Calgore

What is the big difference between DVD and Blu-Ray (besides the price)? I don't really want to convert my movie collection to another format unless there is a huge difference.

thrawn

They are massive basically, like the difference between DVD and CD

ProHome Brian

Indeed, there are two competing options for the "next generation" DVD format - Blu-Ray and HD-DVD - both of which are capable of storing tens of gigs of data.

Trouble is, it's back to the format wars ala betamax vs VHS in the 80's video format ways. Personally, I'm holding off from both formats until a clear winner emerges.

ninikins

I am not that convinced by the whole Blu ray thing yet, i'm waiting for the first concumer tests to see if I can see any clear benefits.

philoSCIFI

Has anyone made the jump and chosen one format over the other? Blu-Ray vs HD?

I was at Best Buy and noticed they already have two sections devoted to soley Blu-Ray and HD. I noticed one guy in particular shopping inthe Blu-Ray section.

I've personally noticed more of a push with Blu-Ray on DVDs, yet television seems to lean towards HD. Has anyone noticed anything similar?

chrispenycate

HD (without the DVD), High definition video is a television standard; more lines, 16-9, surround sound; basically more data per time, which means higher density storage (or more compression) and higher access speeds. Both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD offer both (though HD-DV seems to rely more on improved compression algorithms, and HD-Betacam similar, so tape based aquisition systems are lagging)
There is no doubt about the improved image definition of HDTV (sound quality should be better too, but I've not yet observed the improvement).
Still, electronic cinema demands higher standards again, throughout, so I confidently predict that whichever wins, the victory is temporary; there will be new, higher capacity standards following.
Keep those standards coming up, we must be reaching market saturation on conventional DVDs

Commonmind

I don't think the victory will be temporary because of capacity increases. By the time a format has stationed itself as the market leader for home media sales, I believe Digital Distribution will have taken hold on the industry and will be fast approaching becoming the new standard for digital media. If we can assume that Blu-ray or HD-DVD has become popular enough to overtake DVD sales, than we can assume a majority of homes have adopted HD technology, and as such are likely to have quite a bit of the equipment necessary for streaming movies, television shows, and even some forms of interactive entertainment.

That's not to say tangible media will go the way of the Dodo, just that it will become less commonplace in your average home. Of course, Blu-ray (which is already showing stronger sales, and has much more robust studio support) could make a break for the finish pretty quickly and prove me wrong, but with HD penetration still skimpy in many parts of the globe, I doubt that will be the case.

From an audio standpoint, between the two formats they include Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (along with a few others); a lossless format, and some with increased bitrates over their respective lower-end counterparts. Unfortunately, I've only been able to make a comparison on one occasion as I haven't gotten off of my rear-end to buy a new receiver, and I can't say in all honesty that any one of the formats is truly mind-blowing. Then again, I've been playing guitar in a hard rock band for 14 years as well as being the disembodied voice behind a god-mic for some time, so there's a good chance I've got no talent for telling the difference anymore.

Commonmind

There's a huge push with Blu-ray, the sales are 3:1 over HD-DVD. I'm betting quite a bit of that has to do with the fact that the PS3 doubles as a cheap Blu-ray player. I've got both in my home, and I actually prefer HD-DVD, as some of my Blu-ray discs are pretty skimpy on the extras. Namely there's a few integrated features that HD-DVD offers to make the movie experience more interactive (and not in the corny "follow the white rabbit" sort of way). Sony and some other companies are trying to catch up, of course, but if I walk into a store and see two copies of the same movie, I'm more inclined to pick up the HD-DVD version.

As for there being one format for television shows, I really haven't noticed. I'm not a big watcher of the boob-tube and am pretty oblivious to anything of that ilk that hits the store shelves. Though HD-DVD is definitely the only format you can find "Adult" material on.

tater03

I am of the mind to wait for a bit. I really don't feel like going out and replacing all my movies. To be honest I know that the new technology is better but I am so over replacing and updating my movie collection everytime I turn around it seem like.

Commonmind

No need to replace all of them, just the ones you'd enjoy watching in high-definition. I don't obligate myself with replacing my current collection, I'll just rebuy the movies I know I'm going to watch over and over again; for me those would be movies like V for Vendetta, the Harry Potters, Matrix, the Star Wars movies, most of the feel-good 80's stuff I grew up on, the Lord of the Rings series and other titles I watch again and again. For instance, I wouldn't replace the Notebook or How to Lose a Guy In Ten Days, as I only put those in the DVD tray when I'm threatened bodily to do so (and I only let me wife threaten me that way twice a year).