HD DVD is here.

[VirusType2]

(article date - March 22, 2006)

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13133-2097108,00.html
HD-DVD should be in stores now:

The Toshiba machine, built to show movies in far higher definition than traditional DVDs, is to be released first in Japan and is expected to retail for about 100,000 yen (£490). The launch of the player exploits a six-month window opened by the delayed arrival of Sony’s PlayStation3 — a key Blu-ray device.

A Samsung Blu Ray player due next month:

Samsung plans to launch a Blu-ray player in the United States next month, priced at about $1,000 (£570),

So how much are the discs?

Given that both formats offer similar increase in quality, consumers will probably be more interested in two things: price and title availability. Retail prices for HD DVD movies are set at US$28.99, slightly less than the expected US$35 price for Blu-ray movies. Title availability is a question that remains to be answered, although Blu-ray appears to have the upper hand for now. Regardless, it seems as if the launch of the respective players will mark the true beginning of this format war.

Which player do I get? HD-DVD or Blu Ray?

Some sources think HD-DVD will be the early leader while some sources suggest that the Blu Ray player will eventually be the more wide-spread player.

Warner also published research that suggests HD DVD may get off to a quick start, and next-generation DVDs may see a more successful launch than the original DVD format back in 1997. 600,000 players are expected to be sold -- some 450,000 HD DVD and 150,000 Blu-ray players. Only 305,000 DVD players sold in the first year, the company said.

So why should I really care about HD movies?

For me... In a word? Porn.

 

[ComradeBadger]

Bah, I liked my DVD collection.

 

[VirusType2]

lol.

I still only bought a couple of movie DVD's... I don't really like watching specific movies more than once, unless It is a few years later. I either borrowed them or rented them, but I usually just watch broadcast satellite.

 

[Adidajs]

is it really going to be that much better? or noticable?

 

[Icarusintel]

If anyone actually pays for porn then they just plain fail at life.

 

[ChiChi]

HD-DVD will win, at least for the start because of the "DVD" brand.

 

[Greatgat]

Hmmm... Looks like I'll have to upgrade my internet connection to pirate these. So when are the burners expected to be out?

 

[A True Canadian]

HD-DVD looks to be the more attractive option given the price. I agree with ChiChi in that HD-DVD will stand out to the casual buyer because of the "DVD" brand name.

 

[VirusType2]

If anyone actually pays for porn then they just plain fail at life.

Well not really...

lol yea I have this cool thing called a computer which allows an endless supply of free porn, but you have to admit porn movies aren't easy to get on the internet and are usually shitty quality samlpes - if they are free.

My old roomate didn't have a computer and he would let me borrow porn DVD's and the quality was really good, but still I could see the pixel and color limitations of DVD on my PC monitor. HD movies will be much better at what - 3 times the resolution? Not sure if the color limitations are any less however.

 

[Icarusintel]

Well not really...

lol yea I have this cool thing called a computer which allows an endless supply of free porn, but you have to admit porn movies aren't easy to get on the internet and are usually shitty quality samlpes - if they are free.

My old roomate didn't have a computer and he would let me borrow porn DVD's and the quality was really good, but still I could see the pixel and color limitations of DVD on my PC monitor. HD movies will be much better at what - 3 times the resolution? Not sure if the color limitations are any less however.

Last time I heard there was a little thing called P2P which gives me access to all the porn I could ever want. And I dunno where you're getting stuff, but I'm getting full, DVD-quality stuff.

Now, these new discs might be great for storing all the porn I have, since they have so much room.

 

[StardogChampion]

Are HD-DVD's useless on a regular TV, or will they still look slightly better?

I'm guessing they'll look awesome on a PC monitor like some of the HD trailers on apple.com.

 

[Cormeh]

Resolution and pixelation are the least of your concerns when settling down to a good porno.

And why the hell are we discussing this? :|

 

[Dr. Freeman]

you know its funny that these companies are coming out with these new techologies while the masses really haven't even caught up with the Plasma/HD-TV/Digital Projection technology thats been out there for the last 2-3 years.

i bought one of those DVD recorders about a year ago (finally after so long of not having one) and now it seems these companies want more of my limited buck 1.5 years later. :|

 

[VirusType2]

Are HD-DVD's useless on a regular TV, or will they still look slightly better?

I don't think they will look much better - if at all. Although this may differ depending on what type of TV set you have, since PAL and NTSC TV sets differ slightly, as far as I remember, current DVD's reach the limits of conventional TV sets.

Last time I heard there was a little thing called P2P which gives me access to all the porn I could ever want. And I dunno where you're getting stuff, but I'm getting full, DVD-quality stuff.

.

OK first, P2P is stealing! You are taking money from these honest people that have sex for money! .. shame on you. ... link?

Next, if you plan to use HD discs to store media, you will need an HD Recorder - which will be available for stand alone home players first, which won't help you any. Then take into consideration that 25GB and 50GB Blu Ray recordable discs will be $20 -$68 each, respectively. Initially 30 GB HD-DVD Recordable discs will be $10 each.

Now, these new discs might be great for storing all the porn I have, since they have so much room

I'm guessing they'll look awesome on a PC monitor like some of the HD trailers on apple.com.

Lastly, HD discs will not work with current PC's or PC monitors. While PC monitors are certainly capable of displaying HD images and video, retail purchased HD media will not work with current PC's.
Read this to find out why:
http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=103352


EDIT - UPDATE:
There is new [HVD]holographic disc technology available for commercial applications. Consumer devices won't be available for about 4 years however. The discs can hold anywhere from 200GB to 1.8 Terabytes! (1800GB!) The recording speed of these machines is just plain Insane fast as well.

Optware and its partners will market HVD's storage capacity and transfer speed as ideal for archival applications, with commercial systems available as soon as early 2006. Consumer devices could hit the market around 2010.

I have a thread with more info on holographic disc technology here:
http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=103351

It has been known since CES that Blu-ray players will be substantially more expensive than competing HD DVD players - with prices starting at $500 for HD DVD devices versus $1000 for their Blu-ray counterparts.

Blu Ray:

Additionally, Sony announced a Vaio PC with an integrated Blu-ray recorder than can handle write-one and rewritable Blu-ray media. There also will be an after market PC drive that can record to BD-R and BD-RE discs with capacities of 25 and 50 GB. Pricing of the Vaio PC will be about $2300;

Sony also announced pricing of recordable Blu-ray media. According to Sony, 25GB BD-R and BD-RE discs will be available in April for about $20 and $25 each, respectively. The 50 GB BD-R and BD-RE dual-layer discs will come in "subsequent" months for about $48 and $60.

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/03/17/sony_blu_ray/

Initially 30 GB HD-DVD Recordable discs will be $10 each
Source: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/hvd5.htm

[with a Blu Ray 2x recorder]25 GB discs can be filled in about 30 minutes.

I guess HD-DVD will be the same since HD-DVD's have the same access time as Blu Ray. I'm not sure if the first Blu Ray disc recorders and HD-DVD Recorders will record in 1x or 2x speed or what. Might not want to jump right in on the recorder when it's released because they will get faster.

However, the highest resolution supported [for a Blu Ray Recorder] will be limited to 1080i

Here is a chart explaining the differences between HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, and the new HVD (holographic discs):
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/hvd5.htm