D'oh! Current DVD technology to be obsolete by next year

[Ryanwb]

Looks like at worst we will just have to buy new DVD players in the next year or so to get the new disks to work:

A dozen companies, headed by Sony Corp., are pushing a disc called the Blu-ray.

The new discs, which look much like DVDs, would be read by players with newly developed blue lasers, which can pick out finer detail than the red lasers used to play DVDs and CDs. This lets the new discs store three to five times as much data as a DVD, enough for high-definition movies with surround sound.

Manufacturers from both groups plan to also build red lasers into their new players, allowing them to read current DVDs.

The Blu-ray disc has the most storage capacity, up to 50 gigabytes. However, it achieves that capacity by using a structure quite different from DVDs. This means that the companies that make prerecorded DVDs would have to invest in new equipment, which is sure to give Hollywood pause as it ponders which format to back.

The Blu-ray does have the widest support among electronics manufacturers, counting not only most of the big Japanese names but also Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. in its consortium

 

[SECTION 11]

we still have a vcr and the dogs ate most of our motes.

 

[Chaz]

I don't think it will happen that fast. There will be a new DVD format to accomodate HiDef video formats. There is still a VHS/BETA type war going on when it comes to these new high capacity DVDs.

It will most likely be early adopter tech untill 2007 when digital television broadcasts are mandated and HD broadcasts are more common.

 

[40yearfan]

I don't plan on changing any of my considerable electronics equipment out until they make a Tivo that will record high definition and a recorder that will do the same. The difference between 480 (DVD's) and 1080i (HD) is not so apparent in movies as it is in sports and landscape scenery especially if you have progressive scan DVD.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I don't plan on changing any of my considerable electronics equipment...

Your 8-tracks will be fine, 40.

 

[DeAnna]

I don't plan on changing any of my considerable electronics equipment out until they make a Tivo that will record high definition and a recorder that will do the same. The difference between 480 (DVD's) and 1080i (HD) is not so apparent in movies as it is in sports and landscape scenery especially if you have progressive scan DVD.

Looks like it's already out - Skkorp posted a thread that it costs $999 on the Cards board.

 

[Chaplin]

Settle down. HD-DVD is a long way off--and even longer before it's actually affordable to the consumer. AND HD-DVD will be backwards compatible--meaning that HD-DVD players will be able to play regular DVDs.

As for the Blu-ray, there are currently two formats being peddled right now, the Blu-ray from Sony, and there is another one (it's through Universal or Paramount--I don't remember), and that one is based on a red disk, rather than a blue one. They haven't even decided which standard to go with yet. To me, the Blu-ray sounds like the #1 choice, but like I said, there is absolutely no reason to get crazy--it is true that your player might become obsolete in 3 years, but I don't see how that is such a big deal since you can get DVD players for 60 bucks.

 

[Ryanwb]

Settle down. HD-DVD is a long way off--and even longer before it's actually affordable to the consumer. AND HD-DVD will be backwards compatible--meaning that HD-DVD players will be able to play regular DVDs.

As for the Blu-ray, there are currently two formats being peddled right now, the Blu-ray from Sony, and there is another one (it's through Universal or Paramount--I don't remember), and that one is based on a red disk, rather than a blue one. They haven't even decided which standard to go with yet. To me, the Blu-ray sounds like the #1 choice, but like I said, there is absolutely no reason to get crazy--it is true that your player might become obsolete in 3 years, but I don't see how that is such a big deal since you can get DVD players for 60 bucks.

..well as long as they don't make me buy all the LOTR movies again.....I already own 2 copies of everything so far because of the extended thing-a-ma-gigs

 

[Chaplin]

..well as long as they don't make me buy all the LOTR movies again.....I already own 2 copies of everything so far because of the extended thing-a-ma-gigs

They will definitely re-release them, but the only difference will probably just be slightly better picture and audio quality. On a normal television, you probably wouldn't even notice a difference anyway. The good thing about HD-DVD is that you can put A LOT on one disk. Maybe as much as 10 times as much on one side. There isn't that much more you can get with the LOTR movies, so I doubt there would be any significant extras added.

But HD would probably give them the ability to release the epic as one movie on one disk. That might be something many companies might look into doing with several different sequels/franchises, i.e. Back to the Future and Godfather.

 

[Lefty]

Settle down. HD-DVD is a long way off--and even longer before it's actually affordable to the consumer. AND HD-DVD will be backwards compatible--meaning that HD-DVD players will be able to play regular DVDs.

As for the Blu-ray, there are currently two formats being peddled right now, the Blu-ray from Sony, and there is another one (it's through Universal or Paramount--I don't remember), and that one is based on a red disk, rather than a blue one. They haven't even decided which standard to go with yet. To me, the Blu-ray sounds like the #1 choice, but like I said, there is absolutely no reason to get crazy--it is true that your player might become obsolete in 3 years, but I don't see how that is such a big deal since you can get DVD players for 60 bucks.

Should I hold off on buying a DVD recorder? I was thinking of buying one this summer but now after reading this thread I don't know. By the way, what are the best DVD recorders to buy?

 

[Chaplin]

Should I hold off on buying a DVD recorder? I was thinking of buying one this summer but now after reading this thread I don't know. By the way, what are the best DVD recorders to buy?

Well, for one, Philips seems to have a good recorder.

Secondly, I still think the recorders are expensive. Even with HD coming, they will be even more expensive for longer. Since HD won't really even come close to having as much product as regular DVD for several years, it might be all right to get a recorder now, if you find one at a good price.

Personally, I have my Mac and PC both with recorders, and I'm not really interested in recording stuff from TV onto DVD, so it's not such a big deal to me.

 

[Lefty]

Thanks. I am going to wait at least another year to buy a Plasma TV. I'm thinking the prices for Plasma will drop even more.

By the way, does anyone know of a good electronics message board where I can discuss TV's and DVD recorders?

 

[Chaplin]

Thanks. I am going to wait at least another year to buy a Plasma TV. I'm thinking the prices for Plasma will drop even more.

By the way, does anyone know of a good electronics message board where I can discuss TV's and DVD recorders?

Home Theater Forum is one of the best sites out there for anything home theater, including DVDs. I don't really go there much because it is full of tons of people. DVDtalk.com is a site that is mostly about DVDs, but it also has stuff on home theater as well. THat site isn't as big as HTF, but I usually only lurk there.

 

[Chaz]

Thanks. I am going to wait at least another year to buy a Plasma TV. I'm thinking the prices for Plasma will drop even more.

By the way, does anyone know of a good electronics message board where I can discuss TV's and DVD recorders?

www.hdtvoice.com has some good info and some nice folks.

also

www.avsforum.com

www.hometheaterspot.com

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Studios Announce First Blu-ray Disc Titles
Source: ComingSoon.net
January 4, 2006

With the 2006 International CES technology show getting underway in Las Vegas, studios have announced their first titles for the next-generation home video format, Blu-ray Disc (BD), which provides five times larger capacity than today's DVDs. Blu-ray Disc players will be fully backward compatible with current CD/DVD formats, delivering entertainment content in full high-definition (HD) quality, under a secure environment made possible through the most advanced copyright protection technology. Featuring 1920x1080p HD quality, the Blu-ray Disc ROM technology will also be included in Sony's Playstation 3.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) (with MGM Home Entertainment) has announced 20 initial titles, including The Fifth Element, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Desperado, For a Few Dollars More, The Guns of Navarone, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, Kung Fu Hustle, The Last Waltz, Legends of the Fall, Resident Evil Apocalypse, RoboCop, Sense and Sensibility, Stealth, Species, SWAT and XXX. Black Hawk Down and The Bridge on the River Kwai will also be available on 50 GB, dual-layer Blu-ray Discs Summer 2006.

Commencing Summer 2006, SPHE will begin adding bonus BD Java games, and other anticipated features, to new release titles including Underworld: Evolution that will street day-and-date with DVD. The studio announced it will also deliver four catalog titles per month beginning this Summer, accelerating to 10 titles per month by the fourth quarter 2006. Also being readied for Summer release is the complete television series of sci-fi favorite, Stargate Atlantis, in high-definition.

At Blu-ray Disc launch, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment will release Four Brothers, Sahara, Aeon Flux, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Italian Job, Tomb Raider, U2: Rattle and Hum, Sleepy Hollow, We Were Soldiers and The Manchurian Candidate. Paramount will continue its roll out of Blu-ray titles throughout 2006 and beyond, including the highly anticipated release of Mission: Impossible: III alongside Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible 2. These titles will also be available for HD DVD, the format competing with Blu-ray, which the studio supports as well.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment's initial titles include Fantastic Four, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Behind Enemy Lines, Kiss of the Dragon and Ice Age along with others that will bring Fox's total number of first wave releases to 20 titles.

Liongate will add to the mix 10 titles, including Lord of War, The Punisher, The Devil's Rejects, Saw, T2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Dune and Rambo: First Blood. The line-up will also include the upcoming feature film See No Evil.

 

[Chaplin]

Remember, unless you have an HD or Plasma television, there will be not a lot of difference between Blu-Ray and the normal DVDs you get now.

This could eventually (in 10 years) overtake DVD, but in reality, I think this hi-def stuff is the new laserdisc. I could be wrong, but for the next 5 years, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray will most definitely be collector's formats. With how good DVDs look on HD tv's, and even regular analog sets, there is very little market for something that has better picture. FYI, Superbit titles (Sony's answer to no extra, extra bitrate for better picture) have all been reduced to $9.99 at Best Buy. If nobody will buy the higher quality picture now, why would they later?

 

[abomb]

It is worth noting that Microsoft has sided with the HD-DVD camp, planning to release a USB HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 and making both Windows Vista and Windows Media Center HD-DVD support only.

A-Bomb

 

[Ryanwb]

Oh well, I guess I'm buying Star Wars for the 7th time

:consumerwhore:

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Remember, unless you have an HD or Plasma television, there will be not a lot of difference between Blu-Ray and the normal DVDs you get now.

Well, duh!

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Mike