Salt Lake Tribune advocating jump to HDM now, "Blu-ray"

[sodrock]

http://www.sltrib.com/entertainment/ci_7620353

Take the plunge into high-def DVD water
By Vince Horiuchi
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 12/02/2007 11:21:50 PM MST


This season, a lot of people have been asking me if it's worth jumping on to the high-definition DVD bandwagon.
Despite an ugly high-def disc format war that is raging between the Sony-backed Blu-ray disc and Toshiba-supported HD-DVD, I'm almost ready to tell people to wipe the sweat from their brow and go for it. This isn't just the advice of a known early adopter, either.
If you own a high-definition television, which has resolution much finer than a regular TV, you'll marvel at a picture that's six times sharper. The problem is, the number of channels broadcasting in HD is still limited. So being able to watch movies in HD is another reason to own that HD set.
And the HD disc formats have superior sound, beyond the usual surround sound experience. If you have a more-than-decent stereo system hooked to your television, take advantage of it with an HD disc that uses high-definition audio as well as video. Believe it or not, you'll hear the difference, especially with a sound effects-heavy movie like "Pirates of the Caribbean."
If you decide to pull the trigger on buying a player, the first big question is: Which format?

I say Blu-ray. Here's why:

Since the beginning of the year, Blu-ray movies have outsold HD-DVD discs in the U.S. at least 2 to 1. In Europe, it's nearly 3 to 1 in favor of Blu-ray.
According to Nielsen VideoScan data, Blu-ray represented 72.6 percent to HD-DVD's 27.4 percent of all high-definition discs sold in America on Black Friday (the first day of holiday shopping after Thanksgiving). And this is after the HD-DVD people introduced a $199 budget disc player at Wal-Marts.
But Blu-ray is the format used in the PlayStation 3 system, which now sells for $399, and other under-$300 players are due soon.
Finally, more studios support the Blu-ray format exclusively than HD-DVD. Exclusive studio support for Blu-ray includes Disney, which is a boon for families, and Sony and Fox. Of the 10 biggest grossing films this year, five of them are or will be distributed exclusively on Blu-ray with three of them going HD-DVD only.
And for those who think watching movies streamed from the Internet to TV is the future, think again.
That's an idea that won't take off until someone figures out how to get the Internet into living rooms and onto TVs without paying extra for a new receiver box. Even Apple couldn't even do it with its Apple TV device.
So if you who have a high-definition TV - and we're growing in number every day - jump into the high-def DVD water. It's fine.

[Jorrel]

This is awesome publicity. It's better than placing an ad in the paper and newspapers reach a demographic of people who most likely aren't members of our website. This is excellent news.

[Verbal]

I thought Mormons didn't believe in technology?

Oh wait...that's the Amish.

[dpomp]

Originally Posted by Verbal

I thought Mormons didn't believe in technology?

Oh wait...that's the Amish.

hahaha!

[yspkrk]

Actually, mormons are very smart and wise because they are always awake without smoking and drinking!
So... Blu-ray is a smart and wise choice apparently!

[JAGUAR1977]

What's this, an article with the very latest, upto date info, who'd have thought!

[CptGreedle]

Originally Posted by Verbal

I thought Mormons didn't believe in technology?

Oh wait...that's the Amish.

*head desk* LOL

[CptGreedle]

This is cool. I like seeing more positive and logical reports like this one. It does not say anything bad or negative about HD DVD, but it does show that Blu-ray is doing better with sales and support and releases.

A+ reporting old chap!

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by Verbal

I thought Mormons didn't believe in technology?

Oh wait...that's the Amish.

...and Hutterites, I think. huh huh huh, he said, "Hooter"

[radagast]

Originally Posted by yspkrk

Actually, mormons are very smart and wise because they are always awake without smoking and drinking!
So... Blu-ray is a smart and wise choice apparently!

Or maybe the LDS church has decided to invest a quite substantial large sum of money in Blu-ray. They have many businesses including Marriot Hotels.

[grainock]

I'm actually a Mormon (Latter-Day Saint,LDS) who lives in Salt Lake and works at EA Games in SLC. I didn't find it too surprising to see this in the paper as I tend to find supporters of Blu-ray everywhere out here. Whenever I can put in a plug for Blu I do. It's definately the best format for all the reasons the article said and more.

Gibbs

[yspkrk]

Originally Posted by radagast

Or maybe the LDS church has decided to invest a quite substantial large sum of money in Blu-ray. They have many businesses including Marriot Hotels.

Maybe... We never know.

Originally Posted by grainock

I'm actually a Mormon (Latter-Day Saint,LDS) who lives in Salt Lake and works at EA Games in SLC. I didn't find it too surprising to see this in the paper as I tend to find supporters of Blu-ray everywhere out here. Whenever I can put in a plug for Blu I do. It's definately the best format for all the reasons the article said and more.

I graduated from BYU and majored in animation. I'm in California now but was interested in video game studios there. I'm glad you do Blu as I do!!!

[CptGreedle]

I graduated with a degree in animation and I want to go back to school for more. I want to learn how to make movie quality graphics and such... I just hope I can get into a good college for a masters degree. I want to work in movies (or games). My real goal is to make my own animations that I can put on DVD and BD and get distributed by a major studio.
I have a lot of work to do....

[Titan]

Originally Posted by radagast

Or maybe the LDS church has decided to invest a quite substantial large sum of money in Blu-ray. They have many businesses including Marriot Hotels.

Actually Marriot Hotels is just owned by a member of the church, not the church itself. Count me in as another Mormon BYU graduate who's been giving plenty of love to the blu side since February

[xanderville]

I live out here in Utah and it really does not surprise me to see an article like this in SLC. Utah will always be a big family state and Disney films are very appealing to families out here. Not just for family approved movies but for the fact kids can stop whatever they are doing and watch an entire Disney movie and calm down.

I have seen Blu ray sell out here at a higher rate then it does on average every where else. And the influence of Blu Ray is more abundant.

[grainock]

I actually graduated in animation at BYU in '05. Pretty cool that we happen to visit the same blog. EA was hiring Concept artists on some upcoming games so I took it.

Cheers,

Gibbs

[PS34EVER]

Must be nice hearing all of the things about Blu-ray up there. Our major paper in the Twin Cities area always has this idiot guy writing every Monday about how wonderful HD-DVD is and the title of his article three weeks ago was: HD-DVD: the clear winner. It was sickening. I am trying to find it, but cannot. I will though, post the follow up article that he wrote 2 weeks ago. I’ll post it in around 3 hours or so.

[Living Near Shamu]

This is excellent news! I wonder if a story like this can be picked up by the major news sites.

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by radagast

Or maybe the LDS church has decided to invest a quite substantial large sum of money in Blu-ray. They have many businesses including Marriot Hotels.

NOt everything is a conspiracy!

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by grainock

I'm actually a Mormon (Latter-Day Saint,LDS) who lives in Salt Lake and works at EA Games in SLC. I didn't find it too surprising to see this in the paper as I tend to find supporters of Blu-ray everywhere out here. Whenever I can put in a plug for Blu I do. It's definately the best format for all the reasons the article said and more.

Gibbs

Well, it's good to know that Blu is the choice of the Saints!!