[Gone2TheFinalFrontier]

Originally Posted by Raiden

Is there actually a clear winner yet so I can stand buying ?

Depends on whom you ask and what data they're including in their argument. I tend to be swayed with the argument that since WB went BR exclusive last month, there are only two studios, Paramount and Universal, left to provide their films on HD-DVD. Now with 70% of Hollywood studio films to be provided exclusively on BR from here on out, this makes Paramount and Universal's exclusion dragging out expenses on a lost cause. They're not obligated to provide product to folks who bought HD-DVD players; they're obligated to their shareholders who want them involved in a profitable, growing market.

[_Eris_]

Whichever format ends up in the $5 wal-mart bin is the way I'll sway, ha.

[sir num nums]

On one of the shows on G4 a month or so ago, maybe Attack of the Show, a guest on the show said that the HD-DVD / Blu-Ray war may end with neither one being victorious.

The guest said that with Cable and Satellite companies offering downloads to DVR, the studios may take advantage of that in the future and offer movies in HD via a download instead of a disk.

[NextWave]

The HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray vs. Downloadable Content can be viewed many ways. HD-DVD has been superior to Blu-Ray up through Q4 '07. Even with BR's superior storage size, HD was producing better picture and sound quality. Now that Sony has ironed out a lot of the kinks, they are finally producing a quality product. That said, I still believe HD is a better choice for consumers, but it all boils down to studio support.

Back when VHS and Beta were going at it, the major advantage VHS had was the support of the porn industry. Today, that isn't as much an issue because of the internet. HD needed more studio support, but Sony had their claws so deep in the studios that BR had that nothing was going to sway that. WB saw that and decided to make a financial choice to force a format to win out. Otherwise if the war goes on too long, consumers will have nothing to adopt to and a new technology will develope. An obvious next step would be holographic memory, which is still in development.

However, in regards to downloadable content, I think we are many years away from that. A lot of people think the industry will switch to downloadable rentals, which it may, but movies will still need to be available in physical format...for so many reasons. First off, HD movies...even compressed ones...are around 7+Gb large. Hard drives haven't come down enough in price to make that a feasable option for most people. Secondly, if you want to take your movie with you, to a friends house or in your portable DVD player, DC wouldn't let you at this point. Plus broadband saturation is at around 50-60%, which isn't enough make an industry wide change. Also, look at the popularity of TV season DVDs. Several years ago, no one would have thought that buying shows you already can watch for free would be as popular as it is today. Lastly you would have to have something to download it to, PC, DVR, 360, PS3, etc. and not everyone does. Everyone has a DVD player and it's easy to run to the store and buy your favorite movie. The average consumer can do it...even grandma and grandpa.

Until the technology generation becomes the majority of the population, things will stay the way they are. Which means hard copies of movies and TV shows.

[DS9TREK]

Originally Posted by Ktrek

Audio quality is lower on HD-DVD. HD also does not have the interactive features like Blu-Ray does.

It's the other way around mate...

However, it seems the public isn't buying (excuse the pun) into the new lower price HD-DVD players as Blu is outselling them like 5 to 1. I think the public is not as dumb as some people think and they have obviously chosen Blu-Ray.

Yes, there are more Blu-ray players out there. But HD-DVD owners spend more on discs than Blu-ray player owners do. That's despite there being less titles available on HD-DVD. Consumers have chosen HD-DVD for the win. Unfortunately most of the Hollywood studios have decided Blu-ray should win anyway...

[Raiden]

This is soooo confusing, I think ill stick to Eris's idea lol

[CaptRay]

i personally look at number of titles available in BR or HDVD, and BR has alot more titles to chooce from. I see BR winning out in this market. IM sure Paramount will follow before the year in out. IM planning on purchasing a HDTV later on this year with a player. waiting to see who "wins".

[VADBAXTER]

Originally Posted by GCE-1701-D

Sony Lost with Beta Max though because it had less storage space (i.e. 4 hours was it's maxium record time when VHS was at 6)

Actually the original Beta Max had a record time of 1 hr. It was in subseqeunt versions recording time was improved.

[MissionTrek08]

The battle will be 'decided' if Paramount drops the HD-DVD format and goes Blu-Ray. Unconfirmed reports say Paramount's sweetheart deal with Toshiba had an out clause if WB switched to Blu, which they did just recently. Paramount denies they're dropping HD-DVD... yet, but of course they're not going to pull the plug on their Toshiba deal until... they do. If it ends up with Universal being the only studio to back their own format, that will end the HiDef battle, at least in terms of consumer home video entertainment players and studio-produced media. Still, for now there is no winner, just another shift in studio support majority.

[BX XI]

the video store i work at won't be getting in any HDDVD only regular DVD and Blue Ray