DVDs -- How And Why You Should Switch To BluRay
Yep, it's time to make the switch to BluRay. You should buy a BluRay player and/or start buying movies on BluRay instead of regular DVDs wherever it makes sense. If you've got an HD capable TV and a BluRay player, you should also consider replacing some of your favorite movies with BluRay versions. Here's how and why.
You own a regular TV -- Buy a BluRay player today and in the future buy only BluRay titles. BluRay players are now very cheap ($200 is common). It seems like an additional expense but every time you buy a regular DVD when a BluRay version is available for a similar price, you're actually wasting money. It's like buying 8 track tapes when you KNOW you're gonna get a CD player eventually. A BluRay player can let you watch all your regular DVDs and any BluRay DVDs you buy. You won't see any difference on a regular TV, but when you eventually upgrade to an LCD or plasma that's HD-ready, you'll have a library of titles ready to go.
You own an HD-ready TV, either a plasma or LCD -- Why don't you own a BluRay player? The better brands "upscale" the regular DVDs you already own, making them look better than they are. No, they don't look as good as actual BluRay titles, but it does make a difference. Plus, you should only be buying BluRay titles from now on. The difference is that significant, just like it was when you jumped from VHS to DVD or cassette to compact disc.
Replacing the DVDs you already own with BluRay -- Any title you truly love and want to watch over and over again is worth buying on BluRay no matter how much more expensive it is. But in general, I'd say unless a movie is absolutely one of your big favorites, there's no need to replace all your regular DVDs with BluRay. You can watch all those movies and if you have an HD-ready TV, the BluRay player will make them look even better than they do. And naturally, comedies and documentaries and TV shows (especially older ones) don't necessarily need the pizazz of BluRay. Of course, if we're talking a sci-fi spectacle like 2001: A Space Odyssey or a landmark film like The Godfather, those are cases where it will be worth your while to upgrade right away. And you can always re-gift your regular DVD copies to someone because they're great movies and a friend will be glad to own them. But for most of your library, I'd wait until the BluRay versions were really cheap (prices better come down at some point) or not bother at all. Your regular DVDs look great. It just doesn't make any sense to keep buying them from now on.
Buying new DVDs on BluRay or regular DVD -- In general, I'd just stop buying regular DVDs. Buy a movie you want on BluRay, especially when the price is about the same on BluRay, which is quite common when you're comparing special edition DVDs to BluRay versions of new releases. If the regular DVD version is, say, $20 and the BluRay is $40, just don't buy it. Unless it's some incredibly elaborate special effects extravaganza you're dying to get, there's no reason to shell out significantly more bucks for BluRay. If you really can't bear to wait, maybe it's one of the few movies worth shelling out for. But why not just Netflix it and wait? Dont encourage them to think that BluRay can be an excuse to permanently raise prices on DVDs. But again, don't waste your money on regular DVDs any more. If it's an obscure flick that's never been available on DVD and isn't put out on BluRay, sure, make an exception. Otherwise, hold off.
So buy a BluRay player and start building your BluRay library, even if you don't own an HD-ready plasma or LCD TV. And if you do, the format war is over, so what are you waiting for? Here are some recent BluRay releases and whether they make sense to buy compared to the cost of a regular DVD.
The Dark Knight ($35.99 on BluRay versus $34.98 for regular DVD special edition; Warner Bros.) Sure, you can buy a single disc regular DVD edition for $28.98 but I'm going to compare the standard DVDs loaded with extras to the BluRay since if you're enough of a fan to buy the movie, you probably want all the bells and whistles. So in this case, there is only $1 in difference in the cost. And this movie looks stunning on BluRay -- a real demo disc for when your friends come over, whether you're showing off your new TV or your sound system. Finally, when there's no price difference, you'd be foolish to buy a regular DVD. This is exactly why you need to buy a BluRay player now, whatever home entertainment system you have. You can enjoy the movie right away and then be wowed once you upgrade your system.
Tommy Boy ($29.99 on BluRay versus $12.98 for regular DVD; Paramount) -- Okay, an extra 17 dollars is a huge premium, especially when you're talking about a low-budget comedy that won't gain a huge benefit from being seen on BluRay. If you own it already, I don't see the need to upgrade. Naturally, if it's on your all-time favorite list, any movie is worth getting.
The Cheetah Girls One World ($34.99 versus $29.99 on regular DVD; Disney) -- Okay, the price difference is a minimal $5. On the other hand, there's no need for super great picture or sound on the titles your kids watch, is there? Maybe not, but why buy a regular DVD when BluRay is available and has a few extra bonus features they'll love to check out. When the price is about the same, you should go BluRay, even for kids' stuff.
The Man Who Fell To Earth ($39.95 versus $39.95 for regular DVD; Criterion) -- Criterion always sets the gold standard for special edition DVDs. Here we have one of their first BluRay releases, only to discover that it costs exactly the same amount as their regular Criterion release. One big difference: the regular Criterion edition came with a copy of the book the movie is based on. Otherwise the editions are identical and I imagine the extras will be identical when possible as well. Since the movie matters to me more than the extras, I'm especially glad the price is the same. This BluRay also comes in a flimsier cardboard slipcover, which is either another cost-saving measure or an eco-friendly change. But quality control does't get better than Criterion, so it's great news to see them determined to release BluRay titles at the same price point as their regular DVDs.
Hot Rod ($29.98 versus $19.98 for regular DVD; Paramount) -- Another low-budget comedy and not a very successful one, despite Andy Samberg's appeal. Is there any reason the BluRay version should cost $10 more? Nope. So wait until the price comes down. But you're itching to own it and wonder whether you should pay $20 for a regular DVD? In general, just go cold turkey. If the price is too high to buy on BluRay, don't buy it at all. That's the only way to let the studios know that you're not willing to pay a premium for the pleasure of buying movies on BluRay. They should see BluRay as a reason to keep you buying titles, not as an excuse to raise prices. Remember, DVDs were better and cheaper than VHS and that market took off. CDs were almost always more expensive than cassettes and for a while it worked but when a cheaper alternative came along (digital tracks) the market collapsed. Lower BluRay prices and be glad people aren't just watching these movies for free online!
Into The Wild ($29.99 versus $35.98 for the special edition regular DVD; Paramount) -- Here's a terrific surprise. The BluRay edition is $6 LESS than the regular DVD special edition and contains all the same bonus features. It's the same price as the regular single disc DVD. It's an acclaimed film that's beautfully shot and looks great on DVD. Just on principal, we should all buy this title to encourage them into pricing BluRays like this.
Lost Complete Fourth Season ($96.99 versus $59.99 for regular DVD; ABC/Disney) -- And here's the exact opposite of Into The Wild, a DVD set that is dramatically more expensive than the regular DVD for absolutely no good reason. (A few modest exclusive extras certainly aren't worth $36.) On top of it, both sets are the same price as previous season sets despite having fewer episodes. Sure, the series looks even more smashing on BluRay than regular DVD -- this is Lost, and not some set-bound sitcom. But this massive price hike is unconscionable. Watch the episodes online and wait for a much lower price point before adding it to your library. Even if the show's a favorite, the gap in prices make this one you should resist. UPDATE: the Suggested Retail Price for this set was lowered soon after it came out to $69.99. That's only $10 more than the $59.99 for the regular DVDs and since this is an entire season as opposed to just one movie, that's a very competitive price. Still, it was a dumb move to put it out even for a week at such a higher SRP. People see that in their heads and get the fixed idea that BluRay will be much more expensive than regular DVDs. Of course what YOU should be looking at are the sale prices and when it comes to that, BluRay is quickly matching regular DVDs. See my update below for more info. And thanks to Jeff Kleist of The Digital Bits for alerting me to this price change.
Ray Charles Live at Montreaux 1997 ($24.98 versus $14.98 on regular DVD; Eagle Rock) -- Okay, Ray Charles is a giant but this show comes at the tail end of his illustrious career. It's a fine concert, if not a legendary one for such a riveting, iconic figure. Ten dollars more is a big increase for the BluRay version, especially since it's a low-cost price point to begin with. I'm generally avoiding comparing sale prices, but in this case I'd point out that buying it on sale reduces the difference to just over $5. Still, no need to encourage smaller companies to hike their prices just like the big ones. They should provide better value and gain market share on the big boys that way.
Ghost ($29.99 versus $12.99 on regular DVD; Paramount) -- Maybe this is your favorite romantic movie and you won't mind ponying up. But again, there's no reason a movie almost 20 years old should cost more than twice as much on BluRay as it does on regular DVD.
Death Race ($39.98 versus $29.98 on regular DVD; Universal) -- This is an action flick and so it'll pop on BluRay. And if you're a Jason Statham fan, at least you can tell yourself the extra money is worth the free digital copy the BluRay version offers so you can watch it on your computer or portable device. Still, a 30% increase in price is hard to justify in general.
Death Proof and PLANET TERROR ($29.95 each versus $14.95 on regular DVD; Dimension/Genius) -- Two very fun B movies (though I still wish they'd offer the original theatrical version with these movies as shorter double features). And they look and sound great on BluRay. But twice the price? No way, unless female stunt artists are a source of joy for you.
Old School ($29.99 versus $14.99 for regular DVD; DreamWorks) -- A very funny comedy that isn't going to really improve dramatically on BluRay. And twice the price keeps this off your list unless Vince Vaughn is unmissable. In that case you probably own it already on regular DVD and there's no need to upgrade.
Other recent BluRay releases: The Truman Show ($29.99; Paramount); Event Horizon ($29.99; Paramount); The Women (2008 remake) ($35.99; New Line); Tori Amos Live at Montreaux ($24.98; Eagle Rock); Days Of Thunder ($29.99; Paramount); The Heartbreak Kid ($29.99; DreamWorks); The Strat Pack Live In Concert ($24.98; Eagle Rock); Last Holiday ($29.99; Paramount); and Coach Carter ($29.99; Paramount).
So there you see it. On new releases, sometimes you can pay even less for BuRay and often it's within $5. When it's a big spectacle, that makes BluRay well worth it. On reissues of classic movies, the bigger the flick and the more special effects, the more likely it's worth it. And whether it's a comedy, a TV show or a classic western, unless the title is among your absolute favorite, there's no need to shell out 30% or even 100% more just for the pleasure of BluRay. But do buy a player today, slow down or stop your regular DVD purchases, buy new releases when they make financial sense and carefully upgrade your catalog. BluRay is a major leap ahead and you shouldn't spend any more money on regular DVDs if you can help it.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Okay, so tons of comments on this post. I first put it up on Friday and today the New York Times has an article talking about BluRay's fuzzy future. They're right and wrong -- I don't expect it to supplant regular DVD completely or even wholly. But with DVD sales slowing (it's a mature format), if they can keep sales steady by introducing improvements like BluRay then that'll be a success. But the NYT is wrong in thinking of BluRay as a whole new format. It's not. You can buy a very modestly priced BluRay player today ($150 and dropping) and watch all your regular DVDs on it. You don't need to get rid of them and buy BluRay the way you did when you switched from VHS to DVD. Here are some responses to the most frequent comments.
1. HOW DARE YOU! THERE'S A RECESSION -- Yes, we're in a recession. But people will still review new automobiles and fancy restaurants and vacation getaways. That's not offensive. Someone will buy a new car this year, even if most people will hold off if they can. People like to read reviews of wildly expensive restaurants even if they never plan to eat there. And DVDs are hardly a luxury item a la yachts and caviar. If you're a family of four, a $22 DVD is a great bargain compared to going to the movies. During the Depression of the 1930s, people went to movies more often than they ever have before or since. But did the fact of the Depression mean movie critics at the time were insensitive cretins for even talking about films? Of course not.
2. NEW FORMAT X IS JUST ON THE HORIZON -- A new format or technology is ALWAYS on the horizon. If you follow that logic, you must be watching a 12 inch black and white TV while listening to your Edison cylindars. I am VERY cautious about embracing a new format. I've actively campaigned against almost every new format in entertainment you can think of, from VHS and laser disc (too expensive and bulky) to Divx and MP3s. (Hate 'em.) The ONLY two formats I've embraced in the last 25 years are CDs and DVDs. And whatever new formats arise in years to come, I'll enjoy the library of CDs and DVDs I have now for the rest of my life, just like some people still enjoy their LPs. New technologies don't mean old technologies become "useless." I'll still enjoy my hardcover book even if you only read on a Kindle.
3. HI-DEF DOWNLOADING IS CLEARLY GONNA STOMP ON DVDS -- I do agree that streaming and downloading movies will be the dominant way people rent movies quite soon. But for many technological and legal reasons, hi-def downloading is years away from being the dominant way to buy movies, even if we do overcome efforts by telecos/cable/internet companies to charge people onerous fees for using a lot of bandwidth. And certainly, worldwide, hi-def downloading is absurd to consider as dominating in giant markets like China, India, Indonesia and Africa for decades to come. Even the US won't be capable of getting it available to a majority of users for a good decade. And so what if it does become dominant and you decide come 2015 that you never want to buy a DVD again? The library you have will still be useful. And if you only rent, the modest $150 you spent to get a BluRay player so you could rent BluRay from Netflix (for an extra $1) or borrow from your local library will surely have been worth it by then.
4. BLURAY IS TOO EXPENSIVE -- I compared the suggested retail price because sale prices vary so much from store to store and even week to week. But when you check out the sale price of new releases, BluRay and regular DVDs are almost neck and neck. The Dark Knight, for example, costs only $1 more on BluRay than regular DVD at Amazon. And it's not a new format -- you don't need two players and you can always buy or rent anything on regular DVD that's a lot cheaper or only available that way.
5. BLU RAY WON'T LAST -- Even if it doesn't, your player can still play regular DVDs and I'm confident that just as you can still buy a turntable you'll be able to buy a cheap DVD player than can play regular and BluRay DVDs for years to come. Again, regular DVDs are the dominant worldwide medium by far and certainly won't fade away in the next decade. Twenty years is quite a good run for any format. LPs lasted about 40 years, 78s even longer but of course as technology improves so does the pace of change. But again, the library you build will be positive and enjoyable for years to come, combining regular DVD and BluRay DVDs, whether or not most of us are watching 3-D holograms via an implant come 2025.
6. I'M SHILLING FOR MANUFATURERS AND MUST HAVE BEEN PAID TO WRITE SUCH A DUMB COLUMN -- Of course, I wasn't paid a penny by anyone to write this column. In fact, I spent years excoriating them for the absurd format war they engaged in between BluRay and HD-DVD. I modestly preferred HD-DVD but called for a pox on both their houses for going to market with both. I'm perfectly happy with my regular DVDs and if the studios thought they could jack up prices via BluRay they've been proven very wrong. This is the make or break year for BluRay and they're reducing prices very fast. IF you own a HD-ready plasma or LCD screen or plan to buy one in the next five years and IF you're already buying DVDs and IF the title you want is available on BluRay for about the same price, I recommend you buy it on Bluray. Does that sound like some crazy, 'oh my gosh BluRay is AWESOME' plug to you? To have this option available to you, you'll have to shell out a modest $150 for a DVD player that plays regular and Bluray DVDs. But hey, even if you're just renting from Netflix, a BluRay player makes sense. If the worst case scenario happens and the studios abandon BluRay in five years, you'll STILL be able to watch and buy regular DVDs using your player and enjoy the superior quality of BluRay for the titles they did release. And I'll bet anyone any amount they want to suggest that DVDs in both or either format will absolutely be around in 2015. To suggest they'll disappear completely is silly. And AGAIN, if they did, so what? You can still enjoy the library you've built for the rest of your life, just like your books and CDs.
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In a few days at most BlurRay will be obsolete, than what?? Flash Drives? Memory Cards?
Sure, I'll switch to BluRay. Then in 2-3 years, they'll come up with 3D TV or whatever, and it'll be SO MUCH BETTER than BluRay that I'll JUST HAVE TO upgrade again, etc.
I'll stick to BitTorrent, thank you.
Again, I've been buying CDs for 25 years. I'm pretty sure I'll be enjoying those CDs until the day I die. The same goes for DVds and BluRay. Every few years manufacturers try to launch new formats and most of the time they die. If your DVD player broke down today, why wouldn't you buy a BluRay one for $150? It can play all your DVDs and - if you choose to buy them -- BluRay DVDs as well. It's not a wholesale change in format. I never bought VHS or SACD or HD-CDs and I didn't buy BluRay or HD-DVDs until the format war was over and I won't go wholehog on any BluRays or get rid of my regular DVDs. They'll play great for the rest of my life. And if you're worried about finding a player to watch them on 20 years from now, why? You can find turntables and cassette decks and VCRs. Im certain that inexpensive DVD players will be available for the rest of our lives regardless of what new formats they cook up.
I was an early Blu Ray adopter and couldn't be happier. And now that Criterion is in the game... well that's just the icing on the cake for a film buff.
Have fun waiting for digital downloads, guys (I couldn't even begin to calculate how much bandwidth downloading my current library would suck). I'll stick with my "antiquated" disc-based technology.
How annoying. Buy this, buy that... replace whatever I hyped you into getting last year.
Here's a radical notion: buy a book. Then read it.
Here's another: go for a walk with your wife/husband/significant other and say "Hi" to your neighbors.
Finally: Bake cookies... peanut butter chocolate chip, for instance.
I recently bought a Blu-ray player, and my wife recently made some to-die-for double chocolate brownies and pumpkin bars. I guess we have the best of both worlds. :)
PJburke, Thx for reading. I bought three books yesterday, good advice! (And no, I don't have a Kindle and don't EVER expect e-books to replace regular books in our lifetime.) I don't jump on new technology at all. I never bought VHS tapes (they sucked) or SACD or HD-CDs or Divx or any other formats. I went from cassettes to CDs and I've been buying them for 25 years and I'll be listening to those CDs (which still play great, by the way), until the day I die. I never went wholesale into Laserdiscs because of the cost and the bulky format. But DVDs are great. BluRay is not a wholesale new format, just a tweak to DVDs. I can enjoy classic films and TV shows AND say hi to the neighbors or take a walk with my husband. As soon as I find one. KBinIA -- you DO have the best of both worlds.
My biggest question is why does anyone buy movies anyway, regardless of formatting. Do you really watch them that often? Is it hard to rent the movie again with services like Netflix and their huge title selection?
The only exception I see is children's movies. Kids will watch movies hundreds of times. But does any adult really watch a copy of a movie enough times to own it??
um um yes there is a specific genre of movies that adults like to watch again and again and again. DVD is much better for that because it can skip to any part that you want to watch again and again..
eeVas, if you're not a big movie buff or into watching movies again and again or just certain scenes, I can understand not building a library. I'm in the industry and interview actors/directors etc so I often want to rewatch old films or look at certain scenes. But I own Moby-dick and The Adventures of Huck Finn and One Years Of Solitude and a lot of other books. I don't reread them all the time but they're important to me and having them in my library is a big part of who I am. Some people never really listen to albums very much. They'll turn on the radio or maybe play a CD when they're cooking or have people over but music isn't a big part of their lives. Other people don't even own more than abook or two. But for those who do, owning a movie on DVD or a book or a CD is important, just like other people love owning lots of tools in their garage or go fishing or watch endless sports. To each their own.
Adirondacker -- you naughty person.
We never buy movies unless they're in the bargain throwaway bin.
But we have dozens of opera DVDs. These discs, indeed, get watched multiple times. But then there's exponentially more "data" in an opera than in a film.
i've been curious about this technology transition and by the title of your article, was interested to hear an argument for why one should switch. really disappointing to have the answer to "why" not even remotely addressed! just a repeated litany to do it!
Hi maclink, the why is that the players are backward compatible (so you don't have to get rid of your regular DVD library), that an increasing number of titles are released at basically the same price point (and I strongly urge you to NOT buy most titles untl they are the same price as the equivalent regular DVD) and if you already own a HD-ready TV or plan to buy a plasma or LCD tv in the next five years, the BluRay does in fact look exponentially better. So, assuming you've got a home entertainment system, the cost of a player is dropping daily ($150 and headed down) so the cost for most people is minimal and if you're buying DVDs, often a BLuRay version is available for about the same price. So minimal risk, no big new format to "switch" to that would make your current DVD library obsolete and the picture quality and sound is a major leap forward. Hope that helps.
miss your deadline? christmas was last week
This article reads like a commercial for the electronics companies! When it comes to Blu-Ray the number are a deal breaker and make absolutely no sense. The dif between a Blu-Ray picture and a one from a regular DVD doesn't justify paying twice as much! Oh! Since when is $200.00 cheap? I can get a regular DVD player for $50.00!
Agreed. This does sound like a commercial from a troubled industry. I recently bought a dvd player with up-converting feature for less than $90, it has fantastic image, nothing else needed. I have no need, no intention to pay extra for blu-ray player or discs.
That's funny, because I got a deal on a Blu-ray player that ended up only being 99 dollars and the thing upscales DVD VERY well.
And if you're wondering, I don't buy movies for 35 dollars a piece either. Generally around 20 bucks or less. Just the other day I picked up like 4 movies I've been wanting to own for a while at 13 bucks each. Then I got Cloverfield and Sleepy Hollow bundled for 30 bucks or 15 average. I must admit I did pay 25 bucks for The Truman Show a few days after its release though. So, that's about an average of a little over 15 bucks per title.
Yeah! EXPENSIVE! If you can't afford 15 bucks average, you're clearly not in any shape to be buying movies. I'd say avoiding entertainment would be all you can hope for. Save your pennies to pay the rent and afford food... those things are more important than buying a bunch of 5 dollar DVDs.
I agree it looks like the a review from consumer magazines or a catalog from an Electronics company. I was wondering if he just cut and pasted an article.
Optical media is dead. The idea of buying overpriced plastic discs to put on a tray each time you want to watch it will seem as antiquated as reels of tape do now. Blu-Ray will be where CDs have been heading, obsolescence.
Please. BluRay will be passed over in favor of downloaded media. It's already happened for music and it is beginning to happen with video. New devices that do exactly this are popping up like weeds every day. Apple, Net Flix, and Block Buster already have attractive products for downloading and streaming videos to rent or own.
Why would I want to keep a discrete piece of plastic lying around in my home for each video I purchase when I can just download it without having to go to a store and pay retail costs for shipping, storage, and shelf space? Why would I want to have to return a rental to a store, vending machine, or mail them back and forth?
Furthermore, the technological jump from DVD to BluRay is nowhere near the magnitude of change that was seen going from VHS to DVD. All you're getting with BluRay is more density, more unwanted DRM, and more cost. There is no compelling need to upgrade. This lesser technological difference will only slow Blu Ray adoption rates, giving the systems for downloaded video an easier path to market saturation.
Downloaded video becomes more viable as magnetic storage becomes cheaper and home broadband increases in bandwidth and penetration in major consumer markets.
Sony is feeling the pain of having invested so many resources in a format that is not needed and already outdated.
This article is so patently ridiculous one must wonder how much you were paid to shill for them.
How much more bandwidth do you think you're going to get for free?
No one -- including Huffington -- paid me to write this article. CDs are not obsolete. Anyone who owns CDs will be able to easily and happily listen to them for the rest of their lives. I've been buying CDs for 25 years and they sound great and aren't plagued with DRM issues or horrible compression like MP3s. Maybe in ten years I'll be getting all my new albums digitally, but I'll STILL be able to listen to and enjoy my library of music on CD. same goes for DVDs. Hopefully, Obama will push Congress to pass laws refusing to allow internet/phone/cable companies to restrict bandwith and usage but even if they do wrhack is right about us being a LONG way away from having a majority of the population having enough highspeed access to download movies. The technological jump from regular DVD to BluRay is not nearly as big as that from the horrible VHS to DVD -- I couldn't agree more. But neither is the leap in money or format. It's not a NEW format. It's just a player that let's you watch all your regular DVDs and this new, improved DVD that in growing cases costs exactly the same price. It's not like switching to an all new format and needing two players side by side for example. Downloading movies may be the future (they've been saying that about it and PPV for two decades) but I bet it's more about the being the best format for
I agree the article is rediculous, but I disagree that downloading video is the answer right now. I'm between cities in a highly populated eastern state, and don't have many high speed connection options where we live. When we asked the phone company, they said they weren't running new lines in our area because they were focusing on upgrading to fiber optics in the cities. When the new bit of high tech comes along, they'll do the same and we'll still be running on a modem. The only other option is cable, and the local monopolies basically charge what they want for a service that gets slower as their customer base increases.
As I've travelled thru the larger states, I see this lack of connectivity affects a larger percentage of homeowners. The plastic disk industry will be around until there is an affordable long-distance wireless option.
Right now I'm too busy trying to make ends meet and helping out friends who are hurting. If I had
$200.00 to throw away I'd take my dogs to the vet for their overdue checkup.
A wise decision. People still write articles that review new cars, but no one suggests this is absurd or ridiculous. And for those looking to stretch their money, a well-considered DVD is a much better buy than actually going to the movies.
I'll buy a Blu-Ray when they stop making DVDs and not a moment before. BTW I don't have HD-TV.
BluRays are DVDs. It's not a "new" format just an upgrade to the current one.
I was in the market for a Blu Ray but was told that it is too soon to buy because the technology has a long way to go. The main complaint is that the Blue Ray takes too long to download a movie - as long as 20 minutes. Is this true? Any techies out there who would know?
I don't quite understand your question. BluRay is a type of DVD. The BluRay player can play both regular and BluRay DVDs. It doesn't "download" movies. Perhaps you're thinking of PlayStations which can play regular DVDs, BluRays and also download software for gaming? By the way, 20 minutes to download a 2 hour movie in high quality is I believe pretty darn fast. But again, downloading has nothing to do with the physical format of BluRay DVDs and BluRay players.
You say the blueray player is cheap, but why should I buy one when I can watch the same damn movie on my regular DVD player? The blueray movies cost a lot more.......why buy them? With the econmony in shambles I predict that the whole blueray thing will wither away just like the beta tape and 8 track.
My entire column argued again and again that you SHOULDN'T pay more than $5 more for a BluRay title compared to a regular DVD. I said over and over that studios should make them the same price. When any movie I mentioned cost just $10 more than the regular DVD equivalent, I said it wasn't worth buying for most people. The only exception I made was for classic, beloved films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, for example, which looks stunning. BUt even there my main feeling is if you can wait, wait til the price is the same. BluRay DVDs don't cost a lot more. When you look at the sale price on Amazon and elsewhere, they're often just a few dollars more than the equivalent regular DVD. Into The Wild, for example, even costs less.
As to the "upscaling" function, you do know that every HD TV "upscales" regular DVDs already? My Toshiba tube set, for example, can show ONLY 540p and 1080i. Regular 480p dvds get upscaled to whichever of those I select. Each set has one, or two, resolutions it can show. Thus, an upscaling dvd player is only an improvement over a regular player if the scaler in the dvd player is better than that in the television.
Thanks for the info.
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