From what I have read Superman Returns is one of the best BD transfers done so far.
And as stated before, I hate format wars. I still don't know which format to support. All I know is I want to watch Hi-Def DVD's.

I just purchased a Toshiba HD-A1 to lend some support by purchasing HD DVD's. I could no longer simply observe.
The Combo's were a good idea but...they are not a motivation because of their price. Big mistake if the point was to get the HD-DVD format in the hands of consumers to garner support.
I have lost before on Beta and Laser Disc (still have 250 of those!) but I am afraid of the BD format. Never mind that the promises far exceed the reality, the additional capacity being promised is what I fear. They do not seem to be using space to improve quality for consumers, so my fear is that the intent is to have excess "real estate" on the disk so they can sell advertisment space! Face it, the war is not about anything but money. When I by a movie I want the movie...not trailers or anything else. Trailers should be something you have to select from the main menu to see.

We can al debate the technical advantages of each, but that is not what will determine the winner. After all, VHS won out. It is a lot like buying a computer or a higher end piece of equipment. Analyze numbers and based on that decide which is best. Then in the real world you cannot determine any appreciable difference. But if we made that determination and spent the money, we convince ourselves it is "better" so we do not feel so foolish. Buying a projector based on specs and numbers is likely to not yield the "best" picture. But try to find someplace to see them in action.
Face it, we are only spectators along for the ride. We are only a part of the motivation that is provided for those hoping to transfer wealth in their favor. And MPAA is attempting to make life difficult for honest people that have never copied a movie.
HDMI is not the superior connection everyone would have you believe. It is just necessay to support HDCP for the MPAA. Never mind it makes those that are supporting them with purchases replace thousands of dollars of equipment. I currently own just under 1,800 movies and I am not certain what I will end up doing with my B&K Reference 50. To "transition" to something now that supports HDMI connections at an adequate level with a quality unit I would have to look to Australia and have an extra $10,000. (Makes my B&K preamp and amp seem like bargin basement purchases!)
I am afraid the stakes are so high that the loser in this "war" will be the consumers.

like I said in the BD/HD DVD thread in the CI section. THis is how I see it

If you can do without wait a bit. My guess is that by mid 2007 we will have a good idea

If you really want but can afford only one. GO BD, IT has more studio support, it has more CE support, it has a company that is affected at so many levels that it can't give up on it and it can help support it. It has important benefits that unless BD really does not sell at all most of the BD only studios won't give up.

If you can afford it and want all the HD you can get. Get both

true, but if we, that care, don't push for what is better who will? the guy that still thinks VHS looks good enough? mono is good enough?


no, you can determine a difference. Some BDs have 24/48 lossless no HD DVD have it. Many more BDs have lossless audio then HD DVDs. In Europe some HD DVD titles dropped features like IME and lossless audio to fit the necessary extra languages. On some titles they even went back and re-encoded the video at lower bitrates to fit them. HD DVD specs have already shown that they are not what are needed for a next generation disk.


I am sure some might be used for more trailers. But the rest is a joke. The issue is that MPEG-2 is easier on the studio (time wise) that is why in a shorter time period BD has caught up to HD DVD in titles. Why PCM? because lossless is good, lossy is so last format. The BD disks have not wasted BW or capacity (well WB did waist it on SuperMan Return since they refused to add anything more to the BD). But as time passes they will add more next generation extras be it HD instead of SD, more lossless tracks, the extra languages studios want to add so that they don't need split runs.....



because they cost too much to replicate. Studios are not going HD for the fun of it, it is for the $.

I just read an article in Widescreen Review that said some BD players won't play standard CDs. Here's a quote from Widescreen review:

"Note that the new Blu-ray Disc players
from Sony and Pioneer Elite do not play CDs,
while the HD DVD players do."

So you would also need another CD/DVD player if you want to listen to CDs. HD-DVD does play CDs IAW the Widescreen Review article.

Food for thought.

Well, the keyword is some BD players - and those you list are the two. The Samsung, Panasonic and Philips units do play CDs. Of the standalone BD players out there, I would go with the Panasonic due to 7.1 analog outputs and CD compatibility.

In the 'what were they thinking' department, even the Sony PS3 will play CDs and SACDs...

Well, guess I should update to "17"... the PS3 I *finally* got came with one additional BD title. :-)

So how does the picture look on the BD or have you been too busy playing some games??

I haven't had time to watch a movie just yet... all I've done is take a look at the intro to Ice Age 2 and, well, it looks pretty darn good. It was bought primarily as a BD player.

Only issue NOW is that I don't have a 1080p display, so I can't see HD in its full glory (I'm only displaying 1 million pixels while BD is offering a potential 2 million! How can I with all conscience let this situation continue! :-)

For SHAME!!!!!...lol

you managed to get a PS3. Lucky you, and congrats

Thanks!

I actually got mine online through, of all places, Toys R Us. Who knew they dealt in cutting-edge audio/video equipment? :^D

good to hear, i just ordered Superman Returns last night. also ordered The Fugitive, one of my all time favorite movies. otherwise, all i have is Talladega Nights that came with the PS3, which didn't seem too much better than DVD.

I wasn't particularly impressed with Superman Returns' transfer, but I'd be willing to blame my TV for that.

However some of the computer generated films have looked fantastic - such as Ice Age 2, Ant Bully and Monster House. But the only other live action films I've seen have been Talladega Nights and Click, both of which are known to have rather poor transfers. I'll have to see what X-Men 3 and MI:III look like before I can make any true judgements on Superman Returns.

Oh, and I got The Fugitive on Blu-Ray too! :-)

well i happen to have an inside scoop on what santa may have in his sack for me!! i already have a 360 so the add-on was a no branier, and there'll be a few titles with it i'm sure... Batman begins and Serenity were on my list! i should be satisfied with the add-on till this whole thing gets figured out. or at least till the prices are more reasonable on the HD/BD players.