The Blu-ray and HDDVD thread

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:14 pm 0

There's a few bits and pieces of decent stuff starting to trickle out on the HD formats so I thought I'd start up a thread where we can chat about discs, players and general HD "stuff".

Tomorrow I shall be getting the Blu-ray 2 disc version of Blade Runner (Later to trade up to the 5 disc edition when it comes out) and also the new Blu-Ray edition of The Life of Brian.

I'm a torn man though. I want to support HDDVD because it's region free but I'm a shallow, shallow man when it comes to tech and unfortunately blue boxes look nicer than red and my PS3 media remote pisses all over Microsoft's equivalent offering. It just makes blu-ray the nicer experience for me sadly.

While I'm not bothered that much it would be nice if the thread wasn't derailed by endless circular "High def is shit" discussions. Yes the selection is mostly pants and it's expensive (But getting cheaper). Let's just accept that and move on

(the Planet Earth boxset is looking very tempting at the moment. It's my birthday on Thusday. I might treat myself

)

Mqark · Post by **Mqark** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:34 pm 0

Can't say the colour of the boxes and a remote control are much of an issue for me - not that I'm belittling your concerns.

I just bought 2001 on HD-DVD and it is really very very good and according to all the reviews I've read so far equally as good on either format.

I've ordered the Startrek HD-DVD / DVD combo boxset but I'm gnawing my fingers to the knuckles waiting for it to turn up.
Can't wait for the movies to be re-released.

I'll probably get the 5 disc blade runner too.

A friend suggests that the format that wins will be the one that gets Starwars - which is obviously Bluray - do we think this is really going to make a difference?

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:34 pm 0

Is there a reasonably-priced HDDVD/BluRay player available from supermarkets/Amazon/Argos yet?

PumaG · Post by **PumaG** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:43 pm 0

The best you can get is a Toshiba Ep30? for Â£189 and 13 HD-DVDs.
I'll take shit colour boxes for that deal

GBH · Post by **GBH** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:44 pm 0

Firefox wrote:Is there a reasonably-priced HDDVD/BluRay player available from supermarkets/Amazon/Argos yet?

Define reasonable priced

Theres a PS3 for Bluray - a decent enough Bluray player and a games console as well. You can also get a player for your PC for about Â£100.

HDDVD you can get the 360 addon for about Â£100 with 5 free HDDVD's or you can get one for your PC for about Â£70.

Standalone I have no idea about Bluray (I don't think they're cheap) but you can get the Toshiba EP35 HDDVD player for about Â£260. It's an excellent piece of kit by all accounts.

If you're talking in the sub Â£50 bracket then no, theres nothing that cheap yet but expect HDDVD to be in that price range in the forseeable future as they're being VERY aggressive on price.

G

Kamineko · Post by **Kamineko** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:51 pm 0

So... nobody's going to for the 'just some files on a big disc' method yet?

Shame.

Loada · Post by **Loada** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 1:59 pm 0

I read somewhere that Aldi are doing (or are about to do) a Medion desktop PC with both HD *and* Blu-Ray drives in it for ~Â£650. I can't be bothered to look at the Aldi page right now to find it but I was viewing it a few days ago.

If it's true, it's a good little deal for a media PC? Not an ideal solution but not badly priced.

matt303 · Post by **matt303** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:13 pm 0

I keep looking at the Toshiba HD-EP30 now it's under Â£200 with a load of HD-DVDs thrown in but then remember I've not really been in a film watching mood lately, nice bit of kit by the looks of it. Standalone HD-DVD is sub $199 in the states now and Paramount are putting a lot of content out.

Firefox · Post by **Firefox** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:20 pm 0

GBH wrote:
Firefox wrote:Is there a reasonably-priced HDDVD/BluRay player available from supermarkets/Amazon/Argos yet?
Define reasonable priced

Theres a PS3 for Bluray - a decent enough Bluray player and a games console as well. You can also get a player for your PC for about Â£100.

HDDVD you can get the 360 addon for about Â£100 with 5 free HDDVD's or you can get one for your PC for about Â£70.

Standalone I have no idea about Bluray (I don't think they're cheap) but you can get the Toshiba EP35 HDDVD player for about Â£260. It's an excellent piece of kit by all accounts.

If you're talking in the sub Â£50 bracket then no, theres nothing that cheap yet but expect HDDVD to be in that price range in the forseeable future as they're being VERY aggressive on price.

G

I was thinking of a standalone player for Â£100 - Â£150. Still a bit to go before they come down to that, then.

Oh well, I'd probably better get a decent telly that's capable of showing the difference between DVD and HDDVD first.

matt303 · Post by **matt303** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:30 pm 0

To be honest I'm more interested in getting aFreesatbox in the spring so I can get the BBC and ITV HD channels for free, hopefully one of the boxes will also be a PVR.

Sorry for going a little off topic.

zip accident · Post by **zip accident** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:34 pm 0

Loada wrote:

I read somewhere that Aldi are doing (or are about to do) a Medion desktop PC with both HD *and* Blu-Ray drives in it for ~Â£650. I can't be bothered to look at the Aldi page right now to find it but I was viewing it a few days ago.

If it's true, it's a good little deal for a media PC? Not an ideal solution but not badly priced.

Here perhaps?

http://www.yakyak.org/viewtopic.php?p=1 ... e0#1228042

It's not two drives AIUI, but one combo drive, which, reading further, is also a DVD/CD burner. Which seems very much the way forward. I think that drive sounds smashing, if it is one unit. I wonder what it costs?

<edit> This looks even better, pity it's out of stock:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Componen ... ctId=29419

Blu-ray writer, HD DVD reader, Â£182.07.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:58 pm 0

The war's still pretty open, but I think it'll end in stalemate. When the dual-format players come out, I doubt no-one will really care.

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:06 pm 0

Mqark wrote:I just bought 2001 on HD-DVD and it is really very very good and according to all the reviews I've read so far equally as good on either format.

I've ordered the Startrek HD-DVD / DVD combo boxset but I'm gnawing my fingers to the knuckles waiting for it to turn up.
Can't wait for the movies to be re-released.

I've got the 2001 HDDVD. It really is stunning. I want the Star Trek set but the price they're asking is just taking the piss a bit.

Mqark · Post by **Mqark** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 3:47 pm 0

HGFB wrote: I've got the 2001 HDDVD. It really is stunning. I want the Star Trek set but the price they're asking is just taking the piss a bit.

Yes, it is a bit steep isn't it, and it's only the first season (two more to come! - eeek!

)

I can't think of any other must-haves yet, but it's such a stupid shame that yet again in the history of home electronics and computing we have another cocking format war.
I have no problem with Bluray, it's just for me I happen to have a 360 so there's little point throwing 200 to 300 quid at a bluray player or PS3 to watch two or three films I can't get on HDDVD.

Bubba · Post by **Bubba** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 4:04 pm 0

I'm also in the "owning both" category in that I recently shelled out for a PS3, and previously nabbed the 360 drive when they offered 5 free discs. My 5 free discs turned up yesterday, and bloody lovely they look too! Watched The Corpse Bride and it looks stunning.

HGFB's dead right about the MS remote though. For an IR based remote it's great, but I'd love to see an equivalent remote released that used the 360's wireless controller functionality. I'd shell out for that *instantly*

Might have to buy a Blu Ray disc though, just so I've got once of each - any recommendations? I've got the 5 disc bladerunner set pre-ordered on HD DVD (god bless region free) from Amazon.com so hopefully that'll turn up when they release it (has it slipped to next year?). Any other suggestions? Something that shows off the format nicely, both in video / audio quality and in fancy menus. I love the way most HD DVDs seem to have the chapter selection along with a timeline of the movie - a really small but nice touch.

Cheers

Bubba