[icruise]

Originally Posted by Eug 

I guess you have a strict definition of "downloadable". If say a map is downloaded to your local storage, is that not downloadable content?

Well, from the description it sounds like you're just viewing a web site with the maps (and polls ) on it, not actually adding content to the movie, per se, and it's not even clear if the content is cached on the player or if you have to connect each time you want to view it.

Considering that the PS3 is very upgradable and there are very few standalone Blu-ray players, I would say that these differences actually affect very few people. It would kind of suck to be one of those early adopters, but I guess that's the way it goes. My early DVD player had trouble playing DVDs with seamless branching features and pop-up graphics, and I just saw a TV online that's equal or superior to the 50" DLP set I bought 3 years ago, going for 1/3 of what I paid for mine. That's part of the risk you take, I guess.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Well, from the description it sounds like you're just viewing a web site with the maps (and polls ) on it, not actually adding content to the movie, per se, and it's not even clear if the content is cached on the player or if you have to connect each time you want to view it.

Yeah, the polls idea seems kind of lame, but I do like the idea of the maps. You could be right to say that they aren't definitely added to local storage, but they could very well be, and all HD DVD players allow this (if the disc supports it).

Considering that the PS3 is very upgradable and there are very few standalone Blu-ray players, I would say that these differences actually affect very few people.

I guess there's an advantage for a format to have terrible standalone sales.

It would kind of suck to be one of those early adopters, but I guess that's the way it goes. My early DVD player had trouble playing DVDs with seamless branching features and pop-up graphics, and I just saw a TV online that's equal or superior to the 50" DLP set I bought 3 years ago, going for 1/3 of what I paid for mine. That's part of the risk you take, I guess.

Not with HD DVD, apparently.

However, if TL51 or even DL34 comes and isn't supported on Gen1 HD DVD players, I'll complain just as loudly about that too.

P.S. My first gen DVD player works fine with seamless branching. It's an RCA, which is a rebadged Panasonic.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

» plays "Region 1" DVDs and "Region A" Blu-ray Discs only[/i]

Bluray has region codes? Bleh.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Bluray has region codes? Bleh.

Yes it sucks.

Region 1: North America, South America, East Asia except for China (India, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia etc.)
Region 2: Europe and Africa
Region 3: China, Russia and other countries

OTOH, it's a major improvement over DVD regions, but it'd be preferable to have HD DVD's current situation, which is no regions at all.

P.S. I just received my Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire & La Haine HD DVDs last week from the UK. Harry Potter is a great disc. Haven't watched La Haine yet.

[icruise]

I agree that region coding isn't great, although the only time region coding on DVDs ever mattered to me personally was when I wanted to watch Japanese DVDs, so in that sense Blu-ray is a big improvement. It's kind of funny that it does have region codes, considering that the PS3 is the only region-free console.

[jokell82]

HD-A2 is back down to $240 at Amazon. Just ordered it. Canceled that, went to CostCo to get the HD-D2 (rebranded A2) for the same price, but now I have it today instead of later this week.

Had some gift cards for Best Buy, and picked up a few movies there. Looks like I just picked a side.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

I agree that region coding isn't great, although the only time region coding on DVDs ever mattered to me personally was when I wanted to watch Japanese DVDs, so in that sense Blu-ray is a big improvement. It's kind of funny that it does have region codes, considering that the PS3 is the only region-free console.

PS3 is region free for DVDs? That's nice if true, but that surprises me.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

PS3 is region free for DVDs? That's nice if true, but that surprises me.

PS3 is region free for games, not DVD/BD.

[icruise]

It's region free for PS3 games, not DVDs or PS1/PS2 games. But the point is that Sony went out of their way to make it region free in that case, but left the regions in for Blu-ray. I imagine it was because the movie studios wanted it.

[Eug]

The A2 is now $243 from Amazon itself.
The A2 is now $199 from Conn's in Texas, in-store.
The A20 (with 1080p output) is now $309 from Electronics Expo through Amazon.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

$499 for the new sony BR player:
Sony cuts price on new Blu-ray player - Yahoo! News

[Dakarʒ]

Things are heating up. The holidays should be interesting.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

The A2 is now $243 from Amazon itself.
The A2 is now $199 from Conn's in Texas, in-store.
The A20 (with 1080p output) is now $309 from Electronics Expo through Amazon.

This is the biggest reason I haven't bought HD-DVD yet. The prices are just plummeting right now. If I just wait, I figure it won't be long until I can get an A20 for $200 or something.

[ort888]

Yeah, a stand-alone for $200 or less is my breaking point. I wonder when Microsoft is going to drop the price of the 360 add-on.

$199 is not such a great price anymore. They should drop it to $99 if they really want to make a splash.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Yeah, a stand-alone for $200 or less is my breaking point.

As per my previous post, it's already at 1 cent under $200 at Conn's, for the A2 (but not the A20).

I wonder when Microsoft is going to drop the price of the 360 add-on. $199 is not such a great price anymore. They should drop it to $99 if they really want to make a splash.

I don't think they'll go that low. My guess is they may drop it to $149 though at Xmas.

I will note however that you can already get the bare drive (without the enclosure, etc) for $79.99 on eBhey.

EDIT:

It would appear that the $199.99 price at Conn's is a mistake. Several people have gotten it at that price, but it's supposed to be $299.99. It's gonna change to that very soon methinks.

[ort888]

I haven't read every page of this thread, so this may have been brought up...

Have you guys heard the conspiracy theory that the only reason Microsoft is so heavily backing HD-DVD is to drag the format war out as long as possible and spread confusion, making sure that neither format takes off enough to be a threat to some future movie downloading service that they plan on providing?

[Eug]

Originally Posted by ort888 

I haven't read every page of this thread, so this may have been brought up...

Have you guys heard the conspiracy theory that the only reason Microsoft is so heavily backing HD-DVD is to drag the format war out as long as possible and spread confusion, making sure that neither format takes off enough to be a threat to some future movie downloading service that they plan on providing?

That makes little sense. Microsoft has quite a large stake in ensuring HD DVD does well.

1) Microsoft wrote iHD - That's the interactive layer of HD DVD.
2) Microsoft wrote VC-1 - That's on both HD DVD and Blu-ray, but seems to be more popular on HD DVD.
3) Microsoft helped design the SoC solution for HD DVD - It's likely that a whole batch of new players from Asia coming in 2007 and 2008 will use this design... which is based off Windows CE.

So, the best result for Microsoft would NOT be to drag out this war. The best result for Microsoft would be to have HD DVD win asap. I don't see that happening though. It's gonna be quite some time before there is any winner.