Hey guys, i'm really intrested in puchasing the HDDVD add-on for my 360. However i'm kind of scared that , a year after i purchase my add-on, i find out that Blu-ray becomes the dominant format, thus causing HDDVD to become a dead format. This is my only concern in investing in HDDVD. So do you guys think that HDDVD will still be alive and kicking, for years to come? Ohhh btw, in case i do buy the add-on, can you guys suggest any titles that i should pick up?

You're asking on the HD DVD forum, what do you think the answer will be?

Yes, go ahead and get it, don't worry.

Just remember we're gaining studio support, not losing it :D If you want to worry choose Bluray.

While the jury is still out as to who will win this war, I think that it will take longer than a year to sort all this out. IF it turns out that Blu-ray wins, you will still be able to view the movies that you have on HD-DVD so I think it's a safe investment especially if you can get a good deal on it. Hope that helps.

On the other hand you could wait a little while longer and maybe pick up one of the low cost players that should be in stores by the holiday season. From what's been on these boards you should be able to pick one of those up for about $150.

Id go for it as well. If the format fails you will still have a HD player and many movies that will still work. The format that loses if one does. It will be sometime before all the exclusives come to the winning format. Prehapps years before all of them come.

Your HD DVD's will play for the rest of your natural life (with reasonable care to equipment and media). Who cares who wins?? I don't get why this issue exists in the 21st century. There are not analog tapes that will degrade with play. The machines will be around for decades. My BD and HD DVD's will be with me until I go to the grave. Who cares what survives??

I've been an HD DVD supporter since November...and ever since the Paramount deal I've felt a lot more comfortable buying HD DVDs...I think both formats are here to stay.

if you are worried more about buying into a potentially dead format, more than the time you are losing not enjoying what is available- don't buy in.

you are obviously young enough that the sub $200 for the drive is going to be a crimp in your budget- and you anticipate a long life ahead of you that might be filled with regret over the decision, if it turns out poorly.
As you should.

On the other hand, when you reach that first blush of geriatric urgency (as I did this year after turning 40) then you realize there just isn't that much time left to worry and fret. I would much rather put that towards enjoying what can be had now- not worrying about entertainment opportunities to come.

if you are worried more about buying into a potentially dead format, more than the time you are losing not enjoying what is available- don't buy in.

you are obviously young enough that the sub $200 for the drive is going to be a crimp in your budget- and you anticipate a long life ahead of you that might be filled with regret over the decision, if it turns out poorly.
As you should.

On the other hand, when you reach that first blush of geriatric urgency (as I did this year after turning 40) then you realize there just isn't that much time left to worry and fret. I would much rather put that towards enjoying what can be had now- not worrying about entertainment opportunities to come.



well said!

...when you reach that first blush of geriatric urgency (as I did this year after turning 40) then you realize there just isn't that much time left to worry and fret.Suddenly I'm so depressed.

Join the ever growing family and get the HD DVD add-on! :)

I'd be REAL worried buying a $1000 and up BD player that's two specs behind and no ethernet port but a 360 add on for under $200 plus all the free movie offers is a no brainer.

Just chill and take the red pill! :)

I'd happily recomend you jump into HDDVD. The enjoyment I've received over the past 6 months well and truely outweight the cost of the addon drive.

Thanks guys for the honest replies!:)

Hmmm.... after some thinking, i think i've made up my mind. Well it looks like ill be taking the red pill.:D With the 5 free hd-dvd promo that the add-on has going on, I guess now's a good time to pick one up. Although if i may ask, do they still bundle king kong with the the add-on? Also do you guys know what are the must have hd-dvds i should buy first?

Have a look here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=856119

Start from the top and work your way down, picking out movies that interest you the most.

And yes some HDDVD addon drives still come with kingkong in the box. But if you;re worried just check before buying (should say so on the box).

Neither format is going anywhere anytime soon. By the time one is eliminated - IF it happens - dual format players will be affordable.

The 360 AO is about as safe as it gets really...inexpensive player that comes with a bunch of free discs. Hard to go wrong there. Hell, at this point you could almost sell the unopened player along with the discs on ebay and make a profit (don't do that :D )

Your considering a $150-$179 HD DVD player and your worried about possibly loosing out on this purchase in a year or two, or three, well let me put it into perspective the $179.00 you will spend will get you like 5-7 movies at best.. Spend the money and start enjoying HDM, you will always own the hardware and software..

I still enjoy laserdiscs and that format has been long-gone-dead for over 10 years now. And my original player (circa 1987) still works perfect.

If either (or both) HD format(s) goes belly-up - the software will continue to be enjoyed for decades to come. As long as you can get a machine to play it. And Beta playback machines (even new ones) are still easily obtainable. As are 8mm projectors (I still have lots of 8mm films too:))

I agree that neither format is going to become extinct. I think what HD-DVD really needs to do is to win over a major country to ensure it's longevity. They really need to do what Blu-ray has done in Japan and win over Germany, France or some other major market. Japan's market helped LDs and even Beta stay around despite dismal US sales. Even VCDs managed to stick around with the help of the Asian market.

What would happen if HD-DVD "won" in other regions. Woulf HD-DVD only come out their. Prehapps sony of EU gos HD-DVD. If so at this point would they be region free. Or would they be fourced to region code...

I don't see anything wrong with 2 formats. If muli-format players became good and could do everything right at a fair price. The idea of HD-DVD or BD really wouldent matter.

I doubt that there will be a "winner" in the war. I think that both formats will coexist. Netflix, Xbox Live downloads, HD DVRs, etc. offer many other options for people interested in watching high def movies, and that means that customers are not forced to choose sides in this war to view the content in high def. More options mean that one format or the other will be very unlikely to become an industry standard and will likely remain one option among several. But the Paramount/Dreamworks announcement should make anyone considering HD DVD that much more confident.