HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray // Sonys Playstation 3

[ph303]

I guess the main problem is that most people don´t know anything about the benefits of hdtv yet. If you take a look at the electronic stores in europe they only promote the size of the LCD displays and most customers don´t care about the resolution and dont´t know anything about hdtv when buying a lcd / plasma tv. They only care about the picture size and the price of the tv. No wonder cause in most stores they only show standard resolution television even on displays which are
capable of playing hd resolution (this may be different in the US /Japan).
I guess it would be smart of Sony to equip the Playstation 3 with an DVI Out. I guess many gamers who will buy the PS3 already own a tft computer display which can display 720p.
I hope blu-ray will win the battle cause of the higher storage capacity and I also think that the PS3 is the most important trump for Sony, cause most people see no reason tho buy an hd-dvd / blu-ray player cause dvd works fine for them and a new television would be to expensive. But if you get it for free with your game machine, maybe with a hd demo disc included and don´t have to buy additional hardware you will change to blue-ray cause of the much better picture quality; but they have to solve the problem most lcd´s can´t handle any copy protection.
I dont´t understand why sony will release their blu-ray players + prerecorded discs after the first hd-dvd´s / players come out; I guess
this could be a big mistake. But in my opinion the software lineup for hd-dvd players shown by Warner, Paramount etc. is a just a big joke; most of the movies are b-movies (like the most wmv-hd releases are).

I confident and hope blue ray will make it.........

[zombie]

It's sad to hear that any store in Europe would show SD material on their HDTVs. That's not going to impress anyone. As for Blu-ray, IMO it will be a big success. If HD-DVD plays it cards right we may have two formats which survive in the years to come. With most of the hardware support, the two largest PC companies, and PS3, I just don't see any feasible way Blu-ray will end up failing.

[Rob]

The reason for the lack of hi-def demo's, is due to the absence of any hi-def material in the UK. Unlike USA/JAP we don't have hi-def tv terrestial or Saterlite. There is 1 channel broadcast by Euro 1080 but this is barely worth talking about. If you've seen the programme listings you'll know why. Then you'd need a new dish, box etc. Far too much hassle and expense for little benefit. If consumers can't access hi-def material on their tv, then why show them. They'll only be dissapointed when they watch SD tv on it at home. Expect to see hi-def demo's come 2006/7 when Sky start their hi-def service. Probably limited to sports, movies and pay per view events.

[zombie]

Yuck, no HD content across the ocean sucks! I guess any HD disc isn't going to take off faster than a snail's pace over there. Well at least you have the higher resolution DVDs. Are standard new TVs in Europe capable of taking advantage of 540 lines of resolution? You've got digital broadcasts right?

[Rob]

Originally Posted by 720p

Yuck, no HD content across the ocean sucks! I guess any HD disc isn't going to take off faster than a snail's pace over there. Well at least you have the higher resolution DVDs. Are standard new TVs in Europe capable of taking advantage of 540 lines of resolution? You've got digital broadcasts right?

Uk broadcasting has had 575i 50hz lines for 20-30 years. In the past we had the better tv signal compared to the USA where it was 480i 60hz. We've only had digital tv for about 5 years. The Govt. has had to keep pushing back the analogue switch off due to slow take up. Even though digital freeview boxes are just £40 or so. 2006 has now become 2012! This is probably the same time we'll get terrestial HDTV. Problem with Sky's 2006 hi-def service is that it will only work via HDMI or dvi with hdcp. Most panels in the UK only have component. My LCD tv for example, has a 1366 by 768 res, can accept 720p/1080i but has no digital video input. Having only bought the tv in the last 6 months, there's no way I'll be buying a new set in a year or 2. If hi-def discs are also only playable via HDMI/DVI I'll be screwed.

As you say, hi-def disc formats will probably take off pretty slowly over here. I know people who either don't have a dvd playe yet, or only use their PS2's. Some have only bought into dvds recently. Whether they'll be wanting to buy into a new format so soon is debatable.