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Eug · Jul 26, 2007, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by icruise

Eh, not a huge deal.

Yeah, it was marketed by the Blu-ray insiders as Target throwing down the gauntlet and going completely Blu, but given the real news it's clear that was a gross exaggeration.

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 08:27 AM

THIS is big news:

Two sci-fi classics get high-tech makeovers - USATODAY.com

Close Encounters coming to BR in November.

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by starman

I think it is. You put something in a popular chain like Target and people will only know one format.

Adding a player to an end cap does nothing like that. It's not even a blip on the radar for this "format war."

Dakarʒ · Jul 26, 2007, 09:46 AM

The 360 HD-DVD add-on went down $20 and includes some movies supposedly. Don't have a link handy at the moment.

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by starman

THIS is big news:

Two sci-fi classics get high-tech makeovers - USATODAY.com

Close Encounters coming to BR in November.

Blade Runner is old news. Close Encounters will be interesting to see how it sells. $50 is a lot to spend on a single movie, even if it includes 3 different versions.

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by jokell82

Adding a player to an end cap does nothing like that. It's not even a blip on the radar for this "format war."

This is like 1997 all over again when people thought DVD was a fad.

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

The 360 HD-DVD add-on went down $20 and includes some movies supposedly. Don't have a link handy at the moment.

Here ya go:
HD DVD Goes Big at Comic-Con 2007: Hit Movies, Blockbuster TV Shows, and a Price Drop on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

To further sweeten the deal for Xbox 360 owners, Microsoft announced a
price reduction on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player in the United States to $179
effective August 1, keeping the player as the most affordable high
definition drive on the market. In addition to the price drop, Microsoft is
extending the highly successful "Perfect Offer" of five free HD DVD discs
to Xbox 360 consumers. Previously exclusive to Toshiba HD DVD Players, with
the purchase of an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player at the new low price of $179,
consumers can choose five HD DVD titles for free from a selection of 15
popular titles via a mail-in offer.

A $50 would've been much better.

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by starman

This is like 1997 all over again when people thought DVD was a fad.

Who thought DVD was a fad, and how is this at all similar?

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by jokell82

Blade Runner is old news. Close Encounters will be interesting to see how it sells. $50 is a lot to spend on a single movie, even if it includes 3 different versions.

Blade Runner is NOT "old news". How much of this restoration do you know about? They're refilming scenes for this film. This movie has been through so much turmoil that a book was written about it. This is a BIG deal.

Close Encounters is a MASSIVE boost to Blu-Ray. Back when DVD was first out, nobody gave a rat's ass about anything except Star Wars and Spielberg. Read the home theater forums about how big of a deal this is.

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by jokell82

Who thought DVD was a fad, and how is this at all similar?

I'm curious: how old were you back in '97?

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by starman

Blade Runner is NOT "old news". How much of this restoration do you know about? They're refilming scenes for this film. This movie has been through so much turmoil that a book was written about it. This is a BIG deal.

Close Encounters is a MASSIVE boost to Blu-Ray. Back when DVD was first out, nobody gave a rat's ass about anything except Star Wars and Spielberg. Read the home theater forums about how big of a deal this is.

Well I heard about the Blade Runner stuff over a month ago - maybe not all the *details* of the restoration, but the 5 disc set has been known about.

I never said Close Encounters wasn't a big deal. I said it'd be interesting to see how well a $50 movie sells. Defensive much?

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by starman

I'm curious: how old were you back in '97?

Old enough to have owned a DVD player. How does that matter at all?

Dakarʒ · Jul 26, 2007, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by jokell82

Here ya go:
HD DVD Goes Big at Comic-Con 2007: Hit Movies, Blockbuster TV Shows, and a Price Drop on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

Aren't you handy.

Originally Posted by jokell82

A $50 would've been much better.

No ****. Funny thing, I was just pondering when they'd do this yesterday, as they had already announced cuts on the rest of the line. I wonder why they're keeping it so high.

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by jokell82

Well I heard about the Blade Runner stuff over a month ago - maybe not all the *details* of the restoration, but the 5 disc set has been known about.

I never said Close Encounters wasn't a big deal. I said it'd be interesting to see how well a $50 movie sells. Defensive much?

No, not defensive. CE3K is one of my favorite films. It's going to sell, believe me. The people that like the film are the kinds of people that will drop $50 on it. Joe Sixpack won't care about this film and that's not who this set is aimed at.

DVD was thought to be a fad in '97. In '99 I said on Usenet "Never underestimate the sexiness of a movie on a 5" disc". Look it up. Apparently I said it earlier but I cna't find it. People really thought DVD was a fad, just like people thing Blu-Ray/HD-DVD is one too.

Here's the link:

alt.video.dvd | Google Groups

Zeeb · Jul 26, 2007, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by jokell82

Old enough to have owned a DVD player. How does that matter at all?

If your mother was still driving you to school at the time you might not have been aware that people did, in fact, say that DVD's were a fad--like laserdiscs(do you know what those were?). Some were still afraid of the same thing happening with DVD's.

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 10:23 AM

According to his profile, jokell82 was 15 in 1997. I doubt he paid $1000 for a DVD playing on Day One like I did.

awaspaas · Jul 26, 2007, 11:03 AM

Funny, I also spent $1000 to get a DVD player at launch (and was 19 at the time), but now even though I want a Blu-Ray player, I can't bring myself to spend more than $200 or so on it. I've become more frugal with age apparently.

Dakarʒ · Jul 26, 2007, 11:05 AM

Time to call it a life, apparently.

goMac · Jul 26, 2007, 06:20 PM

I waited to buy a DVD player until they were more widely available for computers. I didn't actually own a TV until 6 months ago.

Teronzhul · Jul 26, 2007, 06:54 PM

Yeah, my first dvd player was in my laptop. g3/400 lombard. My second DVD player was.... in my ps2. I have 2 HDTVs, both fed with HD sources. I have yet to purchase an HD-DVD/Bluray player. I doubt I will purchase either until one is dead.

Eug · Jul 26, 2007, 07:02 PM

I bought a DVD player less than 1 year after the launch... for US$299.

icruise · Jul 26, 2007, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Teronzhul

Yeah, my first dvd player was in my laptop. g3/400 lombard.

Me too. Same model.

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by starman

According to his profile, jokell82 was 15 in 1997. I doubt he paid $1000 for a DVD playing on Day One like I did.

Day one? No. But less than a year later I had one for $299 (just like Eug). I'm putting your cookie in the mail right now for being there on the first day, though.

In other news, according to some blog linked on Digg (I know, real trustworthy source) Woolworths is going BluRay exclusive today. My only question is, what the **** is a Woolworths?

Kerrigan · Jul 26, 2007, 08:40 PM

A popular catalog retailer which also has a brick-and-mortar presence. In their stores they have... a bunch of junk, and catalogs.

starman · Jul 26, 2007, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by jokell82

In other news, according to some blog linked on Digg (I know, real trustworthy source) Woolworths is going BluRay exclusive today. My only question is, what the **** is a Woolworths?

WW was VERY big years ago, kid. They broke off from their US market and moved into Europe and have been doign very well.

jokell82 · Jul 26, 2007, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by starman

WW was VERY big years ago, kid. They broke off from their US market and moved into Europe and have been doign very well.

Actually, I just looked them up and they're now Footlocker in the US. Looks like the original Woolworths is only a UK company now (although there is another company in Germany that has the same name).

Blu Ray can rest easy now that Footlocker has their back.

goMac · Jul 26, 2007, 09:15 PM

You know, WW not being very major for the US market aside, after this Target thing I don't tend to believe the whole "some random employee told me" thing for rumors.

cSurfr · Jul 26, 2007, 09:36 PM

Well, I hate to say it, but today I purchased a PS3. . . I bought Apocolypto and Deja Vu, as my first 2 movies. What are some other must have BR titles? For some reason, unknown to me, Blu-Ray looks 100x better on my my than the 360 hd-dvd addon did. Sooooo, if anyone wants to buy about 15 HD-DVDs, send me a pm

-cs

icruise · Jul 26, 2007, 09:43 PM

Are you using HDMI for the PS3?

I recommend Corpse Bride on BR. Kung Fu Hustle is pretty good, too. Oh, and 300 is coming out in a few days.

cSurfr · Jul 26, 2007, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by icruise

Are you using HDMI for the PS3?

I recommend Corpse Bride on BR. Kung Fu Hustle is pretty good, too. Oh, and 300 is coming out in a few days.

Yessir, I am using HDMI for the PS3, and as it turns out, it will upscale regular dvds as well. Nice little bonus that I hadn't counted on. 300 should be pretty amazing. I'll have to add kung fu to my netflix queue. Has anyone seen the discovery atlas shows? How do those look?

cSurfr · Jul 26, 2007, 10:15 PM

Oh, and I had corpse bride on HD-DVD, so that's a must buy on Blu-Ray. Reference title no doubt!

Eug · Jul 27, 2007, 09:37 AM

Yes, Corpse Bride rocks. I have it on HD DVD.

cSurfr, you've got a PM.

Originally Posted by jokell82

Blu Ray can rest easy now that Footlocker has their back.

Heh.

I too didn't know Woolworth's even existed anymore, but I see now that it exists in places like the UK and Mexico.

Eug · Jul 27, 2007, 09:41 AM

Re: Discovery Atlas <-- I saw these on HD TV, not HD DVD or Blu-ray.

Brazil: Very interesting
China: Very interesting (but some people say the HD transfer is slightly soft).
Italy: I found it a bit boring
Australia: Never saw it.

Dakarʒ · Jul 27, 2007, 09:41 AM

Yeah, the Woolworth's in my town shut down at least 15 years ago.

I used to buy garbage pail kids there.

starman · Jul 27, 2007, 10:58 AM

BJ's wholesalers just announed Blu-Ray exclusivity.

BJ's Wholesale Club stores to carry Blu-ray exclusively - 7/26/2007 - Video Business

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 10:58 AM

Best Buy has a great deal if you happen to be buying an overpriced dual format LG player.

Before if you bought one it wasn't eligible for any of the 5 disks free deal, but now you can pick your own *10* discs of either format from Best Buy's entire catalog and get them free. True the player still costs $1200, but that's much better than the mail in rebate...

Bust Buy Offers Dual-Format LG Player With Ten Free HD DVD, Blu-ray Discs | High-Def Digest

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by starman

BJ's wholesalers just announed Blu-Ray exclusivity.

BJ's Wholesale Club stores to carry Blu-ray exclusively - 7/26/2007 - Video Business

No they didn't. Someone just thinks they will.

ort888 · Jul 27, 2007, 11:02 AM

I can understand the appeal of a dual-format player... but not when it costs more then both other players put together.

I could get a Blu-ray player and HD-DVD player for $750. Why the hell would you buy that LG?

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by ort888

I can understand the appeal of a dual-format player... but not when it costs more then both other players put together.

I could get a Blu-ray player and HD-DVD player for $750. Why the hell would you buy that LG?

If you absolutely positively only have room for one piece in your rack and want to buy both formats?

Dakarʒ · Jul 27, 2007, 11:09 AM

Yeah, the convenience is about the only reason.

ort888 · Jul 27, 2007, 11:10 AM

You could buy both players and a new rack for less.

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 11:22 AM

I agree it's pretty stupid right now. But if the price ever drops to be lower than two different standalones it'd be a good deal.

(And if they implement the full HD-DVD spec)

Eug · 11:56 AM

One of my favourite movies is coming to HD DVD.

The good news: HD DVD has no region coding, so even though it's a German release, it will play fine in a North American player.

The bad news: No details yet, but the distributor (Highlight) has a history of not putting English subtitles on many of their discs.

Ironically, this is the only so-called Blu-ray exclusive I really, really want... but it doesn't actually exist on Blu-ray. (Its distribution rights are owned by Sony in the US, but Sony has declined to release it on Blu-ray.)

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 12:55 PM

Time to brush up on your German skills.

Eug · Jul 27, 2007, 01:40 PM

Actually, I understand some Mandarin, so if the original Mandarin track is there, then that's OK to an extent.

I'd really be pissed though if it was just a German dubbed track. That would really suck.

analogue SPRINKLES · Jul 27, 2007, 01:48 PM

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 01:49 PM

Ew. Dubbed tracks suck to begin with. But dubbed in a language you don't speak? Even worse.

ort888 · Jul 27, 2007, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

That chart doesn't have any bias whatsoever. Nope.

jokell82 · Jul 27, 2007, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

More than half of that image is just false.

Hardware:
RCA made (still makes?) an HD-DVD player. Denon Japan just announced that they will be making an HD-DVD player. And Onkyo is making one as well. Apple has also said they're supporting *BOTH* formats.

Retailers:
Target did NOT announce BluRay exclusivity. They announced that Sony bought an endcap at their stores. They will still sell XBox 360 addon drives and still sell HD-DVDs.

Rentals:
Blockbuster announced it would only expand it's HD rentals with BluRay at the moment, but HD-DVDs are still available for rent in the 250 original HD stores.

Cost:
The 360 addon drive is now $179, and the Toshiba HD-A2 just hit $199 on Amazon.

More FUD from the Blu Ray group...

ort888 · Jul 27, 2007, 02:28 PM

The top selling title is also Planet Earth which has sold more on HD-DVD. Or at least, that's what I've heard.