Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems The one of MANY HD-DVD threads (No bashing Blu-Ray)

As to the winner, my comment is the same as always - only time will tell.

Mark

Simon,
Sorry , I cant find that thread . I think you may be right about the screen size which would support that theory. I no longer bookmark because they all invariably end up in a slagging match. Example :

" This forum has more thread closings than I have ever seen here at AVS. I have to tell you that what should have been a fun, light hearted format struggle has turned us against each other. It was never like this in the past. For example, you should have been around for the 'argumentative' posts in the 'Tweaks' Forum (power cables, interconnects, balanced power, etc). Talk about heated discussions and strong opinions.....! But these threads never got personal, rarely if ever closed, and no personal attacks. I simply don't get it here any more "


Closely followed by :

" Blu-ray'ers keep getting lonely in their own forum so they have to cross over to HD-DVD to spread FUD.

And then they get offended when its refuted."

Some thread titles make me weep and even if someone CONCLUSIVELY proves it wrong they never change it . The moderators cant keep up ! Its tone is probably unavoidable when companies like Sony pour forth such as this :

"Blu-ray Disc enjoyed a nitros oxide-like burst of horsepower late last year from the release of Sony's PlayStation 3 that propelled the format soaring past HD DVD in a 'blu' streak "

Source :http://www.audioholics.com/news/uploads/bluraytoday.jpg

Far from giving up my hobby , Ive been 'coerced' into making a choice .If I have to make another ( for me ) less popular choice in the future I will , but at this stage its almost become a moral issue with me ( though I espect others' rights to a different opinion).

I think VK is right. Sony's trail of destruction regarding format wars costs us all deeply in the end. This time I want to vote with not just my feet , but my wallet too.

And now I'm going to cheer up and play some Porcupine Tree and my owner is bringing me for a big birthday out ( and I believe T2 and Le Pacte Des Loupes' on Hd-DVD are being ordered from France too )

Ciao!

~M~

Hi,
Its interesting to read that people struggle to tell the differance (or could care less about it as its so small)from HD to scaled SD at 32 inch LCD size.

27 to 40 inch screen is where this battle will need to be Won or Lost as thats the sizes of TV Joe Sixpack will have.

When you can now buy budget Upscaling DVD players promising nearly HD quality for �60.00 and less in the UK, you have a majore problem for both formats.

Still never seen a HD disc in a shop yet.

Cheers, Chris

These formats need mass consumer adoption to survive in any meaningfull way

Chris,
Could be a benefit to Hd-DVD to have upscaling in the players ????

Interesting transcript with Kevin Collins ( Hd-DVD Amir's buddy ) available here :

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/chat/hdvd07.txt


~M~

Yes Upscaling would be essential to make the best of what you already have.

But, if the picture is good enough on a 32 inch LCD, you wont sell many HD films.

Are we going round in circles here?

Cheers, Chris

Just because it's promised, doesn't make it so. Upscaled DVD is nothing like HD. It's like all the MP3 player manufacturers claiming CD quality audio. Naive consumers may believe it, but it really isn't the case.

Mark

Mark; its the Naive (Thats Evian backwards) consumers you have to convince.

They love MP3 remember, they will decide if this HD stuff is a mass market success.

Cheers, Chris

I wish I could find the numbers (and perhaps is different for the US versus UK), but my sense is that there is a large installed base of BIG screen HDTVs in the US (I seem to recall a number of 5 million; 9 million projected by the end of 2007) that would be available to support these HD formats. A number FAR less than that was able to support laser-disc as a pseudo-niche format.

Personally, I am bullish on these new formats.

I agree there are big differences between upscaled and HD; Especially true on larger screen sizes. J6P will put value on this, but not enough to slug through a format war. the format needs to migrate so that eventually all releasses are on HD and with $500 players enough may partake (if one format only);

Please don't misinterpret my predictions above with technical ability or Picture Quality; HD-DVD is spectacular and Mark proved it to me. I'm even supporting it with continuing disk purchases (along with BD);

When looking at chances of long term war-winning, those aren't the issues; especially if the other side has similar qualities. I look at who has more to gain/lose and from my seat it looks like more companies have more investment to lose with BD failing than with HD-DVD, hence the huge marketing and financial backing it gets. With all of the CE and studio investments in BD, I don't see that format going anywhere anytime soon; The question then remains, will HD-DVD hang in there? It might - 2 formats surviving... But will it consume BD? - just can't see it; Computer drives, PS3, etc.
Pioneer, Panasonic, etc;
Sony, Fox, Disney, etc. would all have to write-off millions in investment and be deemed a failure - just doesn't register with me...

I don't like Sony's behaviors any more than VK expresses; My goodness, anybody that behaves so badly, they make Msoft seem like the smitten underdog.., well...

But BD is not just Sony, and software is what sells a format; There just isn't a good way to make an argument without it sounding like support for one or the other adn I don't - just a cold analysis of playing field;

As an early adopter on this stuff, and with all the great BD releases coming this year, the only way to get full enjoyment is to get both and let the chips fall where they may; Unfortunately early adopters just have to deal with both formats right now;

I do think there is already a strong HD-DVD support culture; If you're thinking of buying into it, I wouldn't hesitate, as there will always be a market for it; Even today there are strong markets for Vinyl LPs - amazing!!...

To me they are just unemotional formats to provide enjoyment. I love the results from both, but I'm afraid they won't be around long unless we reduce to one - either one is fine with me; In a few years, I hope we'll all be downloading/streaming HD and bypass the whole mess...

ken

I'm doing my best

But you are right, and it's all very depressing. Why do people simply believe what they are told without actually spending a little time to understand the issues themselves?

Mark

A human failing....

ken
No question, you're doing you're part!!!

I`m still worried these ghastly HD DVD/BD hybrid discs Warner is planning to adopt in the latter half of this year will ruin everything as far as the chances of general consumers getting interested are concerned. Though created with good intentions, they just sound like an utter disaster. I`m really concerned about them.