You're right, RC Cola. The lack of HDMI(as well as analog outs) on the 360 add-on means lossless audio formats like Dolby TrueHD won't be supported. Granted, very few HD-DVDs offer it right now(I believe out of the 57 I own, only 5 include Dolby TrueHD). But if you're looking for a futureproof player, the 360 add-on does have its limitations. On the flipside though, the 360 add-on DOES support 1080p whereas only the most expensive Toshiba player which currently retails for $999.99 offers the same. The rest of the Toshiba units are 1080i. And I agree, the PS3 is easily the best Blu-ray player available when it comes to bang for the buck. It has HDMI 1.3, supports 1080p, has really quick load times, and can decode Dolby TrueHD(DTS HD-MA will reportedly be added via firmware this spring).
Speaking of 360. I justed downloaded an HD-episode off their VideoMarketplace service. I'll let u know what i think.
Yeah, I forgot that the other players didn't support 1080p. I think I was including the $600 player Toshiba announced at CES in my mind, but it doesn't come out until the spring I believe.
I was at CES. I thought Shadowrun looked cool, people were playing PC vs 360. Also Halo2 on PC was very smooth. They also had Hellgates (PC) that looked cool. I thought it was a shooter, but it was one of those MMROPG deals.
Great article on what high def is doing to pron. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/22/b...526fc82277506a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss "The biggest problem is razor burn."
I believe Vivid just released Debbie does Dallas on HD and Blu boy. So whichever sells more units may get their support?
Blockbuster chooses Blu-ray: is the war over? In a huge blow to Toshiba, Universal, and the rest of the HD DVD devotees, rental giant Blockbuster has decided to stock only Blu-ray discs in the vast majority of its nationwide locations, although HD DVD titles will continue to be offered online and in the 250 (out of 1,450) stores that have been testing both formats since last year. Blockbuster VP Matthew Smith revealed to the AP that the decision to go with Blu-ray -- which will reportedly be announced tomorrow -- stemmed from an overwhelming customer preference for those titles in the test markets, accounting for over 70% of all HD discs rented. Interestingly enough, it seems that content -- and not price -- was the deciding factor for consumers, with Blu-ray-only hits such as the Spiderman and Pirates of the Caribbean films apparently outmatching equivalent HD DVD exclusives. While it's still a little too soon to declare Blu-ray the outright winner, this Blockbuster decision only contributes to the momentum that Sony's darling has had of late -- momentum that at this point, might be too difficult for the other guys to counter. source: http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
btw, I think Blu-Ray sucks ass.... out of all the displays I've seen, again this is my personal opinion based on displays at various electronic stores I've seen, HD-DVD blows Blu-Ray out of the water IMO. btw, the dual-formated HD/BluRay DVD player is out, saw it at Fry's yesterday going for $1100. the only reason why they are more Blu-Ray "sales/customers" is because the PS3 owner HAD NO CHOICE but to have it, so, uh yea, thats why there are more Blu-Ray owners than HD.
i have a blu-ray standalone player and the hd add for the 360 and of the two formats there is little if any PQ difference, they both look amazing imo. The one thing I do hate about blu-ray is the load times, it takes forever for one of my blu-ray discs to load up (and I supposedly got one of the better 2nd gen players with faster loads) compared to hd. my hd-dvds load up in literally seconds like a normal dvd. as for electronic stores it really depends on the demo disc they are playing, some stores will play anything in the hd/blu-ray player instead of trying to put in something that looks good. I remember the best buy near her was playing the terrible 5th element blu-ray (now re-mastered and i think re-releasing in a few weeks) as their demo. but blockbuster doing only blu-ray is a huge plus for sony...i ended up getting a player mainly for the exclusive catalog blu-ray ones if all the movies were being released in both formats i would have stayed hd
There is no noticeable difference in quality between the two. There had to be some other variable (tv or movie) that contributed to what you saw. Blu-ray discs hold significantly more information on a single disc than hd-dvds. (50 gigs v. 30) so the consumer is better off with a blu-ray standard. I'm not exactly sure you are making much of a point with your comment on PS3s...i mean, that's the idea. Sony bundled a blu-ray player with a device that is targeted to the 18-35 male demographic that purchases most of everything (movies included). That also means that the number of blu-ray owners will grow steadily as the number of PS3s are sold. That's a nice guarantee for studios. More people are choosing Blu-ray over HD-DVD because there are more movie studios backing the format.
The problem with Blu-ray is not the capacity, its the video quality (if you can tell the difference). HD DVD uses VC1 compression which is newer and superior to MPEG (many Blu-ray disc still use MPEG). Also the interactive 'in movie' features are better for HD DVD. but blu-ray has more movies. so that's the big advantage. picture quality? only super nerds can tell the difference. the real winner in the HD format??? downloadable HD content.
