Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems BR Is the King OF HD.

Chris:

You make some interesting points, however, I am not sure thay are necessarily valid.

1. My point about Laserdisc is that a relatively small number of early adopters were able to sustain the format for a long time - that may prove to be true also with HDDVD/Bluray.

2. Although DVD may seem like a 'no brainer' now, it was certainly not viewed that way back in 1997. Then, there were quite diparate views on whether the consumper proposition of DVD was compelling enough to ensure the formats sucess - much like where we are today with HDDVD/Bluray.

3. 'No real consumer appetite anyway. DVD is good'. DVD is good, no question; but HD is better. I said it before, but anyone with an HDTV biger than, say, 40" is going to want HD on disc, just like they have spoken clearly and loudly that they want HD from the networks/cable channels. It is no differnt IMO.

4. Yes, the format confusion complicates things, but not IMO to the point where it kills the formats.

Just my opinions!

Simon

Simon,
We early adopters had no real choices with LD. It was LD or nothing because VHS was really poor. Now there are more choices, and we early adopters are weary from getting caught in yet another format war. Witness, ahem- DVD-A and SACD: slowly dying off.

best regards,
Jerry

Hi Simon.
Yes I agree about Laserdisc hanging on as will these formats, the greedy have too much to lose, But economics will have its way in the end.

I can buy DVD in any supermarket, corner shop and petrol station and cannot forsee the day when HD will have this kind of availability.

Then we have to get back to content. Many of my favourite discs will never be HD, who is going to do it whilst two formats compete.

Most People that are not enthusiasts do not have 40 inch screens.
They have a Bush 26 inch or an Asda special.

A 40 inch screen will be a major investment for some time to come.

So what are we left with?

Blockbuster film releases, most are fun but juvenile at best and DVD is good enough.

CGI films, great on DVD. No; better than great!!
Look at Pixar. WOW, Thats how they flog all the TV's.

Serious Cinema, well we have a case for HD here but it will always be a niche market in global terms.

Rock and POP concert DVD, I have a few now on SD DVD and again I see no real need for improvement although it would be welcome. But who is going to do it whilst two formats fight it out. Small Labels cant do it.

Just my opinions as well, but I just dont see it whilst two formats are competing.

Cheers, Chris

Chris- great observation. When I want to cheat and show my display off in its best possible way, I put up Cars. Because we all know what real people are supposed to look like. Whereas a bight cartoon we have no real life reference to.

best regards,
Jerry

wow - gone for a couple of days and you guys cover all the issues! I generally agree with Jerry's position on this subject and to his point, as many people buy 2" screens today (iPod) than 40+ screens; and the real video iPod yet to come...

In 3 short months Apple has sold more Disney movies (well over half-a-million) at slightly LESS than DVD resolution than all the studios HD disks combined... and you can only watch 'em on a computer or 2" iPod screen for Pete's sake (I've purchased several of these myself I'm ashamed to say!!) - It's sooooo easy...

I think the future will be download and convienence. I do think (or at least hope) however, that with the relative new 'Home Theater' market, and HD TVs, there will be just enough demand for an anemic disk based solution to limp along for a while - especially when tied to the game box market to help offset some of the cost... But even this may not be possible with a format war - that was the fatal blow I think; Had all agreed on a single format and marketed well, it would be a good filler until HD downloads are prevalent...

ken

Guys, let's just be clear, DVD is *NOT* good enough. It has generally poor picture quality, unless perhaps the source is a cartoon and as we are now hearing, compared to HD sources, generally poor sound quality too. That the majority accept it as good enough is not a vindication of the format but rather an indictment of their ignorance or apathy on the subject.

There are clearly big challenges ahead in convincing the majority to adopt the new formats but it is possible and it doesn't have to happen overnight.

JUST AS LONG AS WE DON'T END UP STUCK WITH SD DVD

If we do, I'm blaming you guys!

Mark

You're asking me for a press release of my opinion?

Ok how about this as facts to back it up.

The Blu-ray players save for the PS3 are priced way too high for the average consumer to get excited about.

The discs are still too expensive and too hard to find for the average consumer to get excited about.

Some of the choices are serious head scratchers. Click? Hitch? Happy Gilmore?

Where are greats like Gladiator, Dark City, Open Range, Sin City, The Matrix Trilogy etc?

I want them to succeed, but I saw this play out before.

Well I beg to differ. SD is very good, HD may well be better but that doesnt make SD Bad.

As for sound, you must be doing somthing wrong if you think the sound available today is BAD.

It can always be better but you only have to go back a short time to see how bad sound used to be.

Most of us here are enthusiasts and as such are interested in the persute of perfection (Whatever That is?) but be honest, we have never had it so good.

The problem is that for theses new formats to succeed you have to rely on the masses adoption and they just are not interested.

Two formats mean we will be stuck with SD for the forseeable future.

Cheers, Chris

OK, but how is that any different than what we now face with HD? Yes, the bar has been raised, but the relative improvement of HDDVD vs. DVD is about the same as laserdisc was to VHS.

Also, there are two formats of HD, but there were multiple LD formats back then too, yet one survived - and with a far smaller installed base of potential users.

A few comments:

1) Chris - your screen is 32". SD DVD is enough for that, no arguments. My projection screen is 82" and I can see the limitations of SD. I have changed my opinion on this. So will others.

2) Hybrid discs with one HD and two SD layers may persuade retailers to stock HD discs - Blu-Ray will have the advantage here as a single BD layer contains more storage than a single HDDVD layer.

3) According to WideScreenReview, BD titles will be moving to using the MPEG4 AVC codec, though to date only Rattle & Hum has been released with this.

4) HD display technology is developing at a massive rate and prices are coming down at an equally massive rate. TVs are getting bigger all the time and the average number of lines in a TV is increasing. Large flat screens are increasingly common.

Edit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6188940.stm

People will notice HD. The question is how soon and whether or not the competing consortia actually decide to use the few brain cells they have, advertise their products, and set realistic player prices. :rolleyes: