I don't know if you guys have noticed, but isn't blu-ray coming with some great looking movies! I have recently watched at least three movies in blu-ray with outstanding PQ: Black Hawk Down, Crank, and last night Casino Royale.
If so, it sure has taken Blu-Ray a while to catch up to HD-DVD in PQ. Glad to see that they are finally getting better. They must have improved their transfer process since that seems to be where it was lacking in the past. Of course, this doesn't help the whole format war issue...
Yeah, I wouldn't call it outstanding if it's only catching up to HD DVD. It sure isn't surpassing it.
Most of the BD players I have seen look outstanding and I have to say I preferred them to the HD-DVD displays I have seen.
That might be due to the fact the HDDVD were shown on Toshiba DLP, or Plasma displays while the BD were on much nicer Pioneer, Panasonic, Sony, JVC TV's.
Well, I'm using the PS3 as my Blu-ray player and the Toshiba HD-A1 as my HD DVD player on a Sony 60" SXRD, and I'm preferring the HD DVDs still, even though that player doesn't do 1080p. But yeah, HD DVD and Blu-ray media just carry information, so any differences come from mastering, encoding, and component quality. Blu-ray has more space potential, but they haven't shown why the extra space is worthwhile.
The onslaught of content paired with PS3s as an instant Blu-ray install base give it a definite advantage in dominating the market, but I still have a problem supporting it. Blu-ray wasn't made with the consumers in mind, so anytime someone sings its praises, I feel compelled to provide a counter. True, HD DVD isn't all about consumers, either, but I find its existence less insulting. If Blu-ray was really smart, though, they'd have a dummy organization create a third high-def format with three or more forms of DRM, just to look a little nicer. "Sure, we [become physically intimate with] you in two holes, but at least we leave your third hole alone."
I'm using the PS3 for Blu-ray and the 360 add on for HD DVD, I'm still partial to HD DVD, I think the PQ still edges out Blu-ray and I like the HD DVD menu system better. I just ordered Happy Feet in HD DVD that releases Tue. it is supposed to be one of the best visual and sound quality HD movies to date according to the reviews.
Do you use component outputs on your 360? That's what I'm using, and I haven't tried the VGA outputs for 1080p. It seems like it won't really be necessary. I'll probably get the limited edition black 360 (assuming it's true) with HDMI next month and let one of my friends have my current one. Or, maybe I'll have them pay me just a little so my other friends don't kick my butt.
But yeah, I have the HD DVD add-on, too, and it didn't really compare to the standalone player, except of course its start-up times were much quicker. I got it in anticipation of having a secondary system, but then I gave my second TV away, so for now it's just sitting.
I heard that Walmart had or was going to have the add-on for $130, so that's pretty cool, if true.
Quote:
Do you use component outputs on your 360?
I'm using component for the 360 and HDMI for the PS3 and I still prefer the HD DVD PQ. I wasn't aware that the 360 was coming out with HDMI, should be interesting to see how it compares with the standard version.
I've heard that the PQ is better with the standalone HD DVD players, but I'm really quite satisfied with the 360 add-on, particularly at its pricing.
Well, the rumor is that it will start out as a limited edition black 360 with a 120 GB hard drive and HDMI (cable included). People are assuming it will also have the 65nm CPU and quieter DVD drive. I'm hoping all of that is true. I'm also hoping they have a digital scaler that's as nice as Ana, the analog scaler in the current 360. The unfortunate thing is that this limited edition is rumored to be $480. I'm sure these minor hardware changes will end up in all SKUs, but I can see why they're allowing this transition happen in a limited edition. They can clear out their current stock with the new color giving a clear differentiation to minimize consumer confusion.
Many current owners are already feeling screwed by this update to the hardware, but personally, I would feel like they weren't trying if they didn't implement these changes.
Anyway, sorry to the original poster for getting so off-topic.
I was hardcore HDDVD but now I find myself slipping to the BLU side.
To the original post, I agree. I have noticed that the latest offerings on BR are as equally pleasing to the eye as anything I’ve seen on HD. The first were not on par, but I no longer have a favorite format when I buy or rent.
I recently ordered a 1080P projector that will accept a 1080P / 24fps data stream. Unfortunately, neither my X1 nor PS3 will output raw 1080P/24 data that’s stored on the disks. Currently, I have both machines set to output 1080i to my VP-50 which outputs 720P/60 to my projector. I am hoping that the PS3 will at some time get a firmware update that will pull the raw 1080P/24 data off the disk just like the Pioneer and Sony BR players do. I’m not as hopeful for the Toshiba though. Even the X2 does an incredibly cumbersome extrapolation to output 1080P/24. It pulls 1080i off the disk, applies a 2/3 drop down cadence to get a progressive 24 fps output. Now that 1080P/24 is becoming more common on display devises, Toshiba better get off their duffs and get rid of the video processor and just decode the native 1080P/24 data stored on the disks. If they don’t, BR will take the lead in video performance. It’s already got the lead in Audio seeing how Toshiba can’t seam to put a 6.1 or 7.1 uncompressed audio stream on the disk. Plus the Toshiba players have an LFE bug where it does not get a standard 10DB boost. It’s quite frustrating to me that I have to still run the 5.1 analogue outputs to my receiver so that I can adjust the LFE. If I run LPCM through HDMI, it’s low.
I'm pretty angry with Sony and how they basically force their formats on everyone... so it will be hard for me to ever go blu.
It's nice to have an alternative (HDDVD), I fear that they may be losing thou.
I am hopeful that both formats can, and will coexist. Similar to Dolby and DTS. A little competition is always good for consumers. Whatever may come of that, I’m just enjoying the hell out of both. HD is sooooooo much better than SD. I’d hate to see either one give up.
I still think that more and more hardware manufacturers will be making "combo" drives. It really will come down to different movie studios backing different formats, but with the combo players, who cares. I know, some are going to jump all over that, and there are others (I won't mention your name) that want both formats to fail. Still, why does it HAVE to be one or the other.
For example, my grill (I missed lunch today and it is nice outside, so hunger and outdoors are hitting me...) is a combo-player. (It has great burning capabilities.) While it doen't allow me to "rewrite" my food, it does play both chicken AND steak. It does them both very well. I've got one burner that will do the chicken at just the right heat wavelengths (not super hot, so it cooks all the way through), and another burner for the steaks' required heating wavelength (hotter for that nice juicy center). Both "formats" are definately HD (Highly Delicious) and fill the room with a completely enveloping output to make you think that you are right in the middle of it all.
So give me my combo-drive. I don't care if it is made by LG, Sony, Pioneer, or GrillMaster.
I think I'm going to eat my HD-DVD player.....
Quote:
I am hopeful that both formats can, and will coexist. Similar to Dolby and DTS. A little competition is always good for consumers. Whatever may come of that, I’m just enjoying the hell out of both. HD is sooooooo much better than SD. I’d hate to see either one give up.
I hope so too. I think this is possible, especially with the introduction of dual/combo players like LG. I am sure others will come soon.