OT: Is anyone going to buy an HD or Blueray DVD player?

[Brutus]

My other big money hobby is collecting dvds and I noticed that the dvd websites are really all excited about HD DVD and Blueray dvd, but looking at their forums, I don't think there are really that many early adopters. Personally, I think dvd is good enough for now, although I hate it when the movie freezes for a second or two at the layer change etc.

Just wondering how many folks who might just be casual dvd viewers/buyers are going to jump on the HD or B bandwagon this year or ever?

[darianj]

I haven't actually gone to a store where they have a display setup so that I can see the difference but I think I'm gong to hold off for now. I agree with you...DVD is good enough for now. I have jumped on the HDTV bandwagon and love it! I just don't want to shell out any more money for more equipment at this time.

[4kitties]

There are a couple of key questions I would need answered first:

1) Will the HD players play all regular DVD's? I don't have the space for multiple players, and I don't forsee buying the HD versions of all of my current DVD's.

2) Will the HD DVD's be similar in price to regular ones? I would not be willing a big price premium for a movie in HD unless I had a really big screen on which I could clearly see the difference. With my current 32" HD set, I don't think the difference would be noticeable enough.

If yes to both, then eventually I would buy one, after the prices drop of course.

Joel

[tschmidt]

I have an HD DVD player and it plays all DVD's and has converted everything to HD. This player cost about the same as a medium priced DVD player, just under $22. The movies look great in HD.

TomS

[Anonymous]

Im in no ru***o buy a new player at this time; I am just fine with what I currently have using DVD's.

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Jim:

I am also a big movie collector (currently I have 600+ dvds). While I love HD, I am in no hurry to get a new DVD player. I will wait for the competing format war to clear itself up, or, wait until there is a good quality universal player that will play both types of discs.

The next question you will need to ask is which movies do you upgrade? This quandry is not dissimilar to the one we face in our train hobby when engines are produced with newer and better gadgets.

Regards,

John O

[Anonymous]

I'm planning on staying clear until the dust settles from the HD-DVD / Blu-ray format war. I'm sure most will remember the VHS / Betamax video tape war.... Any how I worked with the new Toshiba HD-DVD player at BB. HD-DVD movies looked great at 740P and 1080I but without doing a side by side I can't swear they were visually any better than the same movie in 480i from a regular DVD that is upscaled to 740P or 1080i in a newer player that does the conversion. The demo TV would display 1080i video. Just my 2 cents. The Toshiba player was nice with an intuitive remeote but the player looked like what it is, a big clunky, but nice looking 1st generation piece of electronics. Working with it definately cooled the hots for a new player. Forced to make an early pick I'd go with HD-DVD instead of Blu-ray.... I just prefer the physical design of the disc, plus I do not belive Sony has ever sucessfully created a new format the was a lasting comercial sucess.

Steve

[phillyreading]

A couple of questions about the new TV format; when does it go into effect? and what would I need to do for my TV set?
Lee

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by phillyreading

A couple of questions about the new TV format; when does it go into effect? and what would I need to do for my TV set?
Lee

Lee,

You will need a tv capable of displaying an image resolution of 740 or 1080 lines of horizontal resolution with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Basicaly that means you will need one of the new High Definition TV's that have taken over the electronic's stores like BB and CC. The tv's we are acustomed to have a 4:3 aspect ratio and about 420~480 lines of horizontal resolution. Watching a HD TV is similar to looking out on the world through a clean plate glass window. Once you try it you will not want to go back BUT there may or may not be a lot of HD programming availible in your area. Toshiba's HD-DVD disc format is rolling out now. Sony's competing format, the two are not compatible, is due out later this summer or fall. Retailers that remember the Betamax vs VHS tape format war are not looking forward to this battle. For a while they may have to carry the latest Hollywood Blockbuster on conventional DVD disc, HD-DVD disc and Blu-ray disc with players for each. I think I go back to playing with my trains and slot cars.

Have a good one,
Steve

[phillyreading]

Steve,

So what you are telling me is that I will need to buy a new TV set. I just went to DVD a few years ago and would hate to switch over again. I just barely remember the Betamax vs. VHS tape, neither one would intermingle so to speak or work with adapters on the other, same with 8mm video recorders vs. VHS, far as I know there is no adapter.
Almost like when 8 track tape decks & lp's bit the dust! I think you are right about going back to the trains or slot cars, hopefully much won't change in this area!

Thanks Steve,

Lee

[artyoung]

Lee : adapters are being marketed to convert digital to analog for your old TV's (check Consumer's Reports). The way the prices keep dropping as more manufacturers come on line over in the Far East, just wait and see which type of TV will have the best picture for the least $, and watch as the competing DVD's shake out. I'm a classic film freak, and I'm still upgrading some of my oldest stuff from Beta that's not available on anything else.

[Brutus]

I think they delayed the mandatory switch to digital/HD tv. I read about that a while back - it's pushed back a couple years, I think.

[malibumartin]

Just to clear up some confusion:
Digital does not mean Hi Definition.
The only HD DVD players available today are Toshiba - 2 models at $500 and & $700. The $700 model has a remote control that lights up!
Blu-ray machines should be available "this fall". Most likely Sony and Phillips at about $900-$1000.
If you can find the 5 or 6 HD DVD that are available they retail at $29,95.
HD DVD is compatable with the current DVD format (usually). Blu-Ray is not...but that may change, don't count Sony out yet.
The latest date for the digital converson is February 2009. This may change again. There has been 2 changes so far.
As for price drops, fhey are dropping slowly now - but - look for "major" price drops around the World Series, Christmas and for the Super Bowl 2007.
In a few years, when all is said and done your new Hi Defintion Television will have a built in DVD player just like the iMac.
And...this being the electronics industry EVERYTHING is subject to change.

Martin

[wrmcclellan]

Jim,

I did not buy my first DVD player until they fell below $80. As fast as the price fell to below $40 (just bought one at Target for $35) I will not invest in a new technology DVD player until they also fall below $80.

Every expensive consumer electronic device we have purchased in the past has failed (much higher rate than today's high end toy trains) and spent significant time in the shop and then still failed again soon afterwards. Every cheap electronic consumer device we have bought has outlasted any of the expensive ones and when they fail I salvage parts from it and toss what's left. At least with trains I can make them run with alternate electronics which is something I cannot do with consumer electronics.

Regards,
Roy

[malibumartin]

An update.

Samsung will release a Blu-ray player on June 25th. Samsung says it will play regular DVD's, HD-DVD's and Blu-ray DVD's. Price $999.99

In July Sony will release their Blu-Ray player (also $999.99) and Pioneer's Blu-ray player will be available in September.

On June 20 Blu-ray discs will be available. (Amazon.com Best Buy Circut City) Figure about $20.00 each.

Martin

[Brutus]

A guy I know online already got his Blueray. He went in the store and some kid was stacking them up, so he grabbed one. He checked out. As he was walking away from the counter, the manager saw him and yelled that there was a mistake and he couldn't buy it yet. He tucked his new player, for which he had just paid, under his arm and walked right out the door - LOL

[tmcc man]

Right now we have a 46 inch TOSHIBA HD TV in the family room, and we have Comcast Digital Cable for it. We will not be able to have one up in the family room because I am saving up for an XBOX360, which is HD Capable, so both ColorStream ports will be taken up because of the 360, and the Digital Cable. When the old TV in the basement goes, we plan on getting a 60+ inch TV for the basement. That will probably have an HD DVD player and a few Surround Sound speakers.

[Anonymous]

My local BB had a single Blu-ray player NIB still sealed for sale yesterday, 6/20. They did not have a demonstrator setup nor did they have any Blu-ray movies. They did have the competing HD-DVD format Toshiba player for sale along with a nice little selection of movies available at $29.95 each.

Personally I am hoping HD-DVD wins the format war because of the potential disc durability issues with Blu-ray. Blu-ray was meant to be a disc in a cartridge system like the mini-disc in the Playstation PSP. It was revised to do away with the cartridge and the media layer will be "protected" by a 0.1mm thick coating. HD-DVD disc are physically built basically the same as current DVD's and should have similar wear characteristics.

However, as much as I like HD I will be sitting this format war out until the dust settles. If HD-DVD wins then I'll add a to be released HD-DVD player add on to our x-box 360 if Blu-ray wins the Blu-ray drive built into the Playstation 3 will do.

Boy this is a long way from toy trains.

Take care,

Steve