1. buy an hd-dvd player really cheap now (it still can be used as an upconvert player) and will play all your standard dvds

2. buy a blu-ray player now, since you were just waiting to see which format was gonna win

3. wait until the prices of blu-ray drop considerably

4. use the same dvd player--it's not worth the money to upgrade for a better pictue















Report: Toshiba may withdraw HD DVD format
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Digg del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?TOKYO (AP) — Japanese electronics maker Toshiba might withdraw its HD DVD next-generation video format, Kyodo News agency reported Saturday.
The report cited unidentified individuals from the industry as saying Toshiba Corp. is reviewing its operations, with the timing of the withdrawal to be decided later, depending on U.S. demand for its HD DVD products and other factors.

Calls went unanswered at Toshiba Corp.'s Tokyo office, which was closed for the weekend.

HD DVD has been competing against the Blu-ray technology, backed by Sony Corp., other makers and five major Hollywood movie studios.

Recently the Blu-ray disc format has been gaining market share, while Toshiba has been forced to slash prices to sell its HD DVD machines. A Toshiba pullout would signal the almost certain defeat of HD DVD to Blu-ray.


On Friday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest U.S. retailer, said it will sell only Blu-ray DVDs and hardware and no longer carry HD DVD offerings.

The announcement came five days after Netflix Inc. said it will cease carrying rentals in HD DVD. Several major U.S. retailers have made similar decisions, including Target Corp. and Blockbuster Inc.

Last month, Warner Bros. Entertainment decided to release movie discs only in the Blu-ray format, becoming the latest studio to reject HD DVD.

Warner Bros., owned by Time Warner Inc., had been the only remaining Hollywood studio releasing high-definition DVDs in both formats.

Both formats deliver crisp, clear high-definition pictures and sound, but they are incompatible with each other, and neither plays on older DVD players.

Only one format has been expected to emerge as the winner, much like VHS trumped Sony's Betamax in the video format battle of the 1980s.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Blu-Ray

I have to get an HD TV first.

I'm just wondering how I can get a converter for when tv goes digital next year.

CarrieMpls said:

http://www.dtv2009.gov

Get a bunch of cheap HD-DVDs as they are cleared out and continue my blu-ray library.

CarrieMpls said:

CarrieMpls said:

just get a new samsung lcd tv babe

just got a ps3 after returning my hddvd player.
but I think its all pointless when in a couple years at the most we'll be downloading any movie from the internet in HD or from our digital service provider. Or just watching standard hdtv.
the only thing anyone might want to buy is an upconvert dvd player which are cheap to play the movies that already own in the best possible manner.

I'm not doing nothing til I have to.

I'll be getting an Apple TV when they are available here ...

As long as Netlfix viewers sctratch them to the point that they're unwatchable, I don't much care which format I use.
[Edited 2/17/08 14:58pm]

ZombieKitten said:

im with you on this one. Whats the point when normal DVDs are still cheaper and work perfectly fine? Do you really need the extra pixles? Will your life be incomplete without them? And i really dont feel like getting a whole new collection of DVDs just because Sony tell me to!

I will eventually get a PS3 but its sure as hell not for the Blu Ray fad. Thats right FAD!!!! Its a gaming machine and thats how it shall be used! Some may call it a multimedia machine, but its primary job (which most Sony fan boys dont remember) is to play games.

kcwm said:

most of the blueray and hddvds Ive seen, they arent filmed that great in the first place, that there really isnt any difference in the quality between them and a regular dvd.

my point exactly, its all a big "scam" (perhaps not the right word) to get people spending more money on stuff that isnt necessary. I'm sure there are Blu Ray/HD DVD movies or whatever that do take advantage of it, but unless you know what the score is with them the average joe wont notice the difference at all!

horatio said:

I spent 6K on a TV that isn't even HD, so there is no point for us, time being - everything looks just fine to me!

ZombieKitten said:

yeah well when they do switch over, it seems that when you have an hdtv and watch regular tv on it the picture has downgraded from viewing it on your regular tv.
everything wont be broadcast in a crystal clear hd picture, even when things switch over and its being broadcast digital.

horatio said:

Is it $200 or less?

I hate the idea of buying a new tv when the one I've got is perfectly good. I'm not wasteful.

CarrieMpls said:

you watch a small tv right?
you could get one for that price. maybe not a samsung. but who cares it will alreay have the tuner built in. And might be slightly bigger screen than the one you already have. Regular TV/shows are already being broadcast in HD

horatio said:

My tv isn't small, but it's definitely not big. And I don't even have cable. I'm already used to a bit of fuzzy.

CarrieMpls said:

you get regular tv shows with just an antenna in HD especially prime time tv
no need for cable or dtv

I'm not a big TV watcher...I didn't have anything anybody would want to spend time in front of--I didn't want my kids to have boob tube brains. For 13 years, I had no cable just because I didn't want it. But, then for Christmas I was surprised with a gift of cable and this huge flatscreen HD thing. Now to hear its already outdated!!!! I will keep my huge flatscreen until I am forced--I'll admit...I like that feature to be able to record your favorities. I am renewing my love for Star Trek and old school Twilight Zone. But then again, I may continue my life outside these four walls and again, hardly watch the thing. I'd rather go fishing...or biking....or skating....or walk my dog

horatio said:

here most channels are already broadcasting HD alongside their standard channel, with different programming even. The HD one does look better - I think our TV is somewhere between sd and hd in res. I don't watch any TV anyway, but the station announcements look incredible!

I'm glad I chose a Blu-ray player a while back! with Netflix rentals growing it's worth it. The difference between HD and regular old NTSC is huge to me and anyone that comes over to watch stuff at my place. I can't even watch non HD channels anymore. But I am a photographer and avid movie watcher.

It's very similar to the jump from VHS to DVD in terms of picture quality, there were a lot of people that did not want to switch, saw no need.
[Edited 2/18/08 15:26pm]

ufoclub said:

ntsc isn't so great I heard, so the difference should be huge

ZombieKitten said:

On that note tho the channels are only HD during the Prime time shows, they arnt HD all day everyday....and in Canberra its impossible to even pick up half the HD channels.....I was recently watching Lost on the normal port of my TV, then i was like WTF am i doing watching it with this shitty reception so I switched it over to the HD part and was all excited....only for the signal not to be working.....i was very annoyed!!! Stupid Canberra, we are in the capital of Australia but you cant even get our HD tv ready /sigh

kcwm said:

canberra! do you know althom?

i believe not. And yeah Canberra does suck

kcwm said:

I've been there 3 times

haha why the hell would you wanna come to this shithole for? At least please tell me it wasnt voluntary