Comments on: Are you going HD-DVD this Christmas? http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/ North West Computer Consultancy Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:09:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Colin DiPonio - Computer Consultant (Cheshire, UK) » Blog Archive » The next generation Hi-Def war is over, Standard Def DVD won http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2963 Colin DiPonio - Computer Consultant (Cheshire, UK) » Blog Archive » The next generation Hi-Def war is over, Standard Def DVD won Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:22:13 +0000 http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/#comment-2963 [...] I hate quoting myself but..(Link see Comments 31/10/2007) One company could end the debate over formats in a heartbeat and that is Warner Brothers, if they chose a single format instead of supporting both, the game would be over. [...] [...] I hate quoting myself but..(Link see Comments 31/10/2007) One company could end the debate over formats in a heartbeat and that is Warner Brothers, if they chose a single format instead of supporting both, the game would be over. [...]

]]> By: Colin DiPonio http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2962 Colin DiPonio Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:51:25 +0000 http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/#comment-2962 The War is over http://www.colindiponio.com/2008/01/05/the-next-generation-hi-def-war-is-over-standard-def-dvd-won/ The War is over

http://www.colindiponio.com/2008/01/05/the-next-generation-hi-def-war-is-over-standard-def-dvd-won/

]]> By: Colin DiPonio http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2578 Colin DiPonio Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:15:39 +0000 http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/#comment-2578 Cool, hopefully Transformers will be to HD-DVD what the Matrix was to DVD. "300" was similarly superior on the HD-DVD format. Colin Cool, hopefully Transformers will be to HD-DVD what the Matrix was to DVD.

“300″ was similarly superior on the HD-DVD format.

Colin

]]> By: Gary F http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2577 Gary F Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:41:18 +0000 http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/#comment-2577 Given Sky has a national monopoly on HDTV we don't really have a choice if we want to see some of our favourite TV shows in glorious HD (albeit mostly US imports). We'd be lucky to see regular HD transmissions on Freeview by 2012. The Beeb are only looking at 4 hours a day (at night!) at the moment. I've just read an interview in Starburst magazine with Alan Bell, Paramount's Chief Technical Officer, who says they're releasing the Transformers movie on HD-DVD only (not Blu-ray) because of technical advantages. HD-DVD can do true picture-in-picture such as showing the raw camera footage while showing the final film, or connect to the Internet to download (and store) extra features or updated features - that's a mandatory part of the HD-DVD spec while on Blue-Ray it's only an option which isn't supported on current players. Interesting. I guess that proves size isn't everything! :-) Given Sky has a national monopoly on HDTV we don’t really have a choice if we want to see some of our favourite TV shows in glorious HD (albeit mostly US imports). We’d be lucky to see regular HD transmissions on Freeview by 2012. The Beeb are only looking at 4 hours a day (at night!) at the moment.

I’ve just read an interview in Starburst magazine with Alan Bell, Paramount’s Chief Technical Officer, who says they’re releasing the Transformers movie on HD-DVD only (not Blu-ray) because of technical advantages. HD-DVD can do true picture-in-picture such as showing the raw camera footage while showing the final film, or connect to the Internet to download (and store) extra features or updated features – that’s a mandatory part of the HD-DVD spec while on Blue-Ray it’s only an option which isn’t supported on current players. Interesting. I guess that proves size isn’t everything! :-)

]]> By: Colin DiPonio http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2575 Colin DiPonio Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:31:58 +0000 http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/#comment-2575 The good thing about the X-box 360 HD-DVD Drive is it now comes with a similar rebate for 5 free HD-DVD titles. If I was an Xbox360 owner I would have probably gone down that road. Little known fact: I am the worlds worst video game player :) SkyHD is a joke, well not a joke exactly more a HD-Tax. As in you want anything HD you have to pay the unnoficial HD-Tax. In SkyHD's case £200 extra for hardware and £120 a year in subs. If I was still watching DVD movies over a scart connection I would be more interested in the next generation formats. However I watch all my movies via a HTPC connected to a 720p display using VGA and the picture quality is amazing (considering the mpeg2 source). I have my fingers crossed that HD-DVD prevails but no one really knows. One company could end the debate over formats in a heartbeat and that is Warner Brothers, if they chose a single format instead of supporting both, the game would be over. The good thing about the X-box 360 HD-DVD Drive is it now comes with a similar rebate for 5 free HD-DVD titles. If I was an Xbox360 owner I would have probably gone down that road.

Little known fact: I am the worlds worst video game player :)

SkyHD is a joke, well not a joke exactly more a HD-Tax. As in you want anything HD you have to pay the unnoficial HD-Tax. In SkyHD’s case £200 extra for hardware and £120 a year in subs.

If I was still watching DVD movies over a scart connection I would be more interested in the next generation formats. However I watch all my movies via a HTPC connected to a 720p display using VGA and the picture quality is amazing (considering the mpeg2 source).

I have my fingers crossed that HD-DVD prevails but no one really knows.

One company could end the debate over formats in a heartbeat and that is Warner Brothers, if they chose a single format instead of supporting both, the game would be over.

]]> By: Gary F http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-2574 Gary F Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:35:30 +0000 http://www.colindiponio.com/2007/10/31/are-you-going-hd-dvd-this-christmas/#comment-2574 Unless you can easily spare the money I'd wait until next Xmas when hi-def players will have halved again in price. Plus consumer hi-def recorders are on the horizon. At the moment I believe SkyHD is the only consumer device that can record hi-def broadcasts so perhaps there isn't a demand for Bluray/HDDVD recorders just yet - at least not until Freeview carries some HD channels or more people have HD camcorders (which are also dropping in price). I'm with you Colin - favouring HD-DVD - but now the Playstation 3 can be had for £300 it's quite a bargain if you want a hi-def video player, a next-gen games console, and a media centre. (But the 40Gb model won't play old PS2 games). I prefer the Xbox 360 as it has many more games and its HD-DVD drive add-on costs just £110. Great if you don't mind an extra box lying around. Unless you can easily spare the money I’d wait until next Xmas when hi-def players will have halved again in price. Plus consumer hi-def recorders are on the horizon. At the moment I believe SkyHD is the only consumer device that can record hi-def broadcasts so perhaps there isn’t a demand for Bluray/HDDVD recorders just yet – at least not until Freeview carries some HD channels or more people have HD camcorders (which are also dropping in price).

I’m with you Colin – favouring HD-DVD – but now the Playstation 3 can be had for £300 it’s quite a bargain if you want a hi-def video player, a next-gen games console, and a media centre. (But the 40Gb model won’t play old PS2 games). I prefer the Xbox 360 as it has many more games and its HD-DVD drive add-on costs just £110. Great if you don’t mind an extra box lying around.

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