Video Asylum

Posted by Audiophilander (A) on June 21, 2007 at 17:58:03

In Reply to: RE: Really? Until the prices are equatable and more desired titles are available, HD is still on the leading e posted by oscar on June 21, 2007 at 14:58:08

... standard Blu-ray has 25 GB available space (50 GB on dual layer) as opposed to HD-DVD's 15 GB (30 GB on dual layer). From a technical standpoint that should make Blu-Ray superior, but when assessing whether the length of a movie might require a second disc that's still up in the air. It wouldn't surprise me if the MPEG-4 AVC codec makes the available space issue a moot point. Note: Currently MPEG-2 is still employed for high definition video releases, but both HD & BR have MPEG-4 codec specification mandated.

Blu-ray is currently more expensive and just as slow loading as HD; that's one reason I'm holding off until the 3rd generation players arrive this fall. By the holiday season I intend to be feeding our 1080P Sammy HD and (hopefully) Blu-ray movies (I've already ordered some HD movies because, subjectively speaking, there are too few Blu-ray titles of interest currently available).

Like you say, the standards are still evolving, which is another reason I've opted for a 3rd generation player. By that time all or most of the bugs will have been worked out, format functions standardized and prices stabilized. Also, it will be much clearer which format has the best promise for movies and I can decide with greater confidence whether to go with an all-format player or buy a cheaper separate. For me, the region lock-out issue isn't a deal breaker, but it's pretty darn close. I like my BBC based programming too much (concerts, dramas, etc.), to be precluded from obtaining the better Brit fare in higher definition when it becomes available.

Finally, quality issues between the two formats appear to be a draw for now even with the GB differences. Quality-wise, the comparisons of films transfered to both HD & BR have varied little in most cases, but who knows what the future will hold. The LoTR Trilogy (Dir. cut) is certainly high on my list of MUST haves in a highest definition format possible, but so is John Carpenter's The Thing, Forbidden Planet, Pitch Black, Starship Troopers, Matrix (the 1st one), Alien & Aliens, The Abyss and all of the Harry Potter films. Some of these are already available on HD and LoTR is supposedly in the pipe, but few if any on Blu-ray, ...but Blu-ray does sport the Durabis scratch-resistant coating! ;0)

Cheers,
AuPh