Recent Convert

[Capmaster]

Hi, I'm Capmaster. I'm new
I run a discussion forum (since Feb 2005) called The Conversation Pit. I used to be a moderator on the forum at Videohelp.com before that, and have been in the DVD game since 2002. I also have an internet business called Cap's Video. I do video editing, authoring and VHS-to-DVD transfers.

But enough about me. I'm here to discuss Blu-ray.

I admit it - I was an HD-DVD fanboy. I saw great things for it. The fact that it can be made using existing fab equipment, unlike Blu-ray, had me convinced. Media would likely be cheaper, too, although the capacity is lower.

I was convinced of HD-DVD's success after I got wind of Walmart's deal with a mainland Chinese company to produce 2 million blue laser HD-DVD player cores. Last I checked that was still on. Correct me if I'm wrong.

But the last few months show what can happen when the wrong company is pushing it for the wrong reasons. In this case, Toshiba.

Toshiba was the early developer and champion for the HD-DVD format, as you all know. Then, somewhere along the line, the dark side won them over and they saw nothing but dollar signs for themselves.

Toshiba makes truckloads of money from their laptops. They saw HD-DVD as a mere marketing tool for their own benefit. Witness the announcement last year that they would be making a laptop HD-DVD burner. Very strange. Usually in the PC world a desktop burner is announced first, then it is scaled down for laptops. It's very rare for a new technology to debut in a laptop. But Toshiba didn't announce a desktop burner, the SD-H903A, until Jan 07.

That should have given it away for me and raised the red flags. But I had hope - I don't personally care for Sony or their draconian DRM "studios over customers" gestapo-like tactics (remember their wishes to implant a destructive virus in anyone's PC who would <gasp> download an MP3 without paying royalties?), and I saw this whole format war as another opportunity for them to repeat their Beta gaffe, and get kicked to the curb by HD-DVD. And I would be the first to laugh at them

I used to be a huge Sony fan before that whole DRM mess.

But it seems Toshiba is dropping the ball on an even larger scale. And HD-DVD is quickly fizzling. Studios are jumping on the Blu-ray bandwagon with regularity. Blu-ray is doing the kicking now, and HD-DVD is doing the curb-kissing.

So I must set aside my hatred for Sony and embrace Blu-ray. I'm chomping at the bit to get started using it, now that HD-DVD is fading.

I'm now waiting for the media to drop. It's still about 10 bucks a pop. When it gets to 5, I'm off and running

[matthewrounds]

Welcome to the forum!

[BTBuck1]

Welcome aboard.

As someone who owns both, I can tell you that I enjoy BD about 2:1 over
HDDVD. It's not that HDDVD is bad, it's great...it's just that Blu-ray disc has gotten so good, so fast by so many studios/ce manufacturers that it is easy to declare them King.

[rogue_zero_one]

Welcome! It's good to see some people aren't ingnorant or oblivious of the facts that are presented to them and have too much of an ego to admit defeat. and so i praise you for your courage and post. you are the stronger man.

[theknub]

welcome

and no, there is currently no known development with a chinese company for hd-dvd players. if anything, there MAY be something for BR but it is still unknown

[GasCat]

I hate Sony too even though I have a PS3. Blu-Ray is not all about that company.

As for DRM, it became an integral part of products to the ally of Toshiba - M$. I find it ironic how M$ has been able to use what they embrace negatively against Blu-Ray. They have some of the most talented people in marketing.

welcome to the forums.

[Capmaster]

Thanks for the warm welcome, all

@theknub - Thanks. I had my suspicions about it being bogus. The HD-DVD message boards were already doing a victory dance over that one. I believe it was originally reported on the AVS forum, but I haven't read through recent posts there in quite awhile. It was probably a little bit of wishful thinking, and a little bit of assumption there

@GasCat - So true. And just the fact M$ backs something is probably good enough reason to reject it

@BTBuck1 - Thanks. There's nothing like first-hand experience, is there?

@rogue_zero_one - Thanks. I appreciate your comments. But I was never a flag-waving, foaming-at-the-mouth, rabid HD-DVD fanboy. So I didn't really have to tuck my tail when coming over to Blu-ray. I had just predicted they would win. I see the eventual winning of Blu-ray as a victory mainly for us, the consumer. The sooner the dust settles, the sooner we can get on with building our libraries of HD goodies. And the sooner the price of media will drop. Since I buy blank media by the thousands, it's not a trivial matter

I've been holding off on plunking down serious money for one format or the other. I've seen posts by people who have, and I suspect their fanaticism over one format is at least partly due to the fact they have a sizable investment in it, and want to see it win so they're not up a creek.

I'm old enough to remember the VHS/Beta format war. At one point you could walk into a video rental store and see glass cases of VHS tapes, and on the other side, glass cases of Beta tapes. As soon as VHS really started pulling away in rental numbers, the rental stores dropped Beta like a bad habit

I thought the same would happen with the DVD-R/DVD+R war. Never happened. The hardware manufacturers accommodated both. Remember the first cross-format burner? Marketed by <coughcough> Sony?

So far I've found these prices. My list is probably not the lowest you can find, but is ballpark:

Blu-ray Standalone recorder: $3500
HD-DVD Standalone recorder: $2500

Blu-ray media (SL): $10/ea. (many brands available)
HD-DVD media (SL): $10/ea. (2 brands available)

Blu-ray Standalone player: $450 (many brands available)
HD-DVD Standalone player: $350 (one brand available)

Blu-ray PC burner: $450 (many brands available)
HD-DVD PC burner: First gen still MIA

Glad to be here. You look like an intelligent and respectful forum. I've seen a few really nasty ones, and it's nice to see mature discussion instead of flame-fests

[jedisinclair]

Originally Posted by Capmaster

Thanks for the warm welcome, all

Glad to be here. You look like an intelligent and respectful forum. I've seen a few really nasty ones, and it's nice to see mature discussion instead of flame-fests

That's what drew me to this board early on when I was debating the two formats. I really appreciated the intelligent fact pushing here instead of just bashing "the other guy". I mean, when you make comparisons, you have to put down the lesser of the two, but here it was done maturely and helped me understand what was going on. Over at AVS, it was like "Blu-ray sucks" and no facts to prove to me that that was the case... so I bought into Blu-ray and haven't looked back... thanks to everyone here for that!

[Amel]

Originally Posted by GasCat

I hate Sony too even though I have a PS3. Blu-Ray is not all about that company.

me too

besides my bluray/playstation collection, I don't think I would ever buy anything else from them

I'm a Samsung guy all the way

btw, welcom cap!

[Rup_Muk]

Originally Posted by jedisinclair

That's what drew me to this board early on when I was debating the two formats. I really appreciated the intelligent fact pushing here instead of just bashing "the other guy". I mean, when you make comparisons, you have to put down the lesser of the two, but here it was done maturely and helped me understand what was going on. Over at AVS, it was like "Blu-ray sucks" and no facts to prove to me that that was the case... so I bought into Blu-ray and haven't looked back... thanks to everyone here for that!

Jedi,
Thank you for the comments about us users here... Yes, you've hit the nail on the head - we are "good" in that we give reasons, or at least try to, before saying something or the other "sucks".

CAPMASTER:
Welcome. I look forward to reading more insightful comments from you... You seem to be at the forefront of authoring, therefore have to know a lot of the specifications and the benefits thereof.

Rup.

[blueyeboy]

Yes I too converted from my Xbox add on.......I had nothing against Blu Ray but it was such a cheap way into hi def. I recently picked up the next gen Panny and LOVE it.

[Capmaster]

@Amel - Thank you
I'm becoming a Samsung fan myself. I bought a YEPP MP3 player of theirs a few years ago and was very impressed, but that wasn't enough to do it. What did it was our recent purchase of a Sammy 61" DLP HDTV. A magnificent set! It replaced a <cough> Sony 53" CRT rear projector

@Rup - I've had a few turns around the block, but I'm no "expert". Just more familiar with all the different ways to get into trouble

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by Capmaster

Glad to be here. You look like an intelligent and respectful forum. I've seen a few really nasty ones, and it's nice to see mature discussion instead of flame-fests

Glad to have you. For the most part we try to be respectful, we have our bad days also

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by Amel

me too

besides my bluray/playstation collection, I don't think I would ever buy anything else from them

I'm a Samsung guy all the way

btw, welcom cap!

x3.

Still not a "fan" of Sony, but Blu-Ray is doing it right. I was "in" to HD-DVD months ago because I like you, was suckered by a false prophet. I found this site and learned the truth Since then, I picked up a PS3 and started on my way to BD fun! Have not looked back.

[What?NoPudding?]

I also switched from HD DVD to Blu-ray. Dumped my Toshiba and HD DVDs and getting the amazon cart filled with a new Samsung BD-1200 and 15 BR discs.

[movies3]

welcome to the forums! glad to have ya