So which format would you like to win?

[TooNice]

I am withholding my final vote, but siding with Blu-Ray at the moment.

My main issue with HD-DVD is that aside from the lower capacity, what happened to the lower price? Yes, the hardware is currently cheaper (especially if you don't want a PS3), I'll give that much credit. But last time I checked the cost of blank media and BD-R still had the edge per GB over HDDVD-R. More puzzling though, is that I've just looked up the price of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Blade Runner and 300 on Play.com and/or Amazon.co.uk, and BD/HD-DVD are the same price.

Unless this was a rare exception (I admit that I've not done much comparisons) if HD-DVD is really cheaper (something I've taken as fact after hearing it over and over again), then they are certainly not passing the cost savings to the consumers. If HD-DVD was could directly succeed DVDs by offering HD at DVD price, then I would expect that side to be in a much better (quite possibly dominating) position.

[Barrichello]

I am withholding my final vote, but siding with Blu-Ray at the moment.

My main issue with HD-DVD is that aside from the lower capacity, what happened to the lower price? Yes, the hardware is currently cheaper (especially if you don't want a PS3), I'll give that much credit. But last time I checked the cost of blank media and BD-R still had the edge per GB over HDDVD-R. More puzzling though, is that I've just looked up the price of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Blade Runner and 300 on Play.com and/or Amazon.co.uk, and BD/HD-DVD are the same price.

Unless this was a rare exception (I admit that I've not done much comparisons) if HD-DVD is really cheaper (something I've taken as fact after hearing it over and over again), then they are certainly not passing the cost savings to the consumers. If HD-DVD was could directly succeed DVDs by offering HD at DVD price, then I would expect that side to be in a much better (quite possibly dominating) position.

Been said before, ignore Play and Amazon when checking prices - best place to get hd films is Movietyme new releases starting from £11.99 inc delivery

[directhex]

there are more extras & specials for at least some of the movies you mention on hd -dvd compared to blu-ray

[steve threlfall]

I would have to agree with you to some extent, but I think the average consumer is slowly beginning to find out. Its not hard to miss anymore, only today I was at empire direct and currys and there were quite few displays for blu ray and hd dvd, more than I have seen before.

There was also two men complaining about the fact that there are two hd formats and not one, but then again they could have been geeks like us.

Good that the new tech is getting through to the mass market then

I would love to start regularly buying hd movies but i would like there to be a clear winner before buying too many. With br and hd dvd requiring a hd tv set, uptake is likely to be slower than with dvd.

[Phil_P]

I'm boycotting anything that wants to manage my rights, digital or otherwise. It's an outrage - don't accept it, fight it!

[Dorza]

Good that the new tech is getting through to the mass market then

I would love to start regularly buying hd movies but i would like there to be a clear winner before buying too many. With br and hd dvd requiring a hd tv set, uptake is likely to be slower than with dvd.

I don't think they are my self. Most people still don't know what HD-TV is all about yet, let alone HD-Movies. My mate works in blockbuster and he still gets people asking for VHS tapes. He said the overwhelming majority of people that even notice blu-ray titles (most can't be bothered to know what it is and go for DVD) have to ask what it is. Some think they will play in bog standard DVD players - he basically has to explain it to them, and most just can't appreciate whats being told them. Thats all they see is a disk that looks identical to a dvd, so they treat it as such and simply can't understand the mechanics of why it is different.

I think there is a way to go yet before people understand it and can be bothered with it. When they do find out what it is, I doubt that many would want to spent more than £120 on a player. I beleive that HD Movie content will penetrate the mainstream quicker than DVD did, but I think it is a good 18months to 3 years away before that happens..


I would rather HD-DVD win but ultimately I'm not that bothered if blu-ray does. Its not a life and death thing, its just a sodding disk with a movie on it at the end of the day. The fanboi nonsense thats been echoed around the net between both sides is just sad imo....get a life!

[TooNice]

there are more extras & specials for at least some of the movies you mention on hd -dvd compared to blu-ray

I do seem remember reading that 300 was supposed to be significantly better on HD-DVD. Well, I've not looked very hard since I don't own either platform, but would anyone following HD releases more than I do say that HD-DVD releases are generally cheaper all else being as equal as possible to the end users?

[Dorza]

I do seem remember reading that 300 was supposed to be significantly better on HD-DVD. Well, I've not looked very hard since I don't own either platform, but would anyone following HD releases more than I do say that HD-DVD releases are generally cheaper all else being as equal as possible to the end users?

For what it's worth they are generally about the same price I would say. HD-DVD hardware is definitely cheaper and more complete than Blu-ray hardware is though. The Blu-ray drive in the PS3 is still if I am not mistaken one of the cheapest and best players available, but I could be wrong on that.

[Barrichello]

The Blu-ray drive in the PS3 is still if I am not mistaken one of the cheapest and best players available, but I could be wrong on that.

No, you are right. At least a few months ago last i heard. It was confirmed back then that the PS3 blu-ray player is better than a £500-£700 blu-ray specifc standalone players. I have played blu-ray on both and can see no difference.

[merdat]

Roll on cheap multi-players then it matters not .

[Skinleech]

HD-DVD for no other reason than it had its specs finalised before launch. Blu-ray did not, and now that profile 1.1 has come out adding the PIP and interactive functions that HD-DVD has had all along, many players are out of date.

Dual format releases havd has the same video encodes, so you can't say that Blu-ray has better picture quality than HD-DVD. Audio wise, TrueHD tracks are every good as bit as and equivalent PCM track - both are uncompressed. Fox don't even include PCM tracks on their BDs now, they've opted for DTS-HD MA, also uncompressed.

No region coding or nasty DRM on HD-DVD either. Storage wise, I don't care. a 500gb hard drive is only ~£60, far better than any optical media.

[bigblue]

No, you are right. At least a few months ago last i heard. It was confirmed back then that the PS3 blu-ray player is better than a £500-£700 blu-ray specifc standalone players. I have played blu-ray on both and can see no difference.

At the very beginning it was maybe on a par with premium standalone players, but I'm not sure about now. It's still the best value, and has a lot going for it, but I don't think it's a capable on pure performance as any of the recently released standalone players.

[Lucio]

Personally I favour HD-DVD because I like the name I've got literally no other reason for chosing between them right now, but the name makes far more sense and quite frankly, there isn't a lot of easily accessable info as to which one is "better", most of the info out there is filled with marketing jargon.

[mikerr]

Outside of the geek world, there is nothing to choose between them. I voted Bluray because it has the potential for higher capacity in PC use .

TBH I think the delays and competing standards serve no one - few people will buy either until the price of a player goes sub £100

[lawrywild]

I actually prefer BluRay (more data per layer) and I like the name but I f*ing hate BD+ so I voted HD DVD..

[Funkstar]

I'll post my thoughts a little later, although people familiar with me will likely know which one I'd want to win and why.

since lawrywild has already bumped the thread....what are your thoughts steve? you never did follow up on this.

and have they changed in light of the CES announcements?