Cheap High Def DVD

[10g_DBA]

For 200 bucks you can buy the xbox 360 hd-dvd player and hook it up to your PC. Windows update has drivers for both XP and Vista.

 

For another 100 bucks you can buy Cyberlink's PowerDVD Ultra.

 

$300 for HD-DVD playback on your PC. That's a lot cheaper than a stand-alone player.

 

and the xbox drive comes with a free movie, too: King Kong

 

 

Nifty!

[keggerz]

For 200 bucks you can buy the xbox 360 hd-dvd player and hook it up to your PC. Windows update has drivers for both XP and Vista.

 

For another 100 bucks you can buy Cyberlink's PowerDVD Ultra.

 

$300 for HD-DVD playback on your PC. That's a lot cheaper than a stand-alone player.

 

and the xbox drive comes with a free movie, too: King Kong

Nifty!

 

i think you are forgetting to add in the cost of the XBOX360 that would bring your total to what $599

 

when for $499 you can buy a PS3 and jump on the Blu-Ray train(as long as your monitor is HDCP compliant you will be just fine)

 

I know there are fan boys on both sides of the HD DVD and Blu-Ray sides but something many probably dont know is the HD DVD=720P & Blu-Ray=1080P

Edited March 26, 2007 by keggerz

[10g_DBA]

i think you are forgetting to add in the cost of the XBOX360 that would bring your total to what $599

 

when for $499 you can buy a PS3 and jump on the Blu-Ray train(as long as your monitor is HDCP compliant you will be just fine)

 

I know there are fan boys on both sides of the HD DVD and Blu-Ray sides but something many probably dont know is the HD DVD=720P & Blu-Ray=1080P

 

http://www.digital-digest.com/highdefdvd/faq.html#faq416c

 

One of the most interesting aspects of the add-on drive is the ability to use the drive on your PC (both Windows XP, Vista and Mac OS X). Connection is made through USB.

 

Drivers have been made available for Windows XP (although some report not needing them in any case) that will allow it to recognise the add-on drive just like any other external drive. Playback is then possible using PowerDVD Ultra (see section 2.4.1).

 

On the Mac OS X, the drive is recognised, but there is no HD DVD player yet for this operating system.

 

Windows Vista compatibility should be straight out of the box, with no drivers required.

 

What this really means that for a very low price ($US 180), you can buy yourself an external HD DVD drive that works on multiple OS's and also with your Xbox 360. This might even tempt non Xbox 360 owners from purchasing the add-on individually for use as a HD DVD drive for their PC.

 

 

 

 

http://www.digital-digest.com/highdefdvd/faq.html#faq406

 

HD DVD resolution will follow the standard HD resolution standards currently used for HDTV transmissions. This means, at least for the present, the maximum output resolution will be 1080i (see below for updated information on this issue), or 1920x1080 in interlaced format only (not many displays can support 1080p, and even less can resolve or display the full 1080 lines - more information in section A.2). There is also 720p resolution (1280x720, progressive), which is the current native resolution of many home theatre displays, and also SD resolution support, similar to today's DVDs.

 

The lack of 1080p support was something that even supporters of HD DVD are complaining about. At the time movies were to be stored in 1080i format, even if 1080p output in players were planned to be supported in the future - requiring a bit of de-interlacing to produce a progressive picture, as opposed to BD's progressive source.

 

But the situation has since changed. In an interview with Microsoft in the Audioholics magazine in January 2006 indicated that HD DVD movies will be stored in 1080p format like BD, even if initial players can only output at 1080i. You can read the full interview here.

 

So far, all of the HD DVD movie releases have been in 1080p as promised. One of the reason for the lack of 1080p HD DVD players seemed to have been the lack of HDMI 1.3 specifications at the time of launch (the interview above seems to refer to this as well). This does not seem to be true as 1080p is supported by all version of HDMI (Dolby and DTS's lossless audio, on the other hand, is only supported by HDMI 1.3). The reasons for the lack of 1080p HD DVD hardware is that the Broadcom chip used is limited to 1080i output. In fact, Samsung's first Blu-ray player also uses the same chip and then uses another chip to de-interlace the 1080i signal produced by the Broadcom chip to 1080p.

 

The actual quality difference between 1080i and 1080p is actually an active debate, since it has to take into account various factors such as the source material, the native resolution of the display, and even the de-interlacer.

Edited March 26, 2007 by 10g_DBA

[Egret]

i think you are forgetting to add in the cost of the XBOX360 that would bring your total to what $599

 

when for $499 you can buy a PS3 and jump on the Blu-Ray train(as long as your monitor is HDCP compliant you will be just fine)

 

I know there are fan boys on both sides of the HD DVD and Blu-Ray sides but something many probably dont know is the HD DVD=720P & Blu-Ray=1080P

 

The point he is making is that you don't need to have a 360 to use it on a PC.

[keggerz]

The point he is making is that you don't need to have a 360 to use it on a PC.

 

Like a lions fan

 

oh and j/k

 

also I guess i was wrong about the 720P vs 1080P thing

[Egret]

Like a lions fan

 

oh and j/k

 

also I guess i was wrong about the 720P vs 1080P thing

 

When comparing 720p, 1080i, and 1080p: color, contrast, and black levels can be more important factors.

[Vicky]

Has anyone here used the HD add-on thing for the 360?

[MrTed46]

USB is too slow to truley display 1080p meh thinks.

 

I wont touch that drive

[10g_DBA]

USB is too slow to truley display 1080p meh thinks.

 

I wont touch that drive

 

http://www.digital-digest.com/highdefdvd/faq.html#faq417

 

The data transfer rate of HD-DVD is 36.55 Mbps.

 

 

The max transfer speed of "Hi-Speed" USB 2.0 is 60Mbps. While it's true that most devices do not achieve this theoretical max, even if the drive only pushed data at roughly half that rate, it would still be good enough for full HD. The drive's manual explicitly indicates Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB

[keggerz]

When comparing 720p, 1080i, and 1080p: color, contrast, and black levels can be more important factors.

 

+ screen size

[10g_DBA]

oooops, got my MB and Mb confused. (not able to edit the post above).

 

Data throughput on the Hi-Speed USB bus is 480 Mbps, which equals 60MB/s.

 

It appears that there is miles of headroom for a high def data stream. I'm not an expert in this, though, so perhaps there is something I'm not understanding.

[Avernus]

plus Blu-Ray has studio support from everyone but Universal...

 

HD-DVD only has Universal, WB and Paramount...

 

BD has Paramount, Warner Bros., Disney (Buena Vista, ), Fox, Lionsgate, MGM and Sony Pictures....

 

plus if you own a PS3, you can convert movies to HD/PS3 quality and save them onto your system...

 

the HD-DVD add on is pointless if the format is pretty much on it's last legs..

[10g_DBA]

the HD-DVD add on is pointless if the format is pretty much on it's last legs..

 

True, but that's a pretty big IF.

 

I'm not really a "fan boy" of either format - just went with HD-DVD cuz the players and the media are less expensive. You might be speaking too soon in saying the format war is all but over. Price and install base will be huge factors in determining the winner.

 

 

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/54532.html

 

Did Sony Kill Blu-ray?

 

This is more of a short update, but if you are watching PS3 sales, you know that the company will have a hard time hitting 600,000 units sold by year end, and there are already rumors that it may have to recall some of the initial systems for problems.

 

This follows battery and camera recalls that have many questioning Sony's ability to execute right now. Sony just experienced an executive shake-up that may put the company in better shape. When a company has as many problems as it had over the last 12 months, corporate should -- and generally does -- take the majority of the blame.

 

The interesting thing is that when Microsoft and Sony came down on opposite sides, many assumed that Microsoft wouldn't even get a vote. No one anticipated that simply by creating a low cost HD DVD accessory, it could change that dynamic dramatically. It shouldn't have been a surprise, given that those of us who thought Blu-ray would initially win believed it because of projected PS3 sales -- and PS3 should have created a decisive win for Sony and Blu-ray.

 

Unfortunately, there were massive production problems and cost overruns, and Sony could only get a fraction of the systems into the market channel. As a result, Microsoft is projected to have 10 million Xbox Latest News about Xbox 360 360s by the end of this year, against Sony's 600,000 PS3s. If Microsoft has just a 20 percent attach rate for its US$200 drive -- which is selling out, by the way -- it will have nearly 4x the number of HD DVD drives in consumer hands.

 

If you think about it, Sony also ends the year behind Nintendo Latest News about Nintendo, which is expected to sell around 1 million Wii game systems. This suggests that while the PS3 should have assured the success of Blu-ray, Blu-ray may have assured the failure of the PS3 -- at least for 2006. Now that is just weird.

[keggerz]

True, but that's a pretty big IF.

 

I'm not really a "fan boy" of either format - just went with HD-DVD cuz the players and the media are less expensive. You might be speaking too soon in saying the format war is all but over. Price and install base will be huge factors in determining the winner.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/54532.html

 

Did Sony Kill Blu-ray?

 

This is more of a short update, but if you are watching PS3 sales, you know that the company will have a hard time hitting 600,000 units sold by year end, and there are already rumors that it may have to recall some of the initial systems for problems.

 

This follows battery and camera recalls that have many questioning Sony's ability to execute right now. Sony just experienced an executive shake-up that may put the company in better shape. When a company has as many problems as it had over the last 12 months, corporate should -- and generally does -- take the majority of the blame.

 

The interesting thing is that when Microsoft and Sony came down on opposite sides, many assumed that Microsoft wouldn't even get a vote. No one anticipated that simply by creating a low cost HD DVD accessory, it could change that dynamic dramatically. It shouldn't have been a surprise, given that those of us who thought Blu-ray would initially win believed it because of projected PS3 sales -- and PS3 should have created a decisive win for Sony and Blu-ray.

 

Unfortunately, there were massive production problems and cost overruns, and Sony could only get a fraction of the systems into the market channel. As a result, Microsoft is projected to have 10 million Xbox Latest News about Xbox 360 360s by the end of this year, against Sony's 600,000 PS3s. If Microsoft has just a 20 percent attach rate for its US$200 drive -- which is selling out, by the way -- it will have nearly 4x the number of HD DVD drives in consumer hands.

 

If you think about it, Sony also ends the year behind Nintendo Latest News about Nintendo, which is expected to sell around 1 million Wii game systems. This suggests that while the PS3 should have assured the success of Blu-ray, Blu-ray may have assured the failure of the PS3 -- at least for 2006. Now that is just weird.

 

that article is from 12/4 and the PS3 was released on what November 17th I think

[10g_DBA]

that article is from 12/4 and the PS3 was released on what November 17th I think

 

What has happened in the last 4 months to invalidate my point? Is it not true that HD-DVD is cheaper and there are a lot more of them?

 

Also, don't underestimate the power of pr0n. Smut shops are in the HD-DVD camp.

[keggerz]

What has happened in the last 4 months to invalidate my point? Is it not true that HD-DVD is cheaper and there are a lot more of them?

 

Also, don't underestimate the power of pr0n. Smut shops are in the HD-DVD camp.

 

i would suggest taking a look at the number of new releases that HD DVD has had the last couple of months vs BD

 

also the pr0n stuff is over blown, imo

[10g_DBA]

ialso the pr0n stuff is over blown, imo

 

No pun intended.

[Avernus]

True, but that's a pretty big IF.

 

I'm not really a "fan boy" of either format - just went with HD-DVD cuz the players and the media are less expensive. You might be speaking too soon in saying the format war is all but over. Price and install base will be huge factors in determining the winner.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/54532.html

 

Did Sony Kill Blu-ray?

 

This is more of a short update, but if you are watching PS3 sales, you know that the company will have a hard time hitting 600,000 units sold by year end, and there are already rumors that it may have to recall some of the initial systems for problems.

 

This follows battery and camera recalls that have many questioning Sony's ability to execute right now. Sony just experienced an executive shake-up that may put the company in better shape. When a company has as many problems as it had over the last 12 months, corporate should -- and generally does -- take the majority of the blame.

 

The interesting thing is that when Microsoft and Sony came down on opposite sides, many assumed that Microsoft wouldn't even get a vote. No one anticipated that simply by creating a low cost HD DVD accessory, it could change that dynamic dramatically. It shouldn't have been a surprise, given that those of us who thought Blu-ray would initially win believed it because of projected PS3 sales -- and PS3 should have created a decisive win for Sony and Blu-ray.

 

Unfortunately, there were massive production problems and cost overruns, and Sony could only get a fraction of the systems into the market channel. As a result, Microsoft is projected to have 10 million Xbox Latest News about Xbox 360 360s by the end of this year, against Sony's 600,000 PS3s. If Microsoft has just a 20 percent attach rate for its US$200 drive -- which is selling out, by the way -- it will have nearly 4x the number of HD DVD drives in consumer hands.

 

If you think about it, Sony also ends the year behind Nintendo Latest News about Nintendo, which is expected to sell around 1 million Wii game systems. This suggests that while the PS3 should have assured the success of Blu-ray, Blu-ray may have assured the failure of the PS3 -- at least for 2006. Now that is just weird.

 

 

 

since the new year...BD's are outselling HD-DVD 2:1 and this was before the amazon.com sale that had many titles 50% off and all were at least 15% off but not many...

 

plus Casino Royale on BD was 8th in the top 10...I don't recall any HD-DVD movie cracking the top 10..

 

nothing is coming out for HD-DVD and PS3's are making the price a non-factor...

 

not to mention of a price drop for BD players later this year....you'll see some for around 300 and then 600...

[jetsfan]

for the BD lovers out there, Fry's has been having buy 1 get 1 free on blu ray discs.

 

Blu Ray deals

[10g_DBA]

for the BD lovers out there, Fry's has been having buy 1 get 1 free on blu ray discs.

 

Blu Ray deals

 

I guess we just figured out how BD is outselling 2:1. Half are given away.

[Avernus]

I guess we just figured out how BD is outselling 2:1. Half are given away.

 

 

yuup...at amazon.com, overstock.com and Fry's...they are all having sales on BD's...

 

even at amazon.com you'll see the departed for both formats and the BD version is 4 bucks cheaper...

 

I don't understand this at all.....not that I am complaining of course..

[The Misfit]

yuup...at amazon.com, overstock.com and Fry's...they are all having sales on BD's...

 

even at amazon.com you'll see the departed for both formats and the BD version is 4 bucks cheaper...

 

I don't understand this at all.....not that I am complaining of course..

 

 

I think it has to do with overall sales, which have been anemic. So, you're right about the movies that are coming out exclusively on BD ... but that doesn't matter much if no one is really buying them except for PS3 owners. And, since almost every console out there outsold the PS3 last month except for Game Cube and Coleco Intellivision, that's not a real big base to work with.

 

I mean, for J6P, a BD player is just an uppity DVD player playing uppity DVDs -- not all that far removed from the good ole laser disk.

 

I've been looking for some new surround speakers lately, and I have noticed in looking around that it seems like there's not an audio store out there, including the big boxes, that is pushing either format. They want you to buy that 1080p TV, but they'll sell you a home theater that includes a prog-scan DVD player to go with it, even though a BD player is practically their only chance to view 1080p content right now. And, apparently, people are okay with that.

[AtomicCEO]

Sony has an immense movie distribution company. You bet they'll give you a deal on the Sony BR format.

[Avernus]

I think it has to do with overall sales, which have been anemic. So, you're right about the movies that are coming out exclusively on BD ... but that doesn't matter much if no one is really buying them except for PS3 owners. And, since almost every console out there outsold the PS3 last month except for Game Cube and Coleco Intellivision, that's not a real big base to work with.

 

I mean, for J6P, a BD player is just an uppity DVD player playing uppity DVDs -- not all that far removed from the good ole laser disk.

 

I've been looking for some new surround speakers lately, and I have noticed in looking around that it seems like there's not an audio store out there, including the big boxes, that is pushing either format. They want you to buy that 1080p TV, but they'll sell you a home theater that includes a prog-scan DVD player to go with it, even though a BD player is practically their only chance to view 1080p content right now. And, apparently, people are okay with that.

 

 

actually...reports have shown that BD is selling at a faster rate than DVD or HD-DVD at this point....

 

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=130

 

Mar 27, 2007 - Casino Royale First High-Definition Title to Ship 100,000 Units

 

Posted March 27, 2007 by Marwin

 

Blu-ray Movies Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced that the blockbuster Bond title Casino Royale, released March 13 on Blu-ray Disc, has hit the 100,000 units shipped mark and is setting records at retail for greatest number of high-definition copies sold in one day.

 

"As a point of comparison, the first DVD title to ship 100,000 units took approximately 11 months (Air Force One, in February 1998)," said David Bishop, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. "Casino Royale on Blu-ray has done it in far less time and is clearly demonstrating the format's robust growth in the marketplace."

 

"Blu-ray has accounted for approximately 70 percent of the high-definition market since the first week in January, and as that market share continues to grow, we are dedicated to providing consumers with the content they crave," added Mr. Bishop.

 

Sony Pictures also confirmed that all of their upcoming Blu-ray releases will be released on 50GB dual-layer discs. Upcoming titles include The Pursuit of Happyness (March 27), Warriors of Heaven and Earth (March 27), Volver (April 3), Identity (April 3), Secret Window (April 24), Catch and Release (May 8), Donnie Brasco (May 8), Revenge (May 8), Stomp the Yard (May 15) and Closer (May 22).

 

Source: Sony Pictures | Permalink

[Avernus]

also..the HD support is coming in the home theater dept...they are usually last to follow suit...

 

they already offer HDMI output...7.1 is paving the way for HD and HDMI 1.3