Is Blu-Ray right for me...?

Just use an HDMI to DVI cable and you'll be fine. And, as far as using component video there isn't any real perceivable difference.

720p display and an HDMI->DVI cable would look great for Blu-Ray and DVD Upconversion. Buy a player and enjoy!

Use an HDMI to DVI cable...but if for some reason you choose to go with Component, don't worry, because the picture quality will likely be equally as good.

Blu-Ray players will output all resolutions (480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p). You can get one now, even if you have an SDTV.

I know because we have at least hooked up my step-dad's PS3 to his SDTV and watched a Blu-Ray movie.

To answer your question, the preferred method of connection would be a DVI-->HDMI connection. They make cables with HDMI on one end, and DVI on the other. You can also go with a standard HDMI cable, and get an HDMI->DVI adapter for it! You will have to use a seperate audio connection, of course, as DVI does not carry audio. (HDMI does!)

If you do not want to go that route, second choice will be to use component video connections.

For both, the picture will look very good, so no worries!

Go with the HD-DVD player. It's half the cost of Blu-Ray and better movies.

WRONG!

HD DVD players of equal specs are barely cheaper than Blu-ray players, not "half price"

Movie selection for Blu-ray is better with more quality titles and more overall titles.

Sorry, this sounds like a prescription drug commercial. "Ask your doctor if Blu-ray is right for you."

even the $1,000 Blu-Ray players don't support iHD or ethernet which is a requirement in all HD DVD players. HD DVD supports more features, picture in picture commentary, internet connectivity, etc.. at half the cost of the cheapest Blu-Ray player.

You're titles will be slim pickings if you pick Blu-Ray. Sure, Fox and Disney is exclusive to Blu-Ray, but you're lucky if they release a title for you to buy lol. Looks like they are holding off because they lack faith in BD. On the other hand you have in HD DVD's corner Paramount, Dreamworks, Universal and Warner which is supporting both formats but releasing more titles on HD DVD and will probably go exlusive to HD DVD after the holidays.

HD DVD and Blu-Ray are of the same picture and audio quality so why go with Blu-Ray who has less features and is 2-3x more expensive.

Wrong. Try again. http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...ryId=1009&cs=1

Pass the Kool-Aid... jeez...

To the original poster - DVI-HDMI can be tricky, sometimes things... just don't seem to go right, so beware going in. Component is indistinguishable in most cases, but players often will not upscale DVD over component. (This may also happen over the DVI-HDMI if it cannot handshake properly).

But to your overall question - I would not invest more than $100 in a standard DVD player. If you are going to spend more, get HD or BR, whichever has the movies you like best. Casino Royale and POTC? Go BR. Matrix and Bourne? Go HD. Or, if you got a fat wad... both.

MEC2

You gotta love these uninformed troll posts.

I'd recommend a PS3, it's the most future proof of the players. It's the only player with a chance of supporting Blue Ray 1.1 or 2.0 profile.

And your post was very informative.

Just trying to help the guy out.

To the OP, I suggest you do your research on HD DVD and Blu-Ray before you take the plunge.

And will make a nice conversation piece someday when you can tell them how your paperweight only cost you half of something that you could still use.

Well seeing as he didn't ask for an HD DVD vs BR debate - I don't see why we should give him one. He asked about BR. and yes an HDMI to DVI is cheap from monoprice. I would suggest buying a ps3 and one of those converters and a few titles to your liking. Give it a whirl. The difference is well worth it, but your setup/calibration might not yield the results for you that would offset the investment at this point and time. But at least with a PS3 you could easily resell it further down road (if kept beyond 30 day return date) and sell the opened BR titles here on AVS. The PS3 has the highest resale value since even if BR loses the war, it's still a viable gaming machine.

If you really need advice on which format to support - don't come to either of these forums at first. It will just hurt your brain. A lot of good info and a lot of bad info on both forums and a lot of people with agendas. But it is one of the better forums to have an open discussion about the format war - if there is one. The best unbiased advice I can give someone for the format war is to look at the titles currently available and ones with scheduled official release dates, take a tally of the number of titles on each format that suit your film tastes. If money is not an object buy the upcoming samsung dual format player and enjoy them all.

I have HD-DVD but I am not a fanboy of one or the other in fact I will probably be getting a ps3 if there is another price drop this holiday season. Do your research, I did. In fact i was literally minutes away from buying a ps3 and then Paramount/Dreamworks went HD exclusive. I did hours of research and in the end I found that paramount/dreamworks and universal distribute more films that I enjoy than BR exclusives and so I went with a $170 HD add on for my xbox360 + 7 free movies which was not a risky investement at all. Now that doesnt go to say there arent BR titles I want (Casino Royale, Layer Cake, Pirates, Memento etc.) I just found there to be MORE titles exclusive to HD-DVD that I enjoy. So it all comes down to YOU. Do your research dont listen to what anyone here says about which one is better and which one will win because no one really knows. Pick the one that suits you best. Go to amazon and look at available titles for both and see which movies suit you. Thats my two cents anyway. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to hopefully being neutral this winter and not even have to think about it anymore...