Cosmic Bus
pristine morning snow
MechDX said:
Good to hear. Thanks.
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Hi-Def Media Lovefest: The war is over and we can all go home.
- Thread starter HyperionX
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Good to hear. Thanks.
Yeah, Face Off was a good flick. Even my girlfriend liked it. Took her by surprise.
And I liked Travolta and Cage in their roles. Will never forget Travolta as the bad guy talking to the Travolta character's daughter, sucking a stogie and saying, "Daddy's got a new pair of shoes!" :lol
And I liked Travolta and Cage in their roles. Will never forget Travolta as the bad guy talking to the Travolta character's daughter, sucking a stogie and saying, "Daddy's got a new pair of shoes!" :lol
The Main Event
Member
JCBossman said:
Time for everyone to jump in.
JCBossman said:
If WB does end up going over to HD, I'm going to just have to suck it up and get a HD DVD player.
It's unfortunate those players are useless for my purposes (way too gimped). At this point, I guess its XA2 or an upcoming hybrid.
The Main Event said:
:lol no.
I'm not buying a Pinto just because I need a car.
The Take Out Bandit
Member
Any word on the Lord of the Rings movies being released on BluRay or HDDVD?
Onix said:
Hey you know the Toshiba has an Ethernet jack and can "Autoupdate" itself, so thats pretty cool. I am 100% sure that considering this isn't even Black Friday Yet, that there WILL be Sub $100 China Made No Name HD-DVD players out this Holiday season and they are going to KILL the Blu-Ray players on PRICE.Hell Wal-Mart Should do a 32"LCD TV for $500 and throw one of those Bad Boys in for FREE
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
YagizY said:
I have a semi-standard of not running down content. Different strokes and all.
I did see the movie when it came out and enjoyed it as mindless fun.
VanMardigan
has calmed down a bit.
bort said:
WOW. I'm calling my sister and telling her to haul her butt over to Walmart. This will be perfect for my 30" CRT 1080i set in the bedroom.
UNBELIEVABLE. Truly insane.
We get it dude. Seriously, we get it. You're not getting it......blah blah blah.............gimped.......blah blah blah.........1080i.............blah blah...........Warner Brothers........blah blah.
Please, please stop. This is exciting, even if that's not for you.
ChrisJames
Member
bort said:
Wow, that is mine!
I can finally ditch the 360 add-on...
The Main Event
Member
Wal*Mart HD DVD player television ad:
http://raven-central.net/ravencinemas/phenomeon.html
(skip the whole thing, near the end).
http://raven-central.net/ravencinemas/phenomeon.html
(skip the whole thing, near the end).
Too bad they won't kill Blu-ray players on sales. The PS3 is going to sell several hundred thousand units next month, which will absolutely dwarf all HD DVD players, 360 HD DVD add-ons, and HD DVD computer drive sales combined.JCBossman said:
It's not like price matters, anyway. HD DVD has been more affordable that Blu-ray all year, and anyone with five minutes of free time and a passing interest could find a deal or promotion to get a ton of free HD DVDs with the purchase of a player. Hasn't mattered before and won't this month or next.
I love it when you get like this, because it usually means we're really close to not having to see you post for a few weeks.VanMardigan said:
ChrisJames
Member
Onix said:For all that are going to try and get the $99 A2 ... good luck
This IS a the same thing as a Black Friday sale, so you better get your jacket and tumbler ready. Its going to be a long night!
Shit... I just wanted to walk in there at a little after 8 and pick up an HD DVD player... Do you really think they will be in high demand?
"Hasn't mattered before and won't this month or next."
Keep telling yourself that.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Wowee Zowee.
I'm still not into dual format (I'll spend more in software by far than the cost of the player) but if that doesn't jumpstart HD-DVD, nothing will.
I'm still not into dual format (I'll spend more in software by far than the cost of the player) but if that doesn't jumpstart HD-DVD, nothing will.
VanMardigan
has calmed down a bit.
Onix said:
Well, I can only speak for myself. I know you want a fully featured player, but at that price (plus the free movies) I think it's a good way to test drive the format. If you have a good 1080p tv, the deinterlacer will make the image look fantastic anyway, and convert it to 1080p. It has the HDMI out for TrueHD and DD Plus audio. It is what it is, a $99 HD DVD player that does all the HDi and web-enabled stuff and by all accounts produces excellent PQ. That's pretty incredible. I only wish Blu Ray had such an option.
If nothing else, it could just serve as a gateway for you until you get the Blu Ray victory you're waiting for. Great way to ensure you don't miss any content until this crap gets sorted out. That's just my take, and I guess I came off as an asshole, so I'm sorry.
ChrisJames said:
It's hard to tell. Certainly there will be plenty of tech-savvy people aware of it.
I would guess the biggest problem will be availability. We know Walmart has plenty of A2 stock for the Holiday season ($199) ... however, will they actually make them available for the entire day?
I'm gonna guess they are ear-marking a small amount in typical Black Friday 'first come first serve' fashion. Maybe I'm wrong, but it wouldn't surprise me.
VanMardigan
has calmed down a bit.
The Main Event said:
Whoa. I was expecting a passing mention, but it really is an entire Wal Mart ad exclusively for HD DVD. The plain language, the Toshiba mention. I'm pretty impressed that HD DVD has put itself in that position.
I remember all the laughter at the thought of Wal-Mart having a $200 chinese player this holiday season. Now they have a Toshiba and pimping the heck out of it. I guess this takes care of the whining I was doing a few pages back about the HD DVD retail presence.
Chemo said:
I don't understand why in every post, you always sound so butt-hurt and bitter about all of this. I think yesterday proved to me that most us here can talk and joke around a little (and guys, thank you for that) and have fun with all of this, instead of digging in our heels and spitting so much vitriol at one another.
Really, these are just movie players. There's no need to invest so much emotion and personal worth in it.
Oh, and WOW at the $98 players. I may not be getting much sleep Thursday night...
VanMardigan said:
For me personally, I have no need to testdrive the format. I'm well aware of what HD DVD is 'about'. It simply comes down to support, available titles, etc. WB would likely push me over though.
That's simply incorrect unfortunately. A huge chunk of available 1080p TV's (ones considered 'great', not just 'good') fail at 1080i deinterlacing.
I have a 55A2000 SXRD. It's deinterlacing is actually considered really good. It doesn't bob&weave. Unfortunately, it also doesn't cadence check, so it basically sits in what would be considered video deinterlacing. This actually holds true for a good many of non bob&weave deinterlacers in current 1080p TV's. It works quite well for TV shows, but not for movies.
For me, that would be throwing away $100 (assuming I could even get one on Friday) ... since it doesn't have the features I want.
Don't get all melodramatic. You know I wuv you!
The Main Event
Member
I'd get myself another HD-A2 at $98 for my parents if that deal was available in Canada.
Seriously, $98, that is just....wow.
Totally forgot that they will also have a selection of HD DVD titles at $15 each.
Seriously, $98, that is just....wow.
Totally forgot that they will also have a selection of HD DVD titles at $15 each.
VanMardigan
has calmed down a bit.
Onix said:
Well, see, there's the content side too. After all, it's what we're here for, isn't it? To be able to view Universal and now Paramount/Dreamworks stuff in HD, that may be worth $100 to some people. To not have to worry about what studio is related to what movie, that may be worth that to some people. I think you're getting carried away with the hardware side, when it's really the content and the software features that I was arguing in favor of. That's what it's about for me.
It seems like picking up a player at that price would definitely put an end to the format war as far as you're concerned. It's simply irrelevant if you own the "keys" to all HD disc software. It won't matter then what Warner does, what Uni does, what Paramount does. I suggested to Ignatz to just rent the movies if there is concern about building up a library of titles in a format you don't want to succeed. For sure, this place would be better if we could discuss movies regardless of format. Of course, you can still debate on here, but it won't ultimately matter. While the idiots that put us in this format war battle it out, you just collect the spoils. Also, I guess you have access to someone with an HD DVD player?
Wow, that's nuts. And yet...I get the feeling it won't maximize HD-DVD sales enough to pull over BD these next few months, especially with the $399 PS3 coming in a few days.
Still, $99 for the player is awesome. I'll never own a HD-DVD player, but damn if that's not awesome.
Still, $99 for the player is awesome. I'll never own a HD-DVD player, but damn if that's not awesome.
The Main Event
Member
Was the movie any good?
VanMardigan said:
I've stated many times that I personally want a 'one format future'. With the current division of studios (as well as current sales), I'm still of the opinion BD is the best option ... both in terms of content, as well as potential to 'win'. Due to that, I'm sticking to one side. If WB goes over to HD DVD, and we move into some level of serious stalemate, then the situation obviously changes. If it appears both are digging in for the long-haul, then I'll go dual.
As for not getting carried away with the hardware, it is actually quite important to me. The reason to invest in HD Media is for sound and picture quality. If it wasn't, why would one have even bothered?
It would be pointless for me. If I were to decide to support HD DVD, and purchased one of these ... I'd end up annoyed at the image quality, etc. and just get a higher end one anyway.
Believe me, I know myself. My home theater has been a 'work in progress' since before Pro-logic.
Not currently, why would that matter?
OokieSpookie
Banned
Onix said:
I agree with you there, and it gets kind of old everyone trying to be all "it doesn't matter, it is good enough".
1080p native and even more so 1080p/24 is what high def media is about.
Making Joe Bob and Betty Ray Walmart believe that high def is high def is one thing ( at best they might have a 1080i set ) and it is a hell of a deal, but it is still a low tier player.
If you are going with high def media you do not half ass it.
"Good enough" is not good enough for me.
I have the hd add on, and while not bad it is also not good enough for me.
Luckily I have the PS3 for upscaling dvds (do not start shit about this, even most review sites say that the 360 add on sucks for upscaling).
I know they have some good toshiba stand alones with good upscaling, I do not know why they pulled the reon chip out of some of the lower end ones, but some of the midrange and up have the Silicon Optix Reon-VX which is supposed to be great.
OH SHIT ... HOUSTON ... WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!!
Notice the description. It says Toshiba A2 DVD Player.
If this is also in the ad ... consider it fission mailed. The ball has been dropped. etc.
Then again, it probably doesn't really matter. If you notice, this pic also confirms my expectation it will be limited availability, ala black friday (note the * definition). So even if J6P isn't aware its a HD DVD player, enough people on the internets will be aware of this and eat up the ear-marked units.
Seriously though ... what the fuck Toshiba/Walmart?? :lol Great way to kick off your holiday hail mary. Shit like this is not serving to end consumer confusion. They really should NOT have gone with DVD in its name.
Notice the description. It says Toshiba A2 DVD Player.
If this is also in the ad ... consider it fission mailed. The ball has been dropped. etc.
Then again, it probably doesn't really matter. If you notice, this pic also confirms my expectation it will be limited availability, ala black friday (note the * definition). So even if J6P isn't aware its a HD DVD player, enough people on the internets will be aware of this and eat up the ear-marked units.
Seriously though ... what the fuck Toshiba/Walmart?? :lol Great way to kick off your holiday hail mary. Shit like this is not serving to end consumer confusion. They really should NOT have gone with DVD in its name.
You think just because I call people out on things they've said that I honestly invest any level of emotion? Shit like "Wow, look at HD DVD's momentum!" and fantasies about how much software HD DVD is going to move now that players are dirt cheap are just ridiculous, because we've seen all year that each and every time some new savior appears, it never amounts to anything outside of prolonging the inevitable. Your response to me is less about you thinking I'm "butt-hurt and bitter" and more about you taking up for your format... nothing I said was inaccurate, because HD DVD has made desperation move after desperation move and it hasn't changed shit. Why will this desperation move suddenly matter?Kolgar said:
And sorry I don't joke around in this thread, but I honestly find the gaming side to be a lot more fun as far as that goes. I'm here to discuss the format war. If you think I made some kind of inaccurate bullshit statement, feel free to call me out on it... but if your reply to me is just that I'm "butt-hurt," I think that's actually indicative of it being the other way around.
OokieSpookie said:
QFT
No shit from me. The PS3's upscaling ain't perfect, but its better than most upscaling DVD players (at least non SO HQV models).
I believe only the XA2 does at this point.
Unfortunately, Toshiba seriously botched the gen 3 models in general. While the A3 doesn't output 1080i (its functionally equivalent to the A2), the A30 and A35 do ... but its broken :\
Based on the discussions over at AVS, the output is considered bad enough that most people end up using their TV's deinterlacer ... knowing full-well the image is suffering (though less so then with the players 1080p).
Onix said:
Yup, quite the cockup, there. The concept of HD is already confusing enough for John Q. Public as it is, without the stores themselves contributing to it further.
At least Toshiba's product number has "HD-A2" in it. :lol
This is part of the reason I'm not yet convinced the price strategy will work. With so little interest in and knowledge of HD among the general public, do they really care what price it's selling at?
HDM may need another year to be ready for prime time, but we'll see.
@drohne: Good luck with the price match; I think BB and CC will probably call WM to make sure they have the players in stock before they price match for you. Hope you didn't have plans to sleep tomorrow night! :lol
Kolgar said:
Wow, He sounds BITTER doesn't He, Kogar? I mean seriously Neither Format is setting the world on fire and EVEN if Blu-Ray was outselling HD-DVD 2 to 1, with the pathetic numbers BOTH are doing, it doesn't mean shit. Now if Wal-Mart and K-Mart and a few others can shit a million or two HD-DVD standalones, well that "MIGHT" mean something, and PLEASE don't start with the PS3 sales figures, the amount of people who buy a PS3 for Movies is going to be pretty small(smaller than the amount who buy games
So you KNOW thats small) but anyone buying a stand-alone IS BUYING it for movies.Zoe said:
I think most all electronic stores have this policy (I know Sears and BB do for sure).
People may not realize that this truely is the deciding holiday for the format war. If HD-DVD can clean up and get back into the game, then we can have another year or so of teh format wars. But if these extreme price cuts on all hardware and software don't move HD-DVD forward...I really think it could be the end.
Where else is there to go? You have extremely cheap software and hardware, a selection of big exclusives (Transformers, Shrek, Bourne, etc.)...and so far out the gate, Transformers disappointed a bit. This will be a very interesting holiday, for sure. (like I've said a bajillion times).
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