Question about future HD DVD players
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I agree with Joxer that it will be a couple of years at best before the players are available at a decent price (second/third generation models) and the number of titles in high def are significant. Keep in mind the first hurdle to be overcome is the looming format war (Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD) Once a compromise is reached or one format wins, then the transition can begin in earnest.
Keep in mind that red laser DVD's are selling well beyond anyone's expectations of a few years ago. And quite frankly I don't think we are going to see a dramatic improvement over current releases. When I watch Finding Nemo or Monsters Inc, I wonder how much better these releases will be in whatever high def format wins. And for those movies that were filmed in 35mm or even 65mm, the quality of the print used may well dictate image quality more than whether red or blue laser DVD's are used.
But then I don't want to give the impression there is no room for improvement otherwise we would all still be using VHS. I know I will not be an early adopter regarding high def DVD, but I am looking forward to reading the reviews.
Keep in mind that red laser DVD's are selling well beyond anyone's expectations of a few years ago. And quite frankly I don't think we are going to see a dramatic improvement over current releases. When I watch Finding Nemo or Monsters Inc, I wonder how much better these releases will be in whatever high def format wins. And for those movies that were filmed in 35mm or even 65mm, the quality of the print used may well dictate image quality more than whether red or blue laser DVD's are used.
But then I don't want to give the impression there is no room for improvement otherwise we would all still be using VHS. I know I will not be an early adopter regarding high def DVD, but I am looking forward to reading the reviews.
For those who don't remember or weren't into HT in 1997....it was no slam dunk on the software side when DVD first came out. Many studios did not support it and when they did it was just on a handful of titles....an exception was Warner Bros. BUT, even with WB they only allowed movie sales in select cities and they weren't allowed to do mail order (there were those that still would).
Now you've got a product in HD DVD that will produce "master" copies of each film ( bootlegger's wet dream). And, the studio's haven't made all the money they can make on DVD yet. Plus, you mix in a hardware war dividing studio lines.....I am hard pressed knowing the history of DVD to say that we're all going to be talking DVD in HD resolutions on day and date releases (or older titles) by the end of next year or maybe the year after.
Ron
Now you've got a product in HD DVD that will produce "master" copies of each film ( bootlegger's wet dream). And, the studio's haven't made all the money they can make on DVD yet. Plus, you mix in a hardware war dividing studio lines.....I am hard pressed knowing the history of DVD to say that we're all going to be talking DVD in HD resolutions on day and date releases (or older titles) by the end of next year or maybe the year after.
Ron
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rboster:
Your observations are valid and the copy protection issue is on the top of the studio's "must have" list. Add to that the impending format war as well as brisk sales of current red laser DVD's and we see a situation in which there is no rush to DVD high definition.
Indeed Warner took the lead in jump starting DVD's Ironically they were (and perhaps still are) pushing a scheme to keep the red laser DVD and use better compression to fit the high def resolution on the disc. As a result no retooling for manufactures, but yet an upgrade path for both new players and titles (perhaps we could call this Super Superbit).
If not handled properly the migration to high definition DVD's could become another SACD/DVD-Audio event.
Your observations are valid and the copy protection issue is on the top of the studio's "must have" list. Add to that the impending format war as well as brisk sales of current red laser DVD's and we see a situation in which there is no rush to DVD high definition.
Indeed Warner took the lead in jump starting DVD's Ironically they were (and perhaps still are) pushing a scheme to keep the red laser DVD and use better compression to fit the high def resolution on the disc. As a result no retooling for manufactures, but yet an upgrade path for both new players and titles (perhaps we could call this Super Superbit).
If not handled properly the migration to high definition DVD's could become another SACD/DVD-Audio event.
Tom well stated.....
"If not handled properly the migration to high definition DVD's could become another SACD/DVD-Audio event."
I couldn't agree more. On one hand it's fun to talk about the future format and what if's....on the other hand some of the questions asked ignore that we have a long way to go before we are deciding whether to pick up "The Day After Tomorrow" in HD DVD, or keep the standard DVD version. (and, yes I know that it's available in D-theater at 1080i
).
Ron
"If not handled properly the migration to high definition DVD's could become another SACD/DVD-Audio event."
I couldn't agree more. On one hand it's fun to talk about the future format and what if's....on the other hand some of the questions asked ignore that we have a long way to go before we are deciding whether to pick up "The Day After Tomorrow" in HD DVD, or keep the standard DVD version. (and, yes I know that it's available in D-theater at 1080i
).Ron
QUOTE]I agree with Joxer that it will be a couple of years at best before the players are available at a decent price[/quote]
Joxer did not say;"it will be a couple of years at best before the players are available at a decent price".
He said;"They are at least 3 years away at least with any significant number of titles".
Quote:
That's true. It was a battle royal. However, DVD's were released.
And very soon HiDef discs, will be released.
Will they be the titles you want?
Probably, not.
Will software & hardware be at prices you want too pay?
Probably, not.
The posters question, who's thread started this, remains. Even if HiDef discs & players do not meet your price point expectation, in the next twenty four months.
To answer the poster, yes!
I believe a feature that is found on an under three hundred dollar DVD player will be on first generation HiDef players. I do believe they will output digital video.
Joxer did not say;"it will be a couple of years at best before the players are available at a decent price".
He said;"They are at least 3 years away at least with any significant number of titles".
Quote:
| it was no slam dunk on the software side when DVD first came out. |
And very soon HiDef discs, will be released.
Will they be the titles you want?
Probably, not.
Will software & hardware be at prices you want too pay?
Probably, not.
The posters question, who's thread started this, remains. Even if HiDef discs & players do not meet your price point expectation, in the next twenty four months.
To answer the poster, yes!
I believe a feature that is found on an under three hundred dollar DVD player will be on first generation HiDef players. I do believe they will output digital video.
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