The end for HD DVD?

[117]

Last week Warner and their subsidary New Line announced that they were dropping HD DVD support in May and releasing titles in Blu-Ray only from then on (for hi-def releases). That leaves Universal and Paramount as the last of the major studios releasing content in HD DVD, and today the news are reporting that Paramount are about to activate a clause in their contract which will allow them too to dump HD DVD and transfer to Blu-Ray, and that Universal are likely to follow suit - looks like the end of HD DVD to me!

[fac51]

It's not looking good. Shame really as it seemed like it would have been the cheaper format but can't say I'm overly bothered either way.

[117]

combined with comments I've been reading today of people saying that the Blu-Ray player in the PS3 is actually better than the majority of the stand-alone players on the market right not, it means that the chances of me getting a PS3 and increasing all the time

[fac51]

until you can get a 100 times better bluray player for £79 at Tesco. Blueray is a valid reason for getting a PS3 but I wouldn't get one on the sole basis it can play them; much as the PS2 was a decent DVD player.

[117]

until you can get a 100 times better bluray player for £79 at Tesco.

not for a few years yet you won't - and even having said that I'm yet to see a good quality dvd player available at the likes of Tesco, they normally seem to be the Haishitcrapia ultra-budget jobs whenever I've been in there

much as the PS2 was a decent DVD player.

it wasn't, the DVD playback capabilities in the PS2 were truly awful

[mr mixin]

The ps2 DVD playback was shocking. The first release PS2s such as mine have horrible audio/visual sync issues that make viewing DVDs a right pain.

I've been investigating getting a Blu-ray recorder for my new poota. The idea of having a 50GB (or whatever it is) backup on a single disc sounds awesome to me

[117]

the prices are coming down on those - I got an email yesterday about a Blu-Ray Rewriter for £165, and the discs are £7 each now

[vinnieza]

I guess with HD DVD out the way they can crank up prices? :(

The DVD player on my ps2 was aright, didn't have any problems with it, was what i used to watch DVDs if my parents were watching the big tv. Bought it about 3 or 4 years ago

[mr mixin]

the prices are coming down on those - I got an email yesterday about a Blu-Ray Rewriter for £165, and the discs are £7 each now

Yeah, I was looking at them for about £170 on aria

[fac51]

The ps2 DVD playback was shocking. The first release PS2s such as mine have horrible audio/visual sync issues that make viewing DVDs a right pain.

I've been investigating getting a Blu-ray recorder for my new poota. The idea of having a 50GB (or whatever it is) backup on a single disc sounds awesome to me

External hard drive?

[117]

500GB now available for less than £70....

[mr mixin]

External hard drive?

Having several copies on discs in different locations is far superior to having one drive most likely sat on the computer

Plus with a blu-ray drive I can watch Blu-ray movies on my new spangly monitor

[fac51]

Not necessarily. I have an external HD sat at my mums which i swap round every now and then with a fresh backup of my server (which backs up all my pc's) all nicely synced with a little app. so a backup of a backup stored externally and with no hassle. Write speeds are far better doing that than writing to a bluray disc all the time, expensive, pain in the ass if you ask me. I mean how long does it take to fill a 50gb disc?

Anyway is your monitors native res 720p or 1080i? Very doubtful so the picture wouldn't be that great, far better to watch it on a HDTV imo. Basically i think the tech is still far too expensive to be worth the hassle, wait until drives are £50 or so.

[117]

I have an HDTV to watch on....

No HD input device to play content on though....

[fac51]

A few channels are broadcast in HD now so no device necessarily needed.