HD-DVD Uncertainty
on 11.15.06, 07:03am in home theater, media • comments (6)
Now that the XBox 360’s HD-DVD drive is available, i’m torn with the decision on whether or not to pick it up. One on hand, it’s a pretty cheap way to get HD-DVD into the house and while there’s not a ton of content available yet for it, Netflix (which I subscribe to) does have most of the available movies for it.
On the other hand, there’s that whole other ’standard’ to worry about. Anyone have any thoughts on the DVD format wars (just another form of codec hell, IMHO) or the 360 drive?
Brandon (November 15, 2006 @ 7:44 am)
The way I see it, we still have 2 “live” formats on the market. DVDs were supposed to replace VCR, but there are still plenty of tapes floating around and my local video store still gets tapes in for new movies (but not all of them). These high-definition discs (whichever format “wins”) isn’t going to replace DVD any time soon.
In fact, this could become an issue similar to DVD-A. Every audiophile I know was proclaiming how they would replace CDs shortly due to their higher sound quality. Today, I no longer hear about that format. Since many people say DVDs are “good enough,” just as CDs are, the HD formats may be doomed by their hubris.
Not only that, we have two incompatible formats competing over the same small installable base. At least in the Betamax/VCR war there was no viable way to bring video content home outside of what was provided over cable or antenna. This time, we have the internet, DVDs, and VCRs; high-definition may be a non-starter.
Brandon (November 15, 2006 @ 7:46 am)
Oh dang the poor grammar… I knew I should have proof-read a tad.
Michael (November 15, 2006 @ 11:09 am)
Anybody who thinks HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are just DVD at higher resolution needs to actually see them in action. What I’ve seen is that HD-DVD has a ton of stuff in it, including a full-up JScript engine and multiple simultaneous video streams. Studios can embed complex games, alter the video presentation on-the-fly (stuff like injecting different actors and objects into scenes), and apparently even grab Web content.
Now, whether consumers are clamoring for all these features is another question, but I think eventually publishers will stop making regular DVDs just like VHS. Just as director’s commentary and making-of videos have become common parts of DVD releases, so too all the bells-and-whistles of HD-DVD and BluRay will become standard parts of a movie’s release.
Long long term, bandwidth will finally become ubiquitous and the studios will skip physical delivery altogether; but I think that’s far off, well after HD-DVD formats will replace DVD.
As for whether to put your money behind one format or another, I expect most content will be distributed in both formats, at least for awhile. Kind of like how for a long time you could get most movies on LaserDisc or DVD.
Personally, I think that if it comes down to rational decisions like technical feature lists and basic economics, then HD-DVD will win out. HD-DVD has some manufacturing advantages over BluRay that enable it to be sold to consumers for less while turning more corporate profit. Then again, random stuff like branding and partnerships and distribution deals sometimes make or break products. Maybe a product becomes a cultural phenomenon and millions of consumers buy it for that reason alone. Good luck predicting how any of that will play out.
Dave Goodman (November 15, 2006 @ 3:04 pm)
How many times does Sony have to do evil for them to be shunned? Between their installing malware, and making up movie reviews, and suing (via RIAA) grandmothers and little kids, and all their other malfeasances, I have decided to never buy anything Sony again. Why reward a company that’s so anti-consumer? It’s HD DVD for me. I love Toshiba. All my laptops are Toshibas.
gdkzen (November 15, 2006 @ 3:34 pm)
I’m still waiting for someone to develop an easy way to convert Beta to VHS
The parties fight their little war which delays people adopting the technology until the war settles. They seem willing to let it work out that way - that’s why I wait before committing to a technology. Personally, I think Blu-Ray is toast simply because its name sounds to wierd to the average sheep/consumer.
In addition to what Dave said above, Sony is the kiss of death when it comes to formats. Beta lost, their digital music players lost, and they’re probably backing the wrong horse in this race too. Their successes have been with tried and true technologies - like the walkman (based upon the ubiquitous cassette), the trinitron (still basically just a TV), the discman (based upon CD’s).
The issue that I wonder about is how quickly the home recording technology (TIVO, MCE, DVR’s) will catch up to the HD resolutions and sound at an affordable price.
Grover (November 15, 2006 @ 7:42 pm)
I think Michael hit the nail on the head when he said he’s not sure if consumers are clamoring for more features. I think it’s two early for either of these formats to really make a dent and I think it’s possible that they may both go away. Most of the people buying HDTVs are taking them home and hooking them up with composite or S-Video cables because they don’t know any better (please don’t take that as me being condescending…not my intention). And until someone does something really interesting with the fancy JScript, most folk aren’t going to care. Do most people even still watch all the extra? I consider myself a film buff and I still don’t watch them half the time.
But if I had to pick, I’d go HD-DVD as well, mostly because (as others have said) Sony has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that if they are given control over a format, they will wield it with an iron fist, so I’d pick HD-DVD even if I thought they were going to loose. I don’ t think they will though with the cheaper price. And while the PS3 is definitely going to help Blu-Ray, I think people are overestimating it’s influence. That’s partially because of the completely ridiculous, but somehow pervasive, idea that the PS2 is what solidified the DVD format.
All that being said (and to address the question you actually asked), I say with Netflix on board and the fact that you already have a 360 I say go for it. $200 is cheaper than I paid for my first DVD player, so I doubt you’d regret it. as long as you don’t buy a ton of movies. Just rent for the time being (you wouldn’t want to buy anything until you can put them on your media server anyway, right?).