HD DVD fans: It really isn't that bad.... really!

[Paulo]

Well, its not like we didn't see this Warner thing coming....

I would just like to say that it really isn't the end of the world. Ok , so you have an HD DVD player, its not as if your not going to make use of it! Put it in another room that has an HD TV, enjoy its excellent up-conversion capabilities, and yes throw in one of your HD DVd disks and enjoy.

I was one who purchased a brand new A2 three months after it was released (but I only paid $90.00 for it, if I recall correctly) it was the only reason I went with HD DVd in the first place. (See my post history)
I have now have about 30 HD DVD's, I sold a few last month, some were gifts, etc. Will I be buying HD DVD's now? Probably not, then again, I have also been renting all my titles as of the last month or so and will continue to do so, as long as they are available.
So, like many here, I too have been looking at getting a BD player and the timing could not be better! Am I a little disappointed? Well, yes but life goes on. Its not like I and others like me, spent hundreds on this format, not by along shot. Having said that, I do feel for those who spent alot of money on disks! I'll emphasize disks ,because the players are still the best up-converting players out there, so not a real loss in any way.

Call it a "feel good thread", or whatever, but chances are most of us who were HD DVD supporters were also looking at BD. So now, let us make the best of the situation and enjoy what ever HDM has to offer.
I heard of a couple of great BD players anounced at CES.

Paul

[scrooloose]

This would be much easier to take if it didn't reward Sony with such a big win. I can't believe after that Sony root kit scandal, this is their reward!

I also think that HD DVD, not Blu-ray, was the logical name for the next HD disc format. It's much more consumer friendly. The entire HD DVD software specification seems a lot more mature as well. Profile 1.1? I'm having trouble just finding one I like, never mind that many players are not upgradeable. I'm enjoying the Picture-in-Picture feature right now on my two year old HD-A1 player. I don't like the outcome but I'll have to live with it.

-Mike

[Arthur Dent]

It's never been really bad.
I chuckle every time I read dramatic statements about the death or victory of media formats. What can I say, there's nothing wrong for a young soul to perceive that life eternal is in front of them and it is very important to choose the correct format (and steer away from the "loser") to enjoy infnite amount of masterpieces during that eternity.
Coming from the completely opposite philosophy - that nothing lasts forever, and almost nothing lasts less than media technology - I am only interested in the ability to enjoy good music and movies whenever I want. I recently even bought some IMAX movies on red-laser DVD released on the already dead (actually never meant to be alive, used just for demo) WMV-HD format, and tremendously enjoy them on my Vista PC. They sit on my rack next to the HD DVD, Blu-ray, DVD, CD, DVD-Audio and SACD discs, right above the compact cassette and VHS tapes, and the vinyl records. I am continuously purchasing all of the above mentioned formats, except for VHS (because it really, really sucked big time and, as an exception, I'm glad it's finally dead). OK, I can't find stuff that's exclusively on cassette tapes either, so that collection is not being increased either. But all of these formats are in active circulation, together with the lossless WMA 5.1 downloads, MP3s, and a bunch of other formats on my PC hard drives. All I care about is content and quality.
Guess how much I care that studio X will not release movie Y on format Z.

[Paulo]

Good to hear from you guys, I know what you mean by the whole Sony thing scrooloose, and yes, I too am having trouble finding a 1.1 BD player that will at least INTERNALLY DECODE DD THD & DTS MA. I have an HDMI 1.1 Receiver which I love, and am not about to go and purchase a 1.3 receiver, especially when all testing done, points to the fact that there is no audible difference whether the decoding is done in the player or by the receiver.
Back to the point.... we will have to wait 2-3 months until the new Bd players being anounced at CES will begin to appear.

Paul

[Helmut Hoffer]

It is sad. Despite what the Blu-ray guys say, blu-ray was not tecnically superior just because it had a higher capacity, which isn't needed. HD-DVD was the clearly technically superior standard, and was being offered to consumers at a lower cost point. Shame on Warner - whatever it claims, it certainly wasn't thinking of the consumer when it chose Bluray.

[Fox334]

For me this news is a bit unfortunate but not dramatic by any means. I got the XBOX 360 HD DVD add-on this Christmass. Some peoples would be totaly pissed about this, but I am honestly not much surprised. I knew when I asked for the HD-DVD add on that I could be on the loosing end of the format war (I expected it, actually), but the fact is that I wanted to experiance HD movies and I had a great experiance so far. I will countinue to buy HD movies. For me, the only thing this anouncement really means is that I will need to get a Blu-Ray player, probably near the end of this year (and being a gamer, I expect I will use it as an excuse to get the PS3 ^^). I don't see what the huge fuss is about. The existant library is there, and you can still enjoy it.

[vice]

Well put in your first post, Paulo. I bought my HD DVD player for a relatively cheap price--complete with two free movies -- and I don't regret it one bit. The upconversion has been fantastic, and to date the movies that I've really and truly wanted are available only on HD DVD (Serenity, the Bourne movies). I'll have less of a selection in the future, but who cares? I thoroughly enjoy the HD DVD movies I've got.

One day I'll get a BR player, but until I can get one for the same price that I spent on my HD DVD player I'll pass. That, and there are no titles on BR right now that I have a desire to own (other than a few Disney movies for my kids, but S DVDs will suffice).

The only thing that has really been bothering me over the past few days is the number of BR fanboys that act as if people who own HD DVD players and movies made a grave mistake by buying HD DVD.

[james99]

Originally Posted by vice

The only thing that has really been bothering me over the past few days is the number of BR fanboys that act as if people who own HD DVD players and movies made a grave mistake by buying HD DVD.

Sore winners?

I own 100+ HD DVDs and didn't lose a second of sleep over this.

[Luis_A51]

You should enjoy your movies and players still. THeres no reason no to. Your movies and players will play fine for yours to come, and even if you stop purchasing HDDVD you still have a collection and a good upconverting dvd player. You could probably even pick up some HDDVDs for dirt cheap when the format really tanks.


As for Helmut Hoffer: Technical superiority isnt clear cut. PIP and web features are comming to blu ray and are/will be added to the #1 blu-ray player, the PS3. And many people would argue that higher bitrate video and HD audio (as upposed to DVD quality DD) were far more important. Bottom line, Bluray is adding all the features HDDVD had and then some. HDDVD could never match the increased disc capacity or bit rate.

[pynner]

"HDDVD could never match the increased disc capacity or bit rate."

Yes HD DVD can, and has.. but it has been proven time and time again it makes NO difference. though, im sure you will say yes it does till your BLU in the face...

I still stand by my original statement (right after the warner announcement), HD DVD is in trouble and really the only way they can right the ship is if they get other studios to support.

much like many others, I will continue to enjoy/purchase hd dvd as I still think it's the better format all around.
People, show your support, BUY HD DVD!

[dezzpayne]

Originally Posted by scrooloose

This would be much easier to take if it didn't reward Sony with such a big win. I can't believe after that Sony root kit scandal, this is their reward!
-Mike

Not sure where you have been but I think Sony paid for the rootkit scandel several times over. I have never been a big fan of Sony but personally I'm a little happy for them to get this victory after the constant bashings they have taken over the last 2 years. Some of them deserved (rootkit), some of them not.

If anyone is anything past a "little dissapointed" about owning a HD-DVD player then I would suggest a little more caution next time around. Don't gamble if you can't stand to lose.

[vice]

Originally Posted by james99

Sore winners?

I own 100+ HD DVDs and didn't lose a second of sleep over this.

If they perceive themselves as winners then

1) they must work for Sony, or

2) they have a lot to learn. Like many others, I'm of the opinion that "the war" made the consumer the winner. How can the consumer be a winner if there's no more competition and one format is shoved down our throats?

I didn't lose any sleep over it either and will be enjoying my HD DVD player for years to come. In fact, I think I'll pop in Serenity and watch it yet again.

[wallee]

It's disappointing that HD may have lost, but I'm format neutral. I don't regret the purchase of my A2 one bit. I paid $190.00 with 9 free movies. I'll still buy titles in either format if the price is right, (the only time I buy anyway.)

The majority of my purchases are kids titles, most of which are Disney. I buy in SD so my daughter can watch them anywhere and I can watch Transformers or Jason Bourne in all their HD goodness on the widescreen. When we watch her movies together I use the A2 which I feel is a better upconverting player than the PS3.

It's an unfortunate turn of events, but it ain't over til Toshiba throws in the towel. And I don't see them giving up so easily.

[Blackburst]

I'm really sad to hear about the recent Warner Bros. news on HD DVD. I was actually about to go down to Wal-Mart & purchase the Ventura model for $200. All this because I wanted to see Warner Bros. "Blade Runner" in HD. Now due to this, I have held back. Just like probably many others have as well.

When I made my decision to go with HD DVD over Blu-Ray, it all came down to flexability.

1 - No Regions restrictions on HD DVD.

2 - The Players cost less

3 - Most of the HD DVD movie prices I had seen, seemed lower that Blu-Ray.

4 - The idea that my HD DVD disk would be double sided recorded with HD DVD on one side and DVD on the other. This would be fantastic. At home I would watch the HD DVD. For those who have DVD players in their cars, or a second DVD player around, they could still play the movie on the older DVD format on another monitor. And, if I needed to lend a HD DVD disk to a friend or family member who still had a DVD, they could still watch the movie.

5 - DVD rental stores would have stocked only one disk which contained both HD DVD & DVD on the same package.

5 - And the consumer would be allowed to upgrade to a HD-DVD player when they wanted to, because their movie purchase was still good on DVD players.

Now all of this seems in question if Blu-Ray wins. I still don't believe it has won. But HD DVD has gotten a real kick in the nuts. The only other thing that I can think of that might save it is if Toshiba releases a HD DVD player/recorder unit. I for one have no ATSC (HD) recording format for missed shows. I still have a VHS to record the NTSC broadcasts, but no ATSC recorder. If they manage to do that, there still might be a fight left.

I hope they get this message!

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by james99

I own 100+ HD DVDs and didn't lose a second of sleep over this.

I'm amazed at how many people are flipping out, launching Blu-ray boycotts and what not against Sony and the BDA and dreaming up lawsuits. Being an early adopter means being prepared for your choice to go down the drain. These are turbulent times. This is what happens. I'm disappointed, but we'll get over it. I love movies and I love HD. I'm not worried or losing any sleep either.