Division over next-generation DVDs deepening

With Paramount, DreamWorks joining HD DVD camp, will the format pull ahead of Blu-ray Disc? It's too early to tell, analysts say.

The story "Division over next-generation DVDs deepening" published September 4, 2007 at 6:58 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[bobby_brady]

Which Hi-def will replace DVD? How about neither!?

Again, Hollywood is trying to sell something the consumer doesn't need or want. It's pretty common knowledge that Hollywood is pushing this new format only for the new DRM restrictions and encryptions, however the average Joe isn't going to need these new "hi-def" DVD's.

Again, I expect Hollywood will try and market this as a new experience (not at all, just a slightly better pq) with "bonus material" (who watches that crap on regular dvd's anyway?).

[zCos]

What's the real breakdown

"Eight of the 15 top-grossing films of the year, including Shrek the Third, Transformers and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, were released by studios that distribute exclusively on HD DVD or on both formats."

So that implies that 7 of the films were exclusively on Blu-Ray, and an undisclosed number of the 8 were on both. Talk about working hard to give an HD-DVD slant to fit the story premise. I realize it's a Reuters piece, not CNet, but the real story is that the situation is so muddled that most consumers aren't that interested in buying into either format at the higher prices. I'm mildly pulling for Blu-Ray, but DVD is still good enough for me.

[Aardasp]

I Agree, who cares?!?

OK, I admit to being a dinosaur, I was around for the old VHS vs Betamax whoop-te-do and even though Betamax was better [IMHO] VHS won out.

I am still in the process of replacing my 700plus VHS movies to DVD, and I am sure I will be dead and gone prior to even considering a -High-Def- conversion... and, of course, by then I couldn't tell the diff anyway!

[furball123A]

Conversion of library...

I am still in the process of replacing my 700plus VHS movies to DVD, and I am sure I will be dead and gone prior to even considering a -High-Def- conversion... and, of course, by then I couldn't tell the diff anyway!

By & large...started doing the same thing several years ago...till I got a fast enough PC & TV Tuner card. With this combo...along with Xvid/Divx...not even going the route of DVD. Rain on the HD garbage...since the studios missed out on doing what is really happening out in the world. Blu-Ray/HD-DVD is not it...but Xvid/Divx/H.264 is all ready there & being used much more than these boondoggles from Hollywood.

Control is a nice concept when you're being left in the mud.

[Heebee Jeebies]

I vote for neither format...

I think consumers need to stop being lead off the cliff like lemmings by the electronic makers and Hollywood/recording industry and take a stand making it clear we are not cattle to the money slaughter.

Both camps hand a chance to make a single unified format that would have been adopted when the tried to work together to combine HD DVD and Blue-Ray. If they couldn't be bothered making it easier for consumers to choose and make it a whole lot less likely that we will end up flushing hundreds of dollars down the drain on the wrong format then why should be bother.

They need to pull their heads of the dark place the sun don't shine and look around. We are not cattle and we are not lemmings and I am not jumping off not f'ing cliffs just to line their greedy stupid pockets.

Apparently they didn't learn from Beta vs. VHS or Divx vs. DVD.

Robert

[SpiritMatter]

720p, 1080i, 1080p HD WMV on DL DVD

You can take any captured video, HDV, ATSC or 1080p.xxx, edit and render it to HD WMV at 1080p or less res to a dual layer 8.5GB DVD. Enjoy!