Blu-Ray or HD DVD? If you bought one or are looking, which format would you go with and why?

Question

Blu-Ray or HD DVD? If you bought one or are looking, which format would you go with and why?

Answer 1

I bought HD DVD ... because:

- I'm more interested in dramas, etc than kids movies (BTW, relative to the ~79,500 DVDs, there are almost the same number of films on HD DVD (375) as Blu-ray (430) --  Check the links)

- HD DVD hardware is less expensive (~$190 vs ~$280 start)  --- yet has identical audio and video quality and superior features.

- The specifications are mature and stable (unlike Blu-ray)

- No BD+ (DRM) overhead

- No region coding

- HD DVD reported to be better DVD upconverters than Blu-ray.

- Internet connectivity is part of the spec (unlike Blu-ray) which allows for updates, online extras, special features, etc)

- HDi is far superior to BD-java for programming extras (and the interface is less clunky)

- Extras on HD DVD frequently better then on Blu-ray

- No BDA arrogance / bullying / and misleading ads (with 13 major manufacturer vs the "little" guy). HD DVD used VC-1 coding first and Blu-ray had to adopt to compete, most existing BD players are incomplete ... but this was not part of ads, etc., etc.

BUT, to benefit from either HD format you need a fairly large HDTV, preferably 1080p.  DVDs (which are much cheaper and with more choice available) on a good upconverting DVD player look almost as good as HD disks on a 720p HDTV. AND, if you don't sit close enough you lose the benefit of HD and might as well watch DVDs.

I bought HD DVD (HD-A2), but consider it an upconverting DVD player that also plays HD DVDs. If the format war goes Blu-ray (and I don't think EITHER format will disappear any time soon ... but neither will DVD) I can simply use my player to keep playing DVDs and the cheap HD DVD disks that will be available. I'd then buy a dual format player. This way I'm out the minimum amount of $$.

I hope that answers you question.

Answer 2

I chose to go with HD DVD. Mainly due to cost of the player, but I think the technology is more stable as well.

There are too many reports of Blu players not being able to handle java well, or not being able to play special features.

On the other hand, all HD players can play all HD discs, and all features contained on those discs.

I have a library of 11 HD movies and counting ;)

Answer 3

HD-DVD cus its cheeper and the there are more DVDs that are good on that format.

Answer 4

This format war is simply a product of Microsoft being pissy about Sony using Java for their menu system instead of the MS HDi software.

As for what to support, just look at the movie lists and pick what has more movies you enjoy. Yes Blu has more movies. Yes HD is region free. Yes, beta lost years ago but back then Sony wasn't associated with hollywood. Now they have not only Sony Pictures, but 9 other studios i think and their affiliates including Disney.

Who's going to win? Who cares is my answer. This won't end for years yet and in the end there are alot of movies that will be available and just like DVD+R and DVD-R we will probibly be stuck with both formats.

Answer 5

I have no Idea where that guy got his info? Way more Blu-rays that HD-DVD's

I desided to get both formats. I have a HD dvd Player and a Blu-Ray. Now it doesn't matter what format the movie in. If I like the movie... I rent or buy it.

Answer 6

sony learned nothing from the failure of beta,although the best quality format ,died on the vine because other manufacturers would have to pay sony to build their machine.

thus vhs took over except on the high end such as t.v. studios and such.

i predict that blu-ray will suffer the same fate,so i would go hd-dvd.