HD-DVD, who's buying on street day?

[Ron-P]

The players will be out in a couple of weeks, anyone here planning on picking one up?

I plan on buying one the day they hit the shelf at Best Buy. There priced at $499 but I'm sure they'll be a bit cheaper once in the store. The titles are listing at $21.99, most likely a bit cheaper on street day as well.

[sickicw]

I plan on going to best buy and demoing out there two channel high def audio movie setup, but im holding out for a blu-ray player and new tv with 1080p inputs. no need to buy a next gen dv player that only outputs 1080i.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Any idea on what titles are being released?

[Ron-P]

Too many to list. Go to the link below and click on the "HD-DVD Titles" icon.

http://www.toshibahddvd.com/

[sickicw]

Or even better...

http://www.blu-ray.com

[EricT43]

Any word on the rental scene? Are BB and Hollywood on board? I imagine that the studios want to keep this out of the hands of the rental companies for a while.

[*Seby*-Polk-]

Wow ... here, the first Hd-dvd player (don't know the brands) coming soon in june-july.... i been waiting for him :D

[Ron-P]

Or even better...

http://www.blu-ray.com
I'll be buying one of those as well, that is, as soon as the prices drop to about $500.

[EricT43]

Does $499.99 qualify?

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/dvd/product.asp?model=hd-a1

[Ron-P]

Does $499.99 qualify?

The Toshiba HD-DVD players are running that price just about everywhere. It's Sonys Blu-ray dvd players that are running $1k or more, too much. They need to drop in half before I buy into the Blu-ray format.

[danger boy]

i'll wait for the price to drop and the bugs to be worked out. i'm really against 1st generation players like that. I'll wait for 3rd gen at least. so probably two years or so.

[venomclan]

I will buy one when the following take place:

1- One format is completly dead and burried.
2- Decent players are $100.00
3- Hi-def DVD's are $10
4- All hi-def DVD's are also encoded with standard DVD and every other format known to man, no proprietary BS.

Until then it is too much of a gamble. Joe consumer will not care for either format as they will see no benefit with thier HTIB's and Walmart tv's. There is already another format that is better than both of these combined. As DVD's were worlds better than VHS, hi-def is just moderatly better from all the previews I have seen. Not enough to invest heavily in, imho.
Venom

[polksda]

I guess you won't be buying for a decade or so then... #2 and #3 haven't even been consistently hit for regular DVD, let alone for a new HD format...

[Demiurge]

It's silly to go out and spend that much coin on something that will be much cheaper in a year or less. It'll be the same foolish mistake all the people who went out and plopped the coin down on a moderately sized plasma tv when they started coming outat the cost of a brand new car.

[Ron-P]

It's silly to go out and spend that much coin on something that will be much cheaper in a year or less. It'll be the same foolish mistake...
But, if you enjoy it, it's not foolish as I see it. Your enjoying your hobby. Everyone single one of us spend money some else will see as being foolish.


As for venomclan's #1, won't happen, we'll have both formats for a very long time, the studios will not "give in" to the other. What may happen, a univeral player that will play both, that'll happen much sooner then one of these formats dying.


Best Buy will give me 30 days to play with this machine once I bring it home. If it sucks, I return it, no loss. But, if it doesn't, I'll be enjoying hi-def dvds. It's that simple. Sure the prices will drop and sure I could wait but I don't see $500 as a lot of coin to drop on this.

[Demiurge]

You're right. I just like to make wise purchases on my end, the hobby isn't a gotta have it now thing for me, but rather a gotta do it right. I remember when DVD players first hit the market and I had one the first week. The player was a piece of crap, but it was a new thing and I loved it. I'm sure this will be the same for you, but the jump isn't big enough to justify the cost if this is to become the new industry standard that everyone will adopt. I'm going to try for patience this time, but I can't wait to hear your reviews on yours. Maybe it'll prompt the rest of us to be a little more impatient! :D

[venomclan]

"As for venomclan's #1, won't happen, we'll have both formats for a very long time, the studios will not "give in" to the other. What may happen, a univeral player that will play both, that'll happen much sooner then one of these formats dying."

Sony has just released a player that will play both formats. I do not think that either side will give in to each as they are both backed by a lot of $. I just think that there is more hype than there needs to be. The first few generation machines will suck. In time these formats may become the norm, but only if they will all also play in non-hd, on regular dvd players. Otherwise I do not think the general public will bite. If they do not, it is over. At least on the retail DVD side. Video games and computers are a different matter.

SACD and DVD-Audio are not dead. They were never alive. At least not in the public's view.

[Demiurge]

To be fair, Sony is in financial disarray right now and is banking heavily on the success of the PS3 to remain relevant. Microsoft has been trying to put Sony out of business. Sony is hoping that a lot of people will buy the PS3 as a gaming console as their main DVD player since it will have this new technology.

[polksda]

I think another comparison is to that of DVD+R vs. DVD-R. Two competing formats dueling it out for market share. Both camps claimed superiority as far as compatbility and reliability was concerned. Each having major player backers. Both formats are still around and now there are plenty of dual burners that write both.

Granted, we've got a long way to go on this. I'm waiting it out until at least the initial dust settles and we can see what releases are out there, the performance issues of each, etc. For all intents and purposes both formats are still vaporware.

[Ron-P]

Sony has just released a player that will play both formats.
Got a link or some info on it?

but only if they will all also play in non-hd, on regular dvd players.
That's a step backwards. These new HD machines will play standard dvds but will up convert them to 720p. Better then having an HD disk downcnvert to 480p.

I've got to give one a try, like I said, I've got 30 days to find out if it does suck or not. If it does, return it, no loss. This is a no risk trial other then the cost of a movie or two.

[peteran]

I would rather wait for 2 years at least, that way they work out their bugs.
I wouldn't see that much improvemnet over my current DVD player.
By 2nd-3rd year 2nd generation players will come out and prices would drop by half.
Also would wait for the new audio formats to be implemented on the AVR's and PRE/Pro's, so that way can enjoy both the video quality and the sound quality of HD. Everything else is a half measure.

[Ron-P]

the new audio formats to be implemented on the AVR's and PRE/Pro's
It's coming (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD) and we might see it as soon as CES 07. But, this is something I have no plans to upgrade too in the next several years. I am very happy with my current 5.1 set-up. I'm guessing it'll take upwards of 2 years (or longer) before we see the market flooded with these new audio formats at resonable prices. I don't want to wait that long for Hi-def dvd.

[EricT43]

I won't buy one until the rental chains have a decent selection of HD DVD. And I don't think many other people will either.

I think we're expecting a lot from a public that still seems to prefer "full screen".

[adam2434]

I'm pumped about the prospects of these hi res formats, but I too plan to wait until a decent universal player hits the $300 mark and the titles are in video rental stores - hopefully within a couple years from now.

[mrmusicman]

Whats the definition of a "universal Player"?HD-dvd/blue-ray /sacd/dvd audio/hdcd,mabe next year we'll have something else to add.Why couldn't they just improve dvd's and cd's.:confused:

[Ron-P]

Why couldn't they just improve dvd's and cd's.
What due you think HD-DVD and SCAD are?

[adam2434]

By universal, I was really just referring to the ability to play HD-DVD and Blu-ray (regular CDs and DVDs would play too). But you're right, a true universal player would include DVD-A, SACD, and HDCD.

I like the idea of a hi res audio and video format, but the format wars are a pain, confuse the heck out of the typical consumer, and subsequently put the success of these hi res formats at risk.

[mrmusicman]

[/QUOTE]What due you think HD-DVD and SCAD are?[QUOTE]

I meant to improve the origanal formats without the need for a seperate player.:rolleyes:

[danger boy]

is the general public going to go out and buy another player just to watch the new format DVD's? Afterall, they (the public) turned their noses up @ SACD and DVD-Audio for that exact reason.

most of us have a large amount of DVD's. and money invested in those.. I honestly can't see myself relacing 300 DVD's with the new ones. Just doesn't make sense to me.

Has anyone ever added up the cost of all their DVD's and was amazed at how much you've invested in them to date?

300 x $15.00 (approx) = $4,500 :eek: that could buy one hell of a nice set of main speakers or tube amp ;)

[Lsi9]

Blue Ray will open up with a $299 player

[adam2434]

I think a hi res DVD format has a better chance than SACD and DVD-A did. The typical consumer is more concerned with video quality than audio quality.

High def TV has become popular because its improved picture quality is instantly obvious to (almost) anyone. If marketers and retailers can convince folks that a hi res DVD format will give them the same improved, high def TV-like picture, I think it has a chance.

[danger boy]

I think a hi res DVD format has a better chance than SACD and DVD-A did. The typical consumer is more concerned with video quality than audio quality.

High def TV has become popular because its improved picture quality is instantly obvious to (almost) anyone. If marketers and retailers can convince folks that a hi res DVD format will give them the same improved, high def TV-like picture, I think it has a chance.

I'll give you that much. yes I think you are right. A lot of consumers are very taken aback by the video first over audio.

But, what if you've got this shiny new HD-DVD player and you find out you don't have the right connections on the rear of your receiver? Or your TV you just purchased 2 yrs ago is already obsolete? It can't handle the higher Rez of the Blu Ray discs? I'd be pretty pissed off myself.

So you could be looking at the minimum a new HD player, new receiver and maybe a new TV monitor. I"m thinking most consumers ain't going to go for that at all.

[Ron-P]

But, what if you've got this shiny new HD-DVD player and you find out you don't have the right connections on the rear of your receiver? Or your TV you just purchased 2 yrs ago is already obsolete

If you've got component connections and your TV is HD ready (which I'm sure most all are) your good to go. Most, if not all, studios have opted not to enable the ICT (image constraint token) allowing full HD over component.