HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Spot Check: There's still no good option
by Anand Lal Shimpi on January 5, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Anand
I was talking to Mike Andrawes last night (the inspiration for my earlier post on the high definition format wars) and we got on the topic of whether or not the Warner deal meant the imminent demise of HD-DVD. Admittedly, the longer the wars went on the more disinterested I became in what titles were out on each format. I refuse to start collecting either until there's a single format that has all content available (I guess I could make an exception in the event that universal players become the defacto standard).
I popped into Best Buy last night with Manny (the guy from the Home Theater post) after dinner to pick up some last minute CES gear, and we decided to do an informal survey of what movies we liked that were exclusive to each format.
| Blu-ray | HD-DVD |
| Spiderman 1 - 3 | Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum |
| The Prestige* | Anchorman |
| Superbad | V for Vendetta |
| Casino Royal | Knocked Up |
| Life Free or Die Hard (I know) | The 40-Year-Old Virgin |
Now this isn't a comprehensive list at all, but what it does highlight is this: neither of us could, in good conscience, recommend either standard. Despite HD-DVD's more affordable pricing, you can't watch things like Casino Royal, Spiderman or Superbad in high definition on it, and that's just simply unacceptable. The same applies to Blu-ray, it doesn't matter what exclusive titles the format does have, because the ones that it doesn't are just as good.
Herein lies the problem I was outlining yesterday, this war is fought for industry members, it's fought for the Sonys and the Microsofts of the world, it's not fought for the people buying the movies. Honestly, the only options are to either support both formats or support none, backing one or another just doesn't make any sense unless you really hate all of the movies in one of the columns.
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madpear - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
http://digg.com/hardware/HD_DVD_vs_Blu_Ray_Why_nob...">http://digg.com/hardware/HD_DVD_vs_Blu_Ray_Why_nob...BansheeX - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
I'm afraid I have to agree with you on this, although some the DailyTech bloggers seem more impartial than most. This is pure damage control from an avid HD-DVD supporter. Consider the following quote:[quote]backing one or another just doesn't make any sense unless you really hate all of the movies in one of the columns.[/quote]
First of all, this statement seems to imply that HD-DVD exclusives will not show up on blu-ray if only blu-ray wins. This is completely and utterly false. There are implications of a single format winning that go beyond immediate content comparisons. That is an extremely short-sighted way of looking at it as a consumer. If dual format were to persist as the norm, it is very likely that the resulting confusion will keep it out of the mainstream. Supporting dual format is the worst thing you can do at this point. With player choice, software sales, and player sales in blu-ray's favor and 70% of the studio content, this is the golden opportunity for HD-DVD backers to lay down their arms and accept a simple, prosperous future of 25gb single layer recordables, a PS3 all-in-one hookup, and higher bitrate films. This is a major fifteen year format that you will be investing a lot of money in. There is no reason to undercut its capacity benefits for short term cost grievances. Players will continue to drop in price as DVD did, DRM will be cracked as it was on DVD, and most of all, the endless bickering between both camps will come to an end. I urge everyone to vote blu-ray with your wallets in the coming year to make this future possible.
Anand Lal Shimpi - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
I wouldn't exactly call myself an avid HD-DVD supporter, I don't really prefer either standard at this point because of this ongoing war. I've got hardware from both sides obviously since we test with both and I've got an equal sized HD-DVD and Blu-ray collection (mostly movies I test with), I have no vested interest in either side winning, I'm merely trying to advocate for the consumer here.My point was this: there's no good solution for consumers today. Backing a single format with hopes of the movies you want to watch coming out later on isn't very consumer friendly.
If I want 1080p content today and I like movies in both of the columns (e.g. Bourne and Casino Royal), my only option is to support both formats. I've got no problems doing that if universal players are the norm, but they aren't.
What happens long term is obviously important, but consumers today are losing out because they basically have to buy into both formats if they want the best movie selection out there. That, in my opinion, is ridiculous.
Take care,
Anand
lopri - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Anand,Don't kid yourself. I know you've been building your home theater, and I could easily see where you're coming from. You probably wanted to have your home completely digitalized for future, like you can control any part of your home from any other part. Both with wired and with wireless. XBox360 serves perfectly as a media extender and I'm sure you were presented by MS/Intel how they plan to usher us into the future of digital life. Or maybe you were invited to Mr. Gates' home and fancied to mimic the environment where he spends most of his time.
Strong backing from MS/Intel for HD commoditization? How about strong backing from all major Hollywood productions as well as all major consumer electronics (sans Toshiba). You very well know that Toshiba was about to drop the HD-DVD at one point in the past. Who dragged Toshiba into HD-DVD and used it as a shield? Answer that and now try talking about who the 'player' is. And what the real motive of that player was/is.
Your judgment is being impaired because your digital home project is slightly screwed by HD-DVD's demise. This is unfortunate because even though this is your personal blog, everyone on the net could/can see your blog posts from today/yesterday. It's a serious blow on your credibility as you can see from the replies in this very thread.
"I'm merely trying to advocate for consumer here" sounds just as empty as MS or Sony speaking the same sentence. I did actually laugh .
So you go on to say:
"What happens long term is obviously important, but consumers today are losing out because they basically have to buy into both formats if they want the best movie selection out there. That, in my opinion, is ridiculous."
Hmm.. Then yet in other post you emphasize how infant the HD market is at this stage. That is indeed correct. How many titles are out there in either format? That's right. Just about 400 titles. I know 'Today' is important, but 'Tomorrow' is just as important, especially tomorrow holds a lot more (by order of several magnitudes). Before that number grows with either format, wouldn't it be better to have one format and growing the number of titles? You might have missed a few movies until now, but you don't want to miss thousands of movies in the future, do you?
I am sorry but I believe you were lying when you said "I'm only caring about consumer interest". Maybe you could elaborate on this if I'm wrong. If I'm not wrong, it means a lot to me because you've gained a lot of trust from me (and likely from many others) with your hard work and objective views throughout the life of AnandTech.
pi3point1415 - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
Lopri, I don't know where you're coming from with that pointlessly long rant, but your second to last paragraph actually reinforces Anand's thoughts.kmmatney - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
uhh..what was your point?Shadowself - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Then you should realize the only way to break this is to strongly support ONE format.Blu-ray clearly has the momentum now and has for some time. Blu-ray media has outsold, in the U.S., HD DVD media for the last 53 weeks solid.
Everyone should get behind one format and stop buying the other.
Any thought that one format winning completely will not result in all major films being put out on the winning format is just plain stupid. If HD DVD dies and no new titles are released on HD DVD then you can guarantee all major titles -- even those previously release exclusively on HD DVD -- will be issued on Blu-ray. To even imply otherwise is pure FUD.
Stand up for the future and advise readers to do the same. If everyone does as you suggest and buys either nothing or both then this "format war" just drags on and on. Then you can say the same thing as is in this article today again a year from now. How is that helping the consumer? Answer: It is not.
mindless1 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
I agree, everyone should support HD DVD.The idea of higher bitrate is great, now show it really happening and that we'll see the difference or will there just be more room on a disc for commercials?
What about the future cost of recordable discs? What about longevity of the higher data density media?
What about the cost of higher data density blanks? What ABOUT the cost of the player? The grand idea that a paper spec makes one superior doesn't actually equate to a real advantage while the actual pricing is already a real advantage.
What will help the consumer is $150 and less players. The future is about on-demand content through your cable provider, people aren't necessarily looking to pay a premium for the traditional hassles of physical media, just as they aren't anymore for physical audio CDs. Combine that physical media hassle with extra cost and it becomes all the less appealing.
mindless1 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
I agree, everyone should support HD DVD.The idea of higher bitrate is great, now show it really happening and that we'll see the difference or will there just be more room on a disc for commercials?
What about the future cost of recordable discs? What about longevity of the higher data density media?
What about the cost of higher data density blanks? What ABOUT the cost of the player? The grand idea that a paper spec makes one superior doesn't actually equate to a real advantage while the actual pricing is already a real advantage.
What will help the consumer is $150 and less players. The future is about on-demand content through your cable provider, people aren't necessarily looking to pay a premium for the traditional hassles of physical media, just as they aren't anymore for physical audio CDs. Combine that physical media hassle with extra cost and it becomes all the less appealing.
mindless1 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
I agree, everyone should support HD DVD.The idea of higher bitrate is great, now show it really happening and that we'll see the difference or will there just be more room on a disc for commercials?
What about the future cost of recordable discs? What about longevity of the higher data density media?
What about the cost of higher data density blanks? What about the cost of the player? The grand idea that a paper spec makes one superior doesn't actually equate to a real advantage while the actual pricing is already a real advantage.
What will help the consumer is $150 and less players. The future is about on-demand content through your cable provider, people aren't necessarily looking to pay a premium for the traditional hassles of physical media, just as they aren't anymore for physical audio CDs. Combine that physical media hassle with extra cost and it becomes all the less appealing.