Blockbuster goes Blu-ray, HD DVD=beta?,

There are pictures of one of the Chinese HD-DVD players now available. If you think about it, of course less expensive HD-DVD players are just around the corner. Obviously there is no blu ray answer on the hardware side. There never has been. Thats why I would stay away from Blu Ray for now.

Blu Ray hardware is simply lacking and faces early obsolescence. The DVD video quality is excellent on both Medias. Costco is selling HD-DVD players, and the entry level model is on sale online for 249. HD-DVD , if you had to pick one now, is the way to go, due to ethernet connectivity, upscaling, and ability to play standard DVDs.

I wouldnt be accepting any substitutes for now. Blu Ray marketing got ahead of the product.

OK this does not make me happy with the Toshiba HD DVD player I bought. About 5-6 weeks after sending coupon and bar code p-o-p for the 5 free HD DVDs, I received a notice stating stocking problems that will postpone my DVDs a few more weeks. This is not the part that pisses me off. Heres the kicker: They graciously included a form I can send in that "cancels my order" (for free DVDs!) if am annoyed by the added wait.

Im very satisfied with the D2 player, but 5 free HD DVDs was a real incentive to purchase. This delay and offer to decline the free DVDs sounds so incredibly BOGUS, I find it insulting. Not a smooth move for HD DVD format or for Toshiba.

This saga never seems to end.

Now Paramount has dumped Blu-ray, at least for now.

Well, looking at overall titles before this change, 90% would be released on Blu Ray and 60% on HD-DVD from American Studios. European studios were in HD-DVDs favor technically.

With this change I actually think its slightly in HD-DVDs favor as far as total titles and American studio support. Pretty major stuff really, in the minor world of Hi Def DVDs.

08-21-07: Rysa4
Pretty major stuff really, in the minor world of Hi Def DVDs.

That's just it, isn't it? I've still got a nagging suspicion that this is a tempest in a tea cup, and this particular format war will end up with NO winners.