I pre-ordered HD DVD

[Sony1]

Well people I did it. I pre-ordered the toshiba HD DVD at Bestbuy.com today. My reasons for getting this player instead of the Blue-ray is that it makes more sence to get a High Def Player for 500.$ as apposed to 1000.$, my intentions are to get a PS3 anyway so why not just wait until that comes out in November(hopefully) for half the price. It just makes sence to do it this way. I wont be spending much on purchasing HD DVD's because I am told that Netflix and Blockbuster will both cary HD DVD's and renting them will be a better way to go until we find out what happins in the long term. Lets be honest here, this DVD war is going to go on for a while I dont see any short term winners here. I was told buy bestbuy that it could be here as early as the 14th but I will keep my fingers crossed that it comes out this month.

[thunderhawk]

Let's hope you'll be satisfied

[zombie]

Perhaps you should change your name to Sellout1.

No just kidding, I hope you are happy with your purchase although I am surprised since you use the name of the biggest BD supporter's company as your handle.

[Rob]

I don't see much wrong in spending $500 on a HD-DVD player. IMO it's very cheap for a first generation player so even if it fails it hasn't cost much to see what the format can do. I'd be sorely tempted to do the same if it were to be released in the Uk at an equivelent price of £300. My first dvd playe was a budget Toshiba in 2001 and that cost £220 but retailed for at least £300. This many years after the formats release and when you factor in 5 years of inflation etc...

[Sony1]

Don't get me wrong I am still supporting Blue-ray, although I must admit I want my High Def and I want it now! I just bought a 55in 3LCD Sony Wega last October so I am looking forward to seeing what it can do with HD DVD. What I really want is a Blue-Ray Recorder however I think that will take some time for the price to come down on that. 500$ is not allot to ask for HD over the summer, I hope it lives up to my expectations.

[blukrank]

HD DVD came out in Japan on March 31 bundled with 2 movies,one of the movies being Resident Evil 1,as Toshiba owns the rights to that movie in Japan.If you cant wait,import it. I wonder if HD DVD discs would play on US players?If they can I would love to get Resident Evil 1 on HD.Well I'm sure Resident Evil 1 will be out here in the states sometime in the future by Sony for Blu-Ra.

[Alex Pallas]

Originally Posted by blukrank

HD DVD came out in Japan on March 31 bundled with 2 movies,one of the movies being Resident Evil 1,as Toshiba owns the rights to that movie in Japan.If you cant wait,import it. I wonder if HD DVD discs would play on US players?If they can I would love to get Resident Evil 1 on HD.Well I'm sure Resident Evil 1 will be out here in the states sometime in the future by Sony for Blu-Ra.

this doesn't make sense, it's a sony pictures film

[Marwin]

Originally Posted by Alex Pallas

this doesn't make sense, it's a sony pictures film

The distribution rights vary from country to country, I think they might have the rights in Japan.

[phloyd]

There is a region code '2' clearly visible on the back of the Toshiba player.

I would steer clear.

I agree that $500 isn't all that much to have a player to mess around with. Though I personally have enough other things that I want to buy that I am not in any hurry to get one. Perhaps when they are $99 to get rid of them hehe...

[Sony1]

If they eventally sell for 99$ than Blue-ray will loose for sure!

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Sony1

If they eventally sell for 99$ than Blue-ray will loose for sure!

Not if they're a closeout! That'd mean there's no more movies being made for HD DVD and the format is dead. OTOH, if both formats survive awhile then we may see both HD DVD & BD hardware for $99 sooner rather than later.

[marzetta7]

Originally Posted by Rob

I don't see much wrong in spending $500 on a HD-DVD player. IMO it's very cheap for a first generation player so even if it fails it hasn't cost much to see what the format can do. I'd be sorely tempted to do the same if it were to be released in the Uk at an equivelent price of £300. My first dvd playe was a budget Toshiba in 2001 and that cost £220 but retailed for at least £300. This many years after the formats release and when you factor in 5 years of inflation etc...

I can see much wrong in spending $500 on a HD DVD player. Mainly, because if more and more people share this type of opinion, the longer HD DVD will take to die, again causing more confusion to the public. This is precisely why Toshiba went to such drastic measures in trying to push their format. The quicker we can have only one format (Blu-ray), the better in my opinion.

[blukrank]

WalMart is now taking pre orders for HD DVD players,and if you do a search for Blu-Ray they are taking pre orders for Blu-Ray discs from Lions Gates,no Blu-ray players yet.Of course who buys Electronics from Walmart? I came close to buying there 32"LCD iLo TV,but luckly I did'nt.

[Sony1]

If Walmart is taking Pre-orders for HD DVD, than Blue-ray should be conserned. Remember the key to winning this battle is who gets their stuff in more household quicker, and cheaper. The problem with Blue-ray at the moment is their are to many GREEDY corperate people fighting over rediculous issues, and while their fighting over them other companies are filling the holes with HD DVD. I am very dispointed in the Blue-ray orginizations because they just can't get the ball rolling, and their to busy fighting over DRm, AACS, and a host of other issues that only lawers can understand. They need to get the ball rolling and if that means putting a Blue-ray player for sale at Walmart than so be it!!

[zombie]

I agree, the money does seem to matter more to the BD hardware companies that it does to Toshiba. If all of the BD players prices were cut in half we'd have a knockout by Blu-ray. That'd save me a bundle on that Pioneer I have my eye on too.

[Patrick]

I'll wait for Blu-ray and spend more to get more. I dont want hd-dvd and am not even remotely interested in it. I think Toshiba knows they will lose but have spent to much to back out now and figure they might as well make some money off of a few people that choose the wrong side in the beginning. I dont ride the fence like some. If i pick both then I am expecting both to win and that is bad for the consumer. If both win then the cost goes up cause now I have to buy 2 players and choose which movie to buy on which player, or I have to spend more for a combo player or disc. I pick ONE side that I deem Superior and better overall for the consumer (thats me) both at present and in the future, and that is Blu-ray. It has the space to go further and Durabis which Hd-dvd see's as not needed will better protect my investments (though I handle my disc with care anyway) and the ONLY downside at this point is the player cost, the movies are the same prices. But see, the players cost will drop rather quick, especially once PS3 comes out. Nothing against Toshiba, and if they were backing Blu-ray i would consider their player. I may not even buy the Sony Blu-ray player, but it will be Blu-ray. Dont give me the cheapest, (cheap doesnt last) give me the best. Its Blu-ray All the Way!

[thunderhawk]

Wow, I second that Patrick
We should think more like consumers then Blu-ray Disc backers, since we are the consumer here after all..

[marzetta7]

Originally Posted by Sony1

If Walmart is taking Pre-orders for HD DVD, than Blue-ray should be conserned. Remember the key to winning this battle is who gets their stuff in more household quicker, and cheaper. The problem with Blue-ray at the moment is their are to many GREEDY corperate people fighting over rediculous issues, and while their fighting over them other companies are filling the holes with HD DVD. I am very dispointed in the Blue-ray orginizations because they just can't get the ball rolling, and their to busy fighting over DRm, AACS, and a host of other issues that only lawers can understand. They need to get the ball rolling and if that means putting a Blue-ray player for sale at Walmart than so be it!!

I have to disagree as I think price nor first to market doesn't trump all. Price is one of many variables that go into a successful format rollout. You have to consider content (Blu-ray has more), durability (Blu-ray has better), hardware support (Blu-ray has more), and quality (Blu-ray has better). I disagree with the picture you paint in regards to GREEDY corporate people fighting over ridiculous issues such as DRM, AACS, and a host of other issues that only lawyers can only understand as it pertains to Blu-ray. HD DVD also uses AACS so they have the same issues. The ball is rolling, but keep in mind we are in an early adoption market, and Blu-ray players/recorders are priced relatively the same as what DVD players cost when they first hit the market. Moreover, as we all know, more times than not early adopters are concerned with quality over how cheap they can get things. I'm not too worried as I fully expect the PS3 to be the haymaker to KO HD DVD and their percieved price advantage. The only reason they've so aggressively priced their hardware is because 1) They know they don't have the support as 10,000 HD DVD units aren't going to saturate any type of market and 2) They don't have anything on Blu-ray when it comes to quality, durability, and content. Blu-ray has forced their (HD DVDs) hand, and let's just say their three of a kind won't beat Blu-ray's royal flush.

[shiltz]

I don't know where you are getting two of those things Blu-ray being better.

Durability, some Blu-ray disks may have a hard protective coating but it it's not the standard and Blu-ray disks have a significantly thiner protective layer than HD-DVD so I wouldn't say Blu-ray wins there, at best it's a draw.

Quality, both support 1080p so Blu-ray has no quality advantage.

[Sony1]

I have not heard what the PS3 is going to cost, but I can only imagine that if production costs alone are 800$ than the price for the PS3 is going to be significantly higher than you and the average consumer are willing to pay. If the PS3 cost's 699$ which is what I think it will(Sony can only take so-much of a loss) than that tells me that this DVD War is going to go on for a while. Possiple 5 to 10 years before something better comes down the road, and that also means that their will be no winner. Just something for all of us to consider here.