Recent Comments:
Poll: Are you intrigued by in-home 3D technology? {Engadget HD}
Oct 4th 2008 5:31PM I wouldn't mind seeing 3D display technology as well as consumer digital 3D still and video cameras - that would be cool.
How would you change Wii Fit? {Engadget}
Jun 13th 2008 7:59PM Sumo?
Poll: What's it going to take to make you buy a PS3? {Engadget}
Feb 28th 2008 3:02PM I was slow to get my coupon in the mail, so no - havent' got mine back yet.
I have a friend who sent his off in the fall and got his movies recently.
Poll: What's it going to take to make you buy a PS3? {Engadget}
Feb 27th 2008 2:45PM I bought mine in January just after the Warner announcement, before the end of the Winter 5 free BRD offer. I bought it mostly for the BRD capablility (The last console I owned was an Atari 2600) but I have found myself enjoying the games - mostly the $10 ones bought online.
I was wasn't so sure I'd like using a game console as a movie machine, but it has proven to be a great one and it boots much much faster than my Toshiba HD A-20 that I got last spring. I have also had less problems with the HDMI/HDCP handshaking with my projector than I have with the Toshiba.
How would you change the outcome of the format war? {Engadget}
Feb 23rd 2008 2:12AM They should have combined the formats at the start. Put HD-DVD completed file specifications on the higher capacity Blu-Ray media. The best of both camps. Include a DVD 9 disk based version of the spec for lower cost home / camcorder recording from the start using current blank DVD disks.
Sure HD-DVD thought it had something with the ability to press dual-format HD-DVD discs, but really - wouldn't packing a DVD in with a Blu-Ray disk been that much more. I think there was too much emphasys on the use of existing pressing equipment on the HD-DVD side.
Also - I think they should have required the advertisements for upscaling DVD players to exclude the term High Definition and only allowed them to use the term - "Digital Connection" instead. I bet there was some level of confusion caused by ads for "Upscaling High Definition DVD" players.
Future Warner HD DVD releases to be inferior to their Blu counterparts? {Engadget HD}
Jan 31st 2008 5:12PM Am I finding less and less space dedicated to HD-DVD on the store shelves?
Yes
Am I finding it more and more difficult to find the new releases I want to watch in HD-DVD
Yes
Am I witnessing what appears to be blow-outs and clearance of HD-DVD merchandise by retailers
Yes
Do I think that the momentum has gone toward a single format and it won't be long before the last two studios make that switch?
Yes
I still have a working Laserdisc player as well. But I haven't used it in a while.
Future Warner HD DVD releases to be inferior to their Blu counterparts? {Engadget HD}
Jan 31st 2008 4:12PM As entertaining as I find the "format comments war" I have to say - it does not matter.
Fan boys on both sides can argue all they want about which is the superior technology. We've heard it time and time again - profiles, layers, DRM, rootkit, Microsoft, Sony, Toshiba blah blah blah..
Sorry - it doesn't matter. The winning format is the one that has content. Warner made that decision for us. Game over. It makes sense that they wouldn't want to expend the time and money to put extra content on these last few HD-DVDs. They will likely end up in the clearance bin soon anyway.
I have a Toshiba HD-DVD player. Looks great. I've enjoyed watching movies on it. But - it will soon be growing dusty due to lack of content. It lost. I recently got a PS3 so I can continue to enjoy movies in hd. They look great. And hey- I can play games. Wished I still had the money I paid for the Toshiba, but - my mistake.
So - give it up people. The war is over.
Amazon: $129 Toshiba HD-A3 with 7 HD DVDs and free shipping {Engadget}
Jan 18th 2008 5:56PM Laserdisc wasn't a Sony thing - more a Magnavox / Phillips and Pioneer thing.
Amazon: $129 Toshiba HD-A3 with 7 HD DVDs and free shipping {Engadget}
Jan 18th 2008 3:35PM HD-DVD will never be able to 'win' if it can't get support from all the studios. It's just not going to happen no matter how low the players get and how many people buy them. If the player owners can't go to the store and find the titles they want for their player - the format has lost. I think it will be a lot easier for Paramount and Universal to make the change to Blu-Ray than to get all the other studios (and they'll never get Sony) to switch to HD-DVD.
I have an HD-DVD player and I've seen the lack of selection when looking for movies. I'm now planning on getting a Blu-Ray player. I'll be holding onto my Toshiba, but the Laserdisc player will be leaving my rack to make room for a Blu-Ray player (no,I'm not making that up). Tax refund = PS3 for me.
It's over - case closed. HD-DVD lost out. Come next Christmas, HD-DVD will be a dead format.
Poll: Should HD DVD throw in the towel? {Engadget HD}
Jan 17th 2008 4:05PM Obviously it is not in Toshiba's interest to throw in the towel, but I think as a consumer, it is now in our best interest that they do.
As much as you would like to see HD-DVD win, and try to think of scenarios where they could gain player market share and widespread adoption, it is not likely to happen.
I can't see what motivation Paramount and Universal would have in helping HD-DVD win out. They are in the buisiness of selling content, not players. Dual cost more to make for one thing. Also, the longer this war goes on, the slower consumer adoption will be with either format. For movie studios, that is a loosign situation, because they want to sell discs, and what better way than to have mass consumer adoption of a single format. People will by the players, and many will start buying the back catalog in that new format. Upscale DVDs look good - but once you start seeing well mastered HD content, you will want to update your favorite movies.
