Are you a high-def snob?

[bluflu]

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_id=12113

"I have officially become a high-def snob.

I never thought it would happen, but now if I see an inferior picture quality on my HDTV — even from upconverted DVDs — I turn up my nose.

Previously I have said that DVDs looked wonderful upconverted on HDTVs. At first I couldn’t differentiate between the two. But what a difference a few months of experience with HDTV can make.

Now, I notice that the picture on upconverted DVDs isn’t so great. I see subtle differences between the upconverted DVD and high-definition discs and programs broadcast through our cable company.

And I’m not the only one. My husband has all along seen the difference between upconverted DVDs and Blu-ray or HD DVD discs. Even my kids now ask if a title is on DVD or Blu-ray — with the latter the much-preferred format.

The revered father of DVD, Warren Lieberfarb, predicted we would need a packaged-media product for the high-definition future, and as far as I can tell, he was dead right. DVD will not suffice in a high-definition world for long.

I can’t see limping along with DVD given my current HDTV setup. Heck, some of the high-def broadcasts from the cable company look better.

Previously, DVD smoked everything else in picture and sound quality. Why would I put up with less on my HDTV?

I want everything to look great on a TV for which I paid several thousand dollars. Why would I pay good money for the in-wall speaker setup, the mounting, the receiver, only to get a DVD picture that is just a little better than what I get on the analog TV?

This is the realization that I believe most HDTV buyers will have at one point or another. They’ll become accustomed to the better picture offered by cable companies or other providers, and easily notice anything inferior in quality.

If the packaged-media business is to keep up with cable and other offerings for HDTVs, it’s got to move beyond DVD to a high-definition disc format — and that format, based on recent moves by retailers Netflix and Best Buy, is looking like it will be Blu."

[DepTii]

I got my PS3 in November and had watched nothing but Blu-rays since then, until about a week ago I really wanted to watch Batman Begins, and only had it on DVD. I cried through the whole movie because of the picture quality.

[FilmmakingFiasco]

My main choice is to get some HD lovin' when I can but that doesn't prevent me from renting or watching movies with friends that are regular old DVDs. Of course, every time I watch a Blu-ray, I'm like "look how amazing this is". I think I did that through 3/4 of Black Book a couple of weeks ago.

[pitabun]

I tend to only watch HD stations.
Especially news, if its not hi-def, I won't watch it.

All except for Attack of the Show, and Family Guy

[tiger roach]

Absolutely - when I watch a DVD I am constantly thinking things like, "man, if this was blu-ray all the needles on that pine tree would be crisp and focused."

[HDJK]

I voted no. As with surround music (SACD/DVDA) the improved picture and sound quality first wow you, and rightfully so, so you don't want anything else. But in the end it's still about content, so my beloved classic KungFu flics that won't see the blu light in a long time (if at all) are still good enough on DVD. Same goes for a lot of 2D animation/anime.

I still enjoy a lot of quality stereo CDs.

Will I be happy when my favorites in stereo or SD get the Hi-rez/surround/HD treatment? Of course, but no need to not enjoy what I have now.

[dgator783]

when I go to a friends house who is still living in standard def. world, I cringe with the thought that we might actually watch a program or play a video game on his 27inch 4:3 tv.....IM thinking "o god, what I would give to be back home with my high def. tv."......this is why I sold just about my entire dvd collection excpet for a few titles I cant live without (Lord of the Rings, The Office, My Name is Earl), once you go HD, you can never go back....I remember thinking how good dvd once looked...thinking "nothing could get better then this "...now I look at it and think "this belongs on the Flinstones"............total snob right here and happy to be one

[Sylin]

Definitely! I only browse the hi-def channels on my TiVo guide, and pretty much all of our season passes are on HD channels except for Psych and Monk, cuz Charter doesn't have USAHD in our area.

As for movies, I haven't bought a DVD since last May, with the exception of Shrek the Third and Transformers. Whenever we watch upconverted DVD's, I'm always a bit disappointed and lose interest, tho.

[ProvenFlipper]

Since June 2006! Reppin' BD early and often!

[dadkins]

Snob? No.
Do I prefer HD? Uhm, Yes!

Since most upconversion does a fair job(DVDs) I'll live.
If I have a choice, yes! I will choose a BD.

[Rovic]

Yeah, i think it happends to everyone once they've tasted blu. Never see tv the same, even those sdvds.

[Beta Man]

I prefer better quality, who doesn't...... but If I were at a friends' house and started ribbing him/her about their standard Def. picture, or lack of a $8k sound system, I'd fully expect them to slap me upside my head..... some people just prioritize differently, or don't have the means...... no reason to put others down.

[Magic]

Originally Posted by DepTii

I got my PS3 in November and had watched nothing but Blu-rays since then, until about a week ago I really wanted to watch Batman Begins, and only had it on DVD. I cried through the whole movie because of the picture quality.

LOL
I did the exact same thing a month or so ago. It pains me b/c I love the movie so much that I thought I could tough through it. It was horrible.

[Flux88MPH]

Yeah I'm totally an HD snob.

It's like moving to import or micro beer from domestic, or moving to single malt scotch from Tennessee whiskey. Once you do it you never go back to the lesser stuff unless you're not buying or that's the only available option.

[UlicBelouve]

Yes. Yes I am.

I've even resorted to, the few movies / TV series that I have on DVD only, ripping the DVDs to my computer, and streaming them to my media extender (yes, it's an XBOX 360).

But I don't JUST stream them, I have the PC process, clean, and upconvert them. Takes a fair amount of power from my PC. I'd say it's above what your upconverters can do, but nowhere near Blu-Ray.

So I'm a snob.

[KenThompson]

When I turn my tv on the first thing I do is go to the hd channels and then the movie channels. The rest I don't even bother with. Sports in hd is incredible.

[KenThompson]

I now have the wife going straight to the hd guide as well. She knows the dif.

[geekboy2000]

I never thought I'd become an HD snob, but it didn't take long. As much as like some of the SD programming offered via Dish Network, I find that I just can't watch it. One of my favorite, must-see shows, is "Torchwood" on BBC America. I record it in SD, just to have it, but last season HDNet ran the shows in HD, so it was those episodes that I watched and archived. I don't believe HDNet has caught up to season 2 of Torchwood yet, so I've got 4 SD episodes recorded, and haven't watched one yet. And, worse yet, I'm starting to feel the same way about upconverted "supposed HD" shows broadcast on the HD channels. So, right now, despite all of the so-called HD channels, there's really only a few programs that are in true HD and worth watching.

[krazeyeyez]

most def ....... i don't care when im at a friends or something obviously, but on my tv all i seem to watch these days is blu ..... aside from the occasional rental on dvd or my stargate seasons.

[Blaumann]

I like to have films or tv shows in the best quality available. Sometimes this means buying the DVD and i don´t mind. Guess i am not a HighDef snob then.