Blu-ray vs HDDVD who will win?

[newtechman]

Who do you think has the high definition edge in the market today? What are the advantages of blu-ray over HDDVD? What are the advantages of HDDVD over blu-ray? I have noticed that some studios are releasing blu-ray and HDDVD's. I think in the end the winner will come down to who releases more content on what format. Just like it did in the 1980's with VCR's vs Betamax. Betamax had better quality picture but you could only get 1 hour on a tape and VCR's could fit a whole 2 hour movie so there was much more content on the VCR.

[dobyblue]

This forum is to discuss Blu-ray, not to discuss HD DVD vs. Blu-ray.
You can get plenty of that over at AVS.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by newtechman

Who do you think has the high definition edge in the market today? What are the advantages of blu-ray over HDDVD? What are the advantages of HDDVD over blu-ray? I have noticed that some studios are releasing blu-ray and HDDVD's. I think in the end the winner will come down to who releases more content on what format.

The edge in format penetration is being established as we speak. (Laserdiscs had at one point 10,000 titles, Blu-ray and HD-DVD combined have less than 200 different titles at the moment, so we are at a very very early stage)

Although you could explore this forum and website to find most of the answers to your questions, I'll try to reply as I have done in the past for persons with such questions


In my view the advantages of Blu-ray are various: Latest optical disc technology, higher capacity (25GB per layer vs 15GB) (more features possible and/or more space for the next advantage ): higher potential quality because of higher bitrate (54 Mb/s total vs 36.55 Mb/s , or 40 MB/s for video alone vs 20-28 MB/s max depending on audio formats used) (See? here bitrate and space already interacting in a real world situation start bringing the potential maximun quality of one format down), more than 80% Consumer Electronics and Computer manufacturer support, 90% Film Studios support including exclusive 20th Century Fox, Disney, MGM, and Sony-Columbia-Tri-Star, durabilis or similar anti-scratch coatings, further future expansion of storage capacity and bitrates for future applications, etc etc.


Advantages of HD-DVD? Since it's a more established optical disc technology, it arrived earlier and was probably cheaper to implement, but for various reasons (one of them making "Combo" discs to lure people hesitating jumping into HD and do more things at once), that seems not to have translated into cheaper average HD-DVD disc prices as predicted.

If you're thinking content might win the day, right now, with less months on the market Blu-ray movie content is on par with HD-DVD content, (about a 100 movies in each format, the difference varies each week from 5-15 more on HD-DVD but each week that passes this number shrinks little by little (Only 2 HD-DVD movies released this week vs 7 on Blu-ray for example) and there seems to be more titles announced for Blu than for Red although this always could be subject to change)

Right now 60% of the total 166 movie titles on High Definition discs formats are available in Blu-ray. 39% of these movie titles have been released by Blu-ray exclusive studios and 27% by the HD-DVD exclusive studios.

Originally Posted by newtechman

Just like it did in the 1980's with VCR's vs Betamax. Betamax had better quality picture but you could only get 1 hour on a tape and VCR's could fit a whole 2 hour movie so there was much more content on the VCR.

You bring a very good point that applies to BD vs HD-DVD, but this time the roles are reversed.

Betamax at the 1 hour speed was better than VHS at the 2 hour speed, but then again who watches only Short films instead of Feature length films?

When Beta tape speed was slowed down to fit most films, and particulary when better audio "codecs" like Hi-Fi sound where added to both video formats. there was no quality advantage for Beta while VHS was geting more releases in both content, and players.

So in this situation we have a format that has: Better storage capacity, better video quality even when including the higher bit superior audio codecs, while simultaneously having more consumer electronics player support, and more movie studio support.

So... which one has the "edge"...

[Blue]

There is one other thing to note with Beta vs VHS. Licensing for Beta was prohibitively expensive, so there were only a few companies making products. VHS was very cheap so supported by nearly all the CE companies. Does this sound familiar today with number of companies? Sony's next big experiment in new technology was the CD. This time they teamed up with Philips.

[newtechman]

I have noticed that HD-DVD players are considerably less expencive than blu-ray players. Another advantage of HD-DVD are that the format that most channels broadcast in are in HD and not blu-ray is there a blu-ray t.v. out there or is the best that you can get High definition?

[Blue]

Originally Posted by newtechman

I have noticed that HD-DVD players are considerably less expencive than blu-ray players. Another advantage of HD-DVD are that the format that most channels broadcast in are in HD and not blu-ray is there a blu-ray t.v. out there or is the best that you can get High definition?

Correct HD-DVD players are cheaper (only due to heavy subsidisation). The Current batch of HD-DVD players will remain expensive to make due to their design. The building blocks are in place for the Panasonic to be very cheap (however if you can make a quick buck and recover R&D…).
As for the rest of your post I assume you are joking!
Seriously the most common way for HD Movies to be transported around the place for broadcast is on the humble old fashioned VHS tape (Digital of course).

I’m unsure which of the following fits you post
1. It’s a Joke – Good one
2. Your on something pretty good – Please share with the rest of us (must be supplied free & must be legal)
3. You don’t know what you are talking about – watch and learn (feel free to ask questions, but don't post rubbish)
4. You’re the ultimate HD-DVD fan boy intent on creating trouble – leave now

[Jeff®]

Originally Posted by newtechman

I have noticed that HD-DVD players are considerably less expencive than blu-ray players. Another advantage of HD-DVD are that the format that most channels broadcast in are in HD and not blu-ray is there a blu-ray t.v. out there or is the best that you can get High definition?

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by newtechman

Another advantage of HD-DVD are that the format that most channels broadcast in are in HD and not blu-ray is there a blu-ray t.v. out there or is the best that you can get High definition?

Why AOD chose to rename itself HD-DVD

[PurpleAardvark]

I could see this one turning ugly. I will state one simple fact about HD DVD. It is cheaper because it uses cheaper components. Toshiba has a really bad reputation for its DVD players being junk. So I will say this politely and hope the message gets across. Cheaper does not = better. You get what you pay for and nothing will ever change that. HD DVD has no advantages at this point in time. The clearity of the new bd movies coming out is amazing, the PS3 is the same price as the HD A1. The A2 has been delayed. Both have the same codecs avalible. BD has more studio support, more company support, and more quality names behind it. BD DVD's have more space on them. BD has more advertising behind it. BD has more store support, CC and BB both are pushing BD. When is the last time you saw HD DVD on sale at either for ANY of their products. The only thing HD DVD out numbers BD is movie titles and defective players. BD titles will soon out number HD DVD titles. So with out saying to much more I will say HD DVD is nothing short of a botched format, they had a chance in the begining to make a big boom into the market but it turned out to be a mouse fart.

[dialog_gvf]

Apparently "you get what you pay for" and the general logic of early generation technology has been thrown out the window.

I would suspect many people not interested in HD DVD have held off because Toshiba (and the PS/3) have made the stand-alone BD players seem expensive.

I wonder how Toshiba/Sony will be treated over the coming decades, if they've permanently killed the consumer willingness to properly cover the costs of introducing advanced CE technologies.

I am curious how the HD-XA2 will be. That's priced appropriately.

Is it also not amusing how the net price of HD DVD is going UP for G2?

Gary

[WriteSimply]

An interesting comparison. Below is the MSRP$999 Toshiba HD-XA2 courtesy of Crutchfield.


And here's the MSRP$599 Playstation 3 60GB courtesy of a blogsite.


On the basis of shallowness alone, I take the latter for its looks.


fuad

[Sidewinder]

actually this is the 20gb PS3 on your picture...the 60gb version got a horizontal silver lining above the slot-in drive...



http://www.ps3informer.com/playstati...-20gb-60gb.jpg

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Sidewinder

actually this is the 20gb PS3 on your picture...the 60gb version got a horizontal silver lining above the slot-in drive...



http://www.ps3informer.com/playstati...-20gb-60gb.jpg

Yep, you're right. Still gaw-jus though.


fuad

[Deciazulado]

In my best Alfred Hitchcock voice: Why... that looks just like my night clock!

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by newtechman

I have noticed that HD-DVD players are considerably less expencive than blu-ray players. Another advantage of HD-DVD are that the format that most channels broadcast in are in HD and not blu-ray is there a blu-ray t.v. out there or is the best that you can get High definition?

I call Bravo Sierra on this guy...It was a great laugh though..

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by sltmag

I call Bravo Sierra on this guy...It was a great laugh though..

Wow, Blu-ray TV lol, I guess the use of the letters HD may have some effect on less than smart people.

[Polyh3dron]

Originally Posted by newtechman

I have noticed that HD-DVD players are considerably less expencive than blu-ray players. Another advantage of HD-DVD are that the format that most channels broadcast in are in HD and not blu-ray is there a blu-ray t.v. out there or is the best that you can get High definition?

Funniest post EVAR.

[frankc4s]

Apart from Toshiba, who else makes or plans to make HD-DVD players

Cheers

FC

[Blackraven]

Originally Posted by frankc4s

Apart from Toshiba, who else makes or plans to make HD-DVD players

Cheers

FC

Well, maybe Lite-on (but then again, Lite-on is neutral with slight bias to Blu-ray).

So, the only primary/exclusive manufacturer of HD-DVD devices is Toshiba only. Whereas for Blu-ray, you have AT LEAST 5 CE companies producing players (Sony, Samsung, Pioneer, Panasonic and Philips).

5:1 this year with two or three more joining the fray next year (Sharp, JVC and LG) thus making it 8:1 after CES 2007 convention.

[frankc4s]

Not a fan of Toshiba products at all, although their sewing machines rock apparently

I did consider getting the xbox360 add-on hd dvd drive but then the beer ran out and I sobered up.

Still holding out for either the Pioneer or the PS3.....to be honest probably get both

Cheers

FC