the fence and give us both hd dvd and bluray of heroes.. if not, it won't convince me to get an hd dvd player just for those tv series; i'd get the dvds and let my ps3 upconvert (which it does do a pretty good job at).
just my $.02
i have yet to have any pals that have an xbox360 or hdtv that has a standalone hd dvd player. currently all of my pals that did the HDTV upgrade all either have an upconverting dvd player or a PS3.
i wish universal would jump the fence and give us both hd dvd and bluray of heroes.. if not, it won't convince me to get an hd dvd player just for those tv series; i'd get the dvds and let my ps3 upconvert (which it does do a pretty good job at).
just my $.02
i have yet to have any pals that have an xbox360 or hdtv that has a standalone hd dvd player. currently all of my pals that did the HDTV upgrade all either have an upconverting dvd player or a PS3.
i wish universal would jump the fence and give us both hd dvd and bluray of heroes.. if not, it won't convince me to get an hd dvd player just for those tv series; i'd get the dvds and let my ps3 upconvert (which it does do a pretty good job at).
just my $.02
A home theater enthusiast invests thousands of dollars into the video and audio experience - that a game machine that is nothing more than a glorified PC should dictate our standard is sickening. I'd feel much better about Blu-ray if it were left out of the PS3, and left up to Home Theater consumers, who in the end are who will be buying the content to play on the machines. Not just the 2 or 3 "sampler" HD titles that the typical PS3 gamer will buy.
Sad state of things. I hope HDDVD wins this format war simply from a standpoint of principal - certainly won't be on technology since the two from a home theater perspective are a dead tie.
A home theater enthusiast invests thousands of dollars into the video and audio experience - that a game machine that is nothing more than a glorified PC should dictate our standard is sickening. I'd feel much better about Blu-ray if it were left out of the PS3, and left up to Home Theater consumers, who in the end are who will be buying the content to play on the machines. Not just the 2 or 3 "sampler" HD titles that the typical PS3 gamer will buy.
Sad state of things. I hope HDDVD wins this format war simply from a standpoint of principal - certainly won't be on technology since the two from a home theater perspective are a dead tie.
A home theater enthusiast invests thousands of dollars into the video and audio experience - that a game machine that is nothing more than a glorified PC should dictate our standard is sickening. I'd feel much better about Blu-ray if it were left out of the PS3, and left up to Home Theater consumers, who in the end are who will be buying the content to play on the machines. Not just the 2 or 3 "sampler" HD titles that the typical PS3 gamer will buy.
Sad state of things. I hope HDDVD wins this format war simply from a standpoint of principal - certainly won't be on technology since the two from a home theater perspective are a dead tie.
Once they do, the format war is over in favor of Blu-Ray, since the saturation of Blu-Ray is far outpacing HD-DVD.
Once they do, the format war is over in favor of Blu-Ray, since the saturation of Blu-Ray is far outpacing HD-DVD.
Once they do, the format war is over in favor of Blu-Ray, since the saturation of Blu-Ray is far outpacing HD-DVD.
The current number of discs sold for each format means almost nothing. The number of players does. The BR camp will trumpet total number of capable players while the HDDVD camp will do the same for stand-alone players. What I'd be interested in seeing is the number of up converting SD players or number of progressive scan SD players connected to up converting receivers or displays.
HD is still very young and the vast majority of the ones that are out there are 720p so in all likely hood, that group is far more likely to spend $100 on an up converting player than $250 for an HDDVD player or $500 for a BR/PS3. Remember these are not gadget geeks so I wouldn't bet on them "seeing" the value add of a PS3. Right or wrong it's still viewed as a gaming device. If they've already decided they don't want a gaming device then they won't be able to justify the the added cost and may even be put off by the similar pricing of a PS3 and stand alone player. Do they give in to Sony's lure of features or do they make themselves look dumb by paying the same money for a stand alone player?
Most of the non techies I've talked to are just disgusted by all the expense of going HD. TV, Dvd player, furniture, new discs, new cables, new remotes, new dvr, new cable service...you know the drill.
The current number of discs sold for each format means almost nothing. The number of players does. The BR camp will trumpet total number of capable players while the HDDVD camp will do the same for stand-alone players. What I'd be interested in seeing is the number of up converting SD players or number of progressive scan SD players connected to up converting receivers or displays.
HD is still very young and the vast majority of the ones that are out there are 720p so in all likely hood, that group is far more likely to spend $100 on an up converting player than $250 for an HDDVD player or $500 for a BR/PS3. Remember these are not gadget geeks so I wouldn't bet on them "seeing" the value add of a PS3. Right or wrong it's still viewed as a gaming device. If they've already decided they don't want a gaming device then they won't be able to justify the the added cost and may even be put off by the similar pricing of a PS3 and stand alone player. Do they give in to Sony's lure of features or do they make themselves look dumb by paying the same money for a stand alone player?
Most of the non techies I've talked to are just disgusted by all the expense of going HD. TV, Dvd player, furniture, new discs, new cables, new remotes, new dvr, new cable service...you know the drill.
- Microsoft could kill PS3
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by pcb777b
August 17, 2007 11:58 AM PDT
- I believe that if the xbox360 came out with blueray standard on high end
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (51 Comments)machines that it would kill the PS3. I wonder if the increase in xbox360 sales
would make up for the lost revenue of their tie in with the other format.
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