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

I agree that HD is niche (at the moment). However, bear in mind that there is much more disposable income in the US. More people have bigger screens there.

Cheap HD-DVD player for you PC types:

http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2006/11/8303/

Come on- you know that "they" will know what format you are playing as they are watching your every move! You think that network jack is there just for firmware upgrades? They know you are watching porn :p lol.

Ken,
I agree with you that if one has the money and the early adopter attitude this can be fun, but I am forced to agree that these products are not likely to fly in the long run.

Whats interesting is that the THD benefits really only the retailer and video retailing is a losing game. In the long run there will be some brick and mortar video sales, but the vast majority will come from sales on line like Amazon or downloads. Thats why Wall Mart has been so vocal at blocking Apple doing downloaded movies.

best regards,
Jerry

Very true - in the end the downloads will be king I think; I just read that more than 10% of all music sales are now download purchases and climbing rapidly (doubled last year);

Yea - you're right I think; In the long run, the only way a new format will work is if it's one format and all studios just migrate over as the players become cheaper and cheaper... Otherwise, it stays a niche for those that want to afford it.... But man does it look good .... !!

cheers-
ken

Gents

I have the new Sony 1080P HD screen and am looking for a HD player but am unable to fine if any are multi region for standard DVD? I don't really want to keep 2 players at the moment so am also concerned with the standard DVD playback quality as opposed to HD DVD. I have similar questions of the Bluray format but am inclined to follow Meridian in readiness for there new player. Is it worth waiting or jumping on and taking a look?

Regards Paul

Paul,
IMHO if you are willing to get in on a format where the future is uncertain then you should give these formats a try. The technical qualities of each is outstanding, but I think HD DVD is a little better overall because it uses (so far anyway) only VC-1 for its codec and BR uses MPEG-2 and 4 and VC-1. So far the consensus is VC-1 is producing the best results, but maybe as time goes on the authors will improve the results with the different formats. BR seems to have the edge in the titles coming out as HD DVD doesnt seem to have as many titles exclusive to it (many are out on both). If you were to buy just one, my heart wants you to buy HD DVD because I really feel that the enthusiasts are behind that, but rationally, Id say its BR. They have more support of the studios. My HD DVD player is a fantastic DVD player as well (toshiba xa-1). I have yet to try the panny BR player as a DVD machine. So far I have been impressed with the panny's picture and sound but the build quality and overall presentation it gives are just OK. If you could I would suggest getting both. Btw- be warned that both of these players take a long time to "boot up"- I keep mine on most of the time because of this. If you have to pick one Im afraid its BR.

best regards,
Jerry

Jerry

I s**t you not my wife would kill me if I got both! I don't mind giving it a go and if it all goes wrong it can sit in my loft with the Betamax video, DVD-A and TCR racing set!
I'm more interested in quality as that is the winning point for my wife! Then again there's no point having quality if I can not get the movies to watch.
Also multi region on standard DVD is a must or its a no go on having one, the wife as much as I hate to admitt it is the BOSS in our house!

Now she has stopped looking over my shoulder, I'll try and give both a go and tell her I just found one in the back garden.
The boot up time will drive us nuts, we thought the G91 was bad!
Which way do I go and can anyone try out the multi region on the Toshiba please?

Regards Paul

Jerry

Took the bull by the horns and just purchased a Bluray panny so guess I'll give it a go. I understand it's restricted to region 1 standard DVD's which is a ball ache but I guess thats life.
You owe me �600 as it's your fault I had to buy it, told the wife the cheques in the post from you!
Regards Paul

TCR!!! Now there's a blast from the past!

Mark

Wow Mark TCR Is great!! as long as your cars survive the crashes.

Perhaps a TCR Sticky.lol

Cheers, Chris

Paul,

sure didn't take you long from asking about multi region for the Toshiba to ordering the Panny player. :p

While I think that HD DVD is the better format, I also think you won't regret your choice. As far as video and audio quality goes, BD is there. But the quality is not very consitent, so choose your discs carefully. Interactivity is still lacking as well, but it should catch up by summer/fall.

As far as HD DVD goes, they have to start pushing out more movies. I didn't expect big titles at CES, but right now there's not much to buy. They should release as many catalogue titles as possible. If they don't start to do something about it, it will be negative for the format.

Right now, I have 7 BDs on order and only 4 HD DVDs... (does not include titles released January 30 and after) and that from a HD DVD supporter of the first hour.


Oh btw Dan, get on ICQ.

On the Apple TV fixing the HD industry, interesting article:

http://www.themacobserver.com/columns/hiddendimensions/2007/01/18.1.shtml

Here is a letter I wrote to the fellow who wrote the article as he reports that HD DVD/BR doesnt look so good:

best regards,
Jerry