# HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray: Did you choose wisely? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333 "2008-01-04T22:54:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/1 "2008-01-04T22:54:58Z")
The DVD HD “format war” appears to be effectively over, now that [Warners has chosen](http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=40650) to go exclusively Blu-Ray. That means that 70% of the studios have gone with Blu-Ray exclusively, and 30% with HD-DVD, who will no doubt bow to pressure and follow suit. This seems to have been motivated by sales figures for Blu-Ray products showing them as being consistently better sellers all through 2007. Did anyone here choose HD-DVD? What will this mean for those who gambled on the losing format? ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/2 "2008-01-04T22:56:35Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] What will this mean for those who gambled on the losing format? [/QUOTE] They can stack it next to their 8 track quadraphonic hi-fi & their beta max? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/3 "2008-01-04T22:58:09Z")
Yes, I chose wisely: I haven’t gotten one yet. While the game is definitely tilting in BR’s favor, I’m waiting until that number is more like 95%. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/4 "2008-01-04T23:03:03Z")
[QUOTE=Ponder Stibbons] Yes, I chose wisely: I haven’t gotten one yet. [/QUOTE] Same here. I’m not even sure I would ever get either format, unless I can get really cheap writable disks. Historically, the question to ask is: which format does the porn industry prefer? ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/5 "2008-01-04T23:06:51Z")
I work in retail and have been predicting the Combo-player would eventually win out, with a chance of BluRay winning it alone. Looks like it’s still up in the air. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/6 "2008-01-04T23:08:33Z")
I chose very wisely. Then again, I only just bought it today. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/7 "2008-01-04T23:21:23Z")
[QUOTE=Superfluous Parentheses] Historically, the question to ask is: which format does the porn industry prefer? [/QUOTE] The porn industry has chosen streaming videos over the internet. I note that amazon has some blu ray players for around $250. That is getting low enough in price to start thinking about getting such a device. I will probably resist the whole HDTV thing until time warner starts acting reasonable about supporting cable cards. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/8 "2008-01-04T23:23:43Z")
[QUOTE=gazpacho] The porn industry has chosen streaming videos over the internet. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I have this sneaking suspicion that this is some interim technology, like the Super CD, DVD-Audio, or the Mini-disc, and neither will emerge the winner in the general marketplace. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/9 "2008-01-04T23:32:24Z")
[QUOTE=Superfluous Parentheses] Same here. I’m not even sure I would ever get either format, unless I can get really cheap writable disks. Historically, the question to ask is: which format does the porn industry prefer? [/QUOTE] HD-DVD…I mean…DVDA. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/10 "2008-01-05T00:18:50Z")
I bought my PS3 about six months ago with the idea that it would primarily be used as a blu-ray playa. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/11 "2008-01-05T00:39:14Z")
The porn industry hasn’t really chosen any HD - most of the companies have realised that HD seems to show more detail than they care to share, and some audiences find it kind of off-putting. I think they’ll stick with Standard Def and online streaming for a while yet. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/12 "2008-01-05T01:02:04Z")
I chose not to choose a format - I chose somethin’ else. Seriously, I don’t think I even actually _want_ HD. ---
**Author:** ![EsotericEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e274bd/32.png) [@EsotericEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EsotericEnigma)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/13 "2008-01-05T01:10:17Z")
I’ve been delaying my choice between the two as I’ve delayed my choice on a new console - 360 or PS3. This makes the choice harder (I lean towards the 360 because of the far, far better lineup in games), though. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/14 "2008-01-05T01:11:49Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] The DVD HD “format war” appears to be effectively over, now that [Warners has chosen](http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=40650) to go exclusively Blu-Ray. That means that 70% of the studios have gone with Blu-Ray exclusively, and 30% with HD-DVD, who will no doubt bow to pressure and follow suit. [/QUOTE] Nah, I don’t buy that. MS and Toshiba will fight for HDDVD to the very bitter end and they’re not above buying studio support. I imagine there will continue to be shifting loyalties as various studios play the Bluray and HDDVD lobbies against each other. I certainly don’t see a clear winner emerging this year or even the year after. FTR, I have a Samsung BDP-1200 Bluray player, but only because it came free with the purchase of my Samsung LCD HDTV. I would never have bought either of the two formats at their current price points. Despite that, I must say that “Planet Earth” is freaking amazing in HD! ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/15 "2008-01-05T01:12:03Z")
Considering that I don’t think that either format is anything more than the modern equivalent of the laser disc, I’d say I’ve chosen wisely by avoiding both formats. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/16 "2008-01-05T01:16:56Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Seriously, I don’t think I even actually _want_ HD. [/QUOTE] Actually, I agree. I’m annoyed that I will need to both buy all new equipment, and re-buy my favourite movies, to get the benefits - and yet the end result is _only_ better image quality; No improvement in story, or acting. What’s the big deal? I need more than that to make it worth it. I’ll wait till it’s the default standard and unavoidable. By then, though, there’ll probably be a new development, so I may end up bypassing this level of HD altogether. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/17 "2008-01-05T01:21:26Z")
[QUOTE=Hodge] Nah, I don’t buy that. MS and Toshiba will fight for HDDVD to the very bitter end and they’re not above buying studio support. [/QUOTE] The key is the consumers. If most studios are exclusively on Blu-Ray, and most consumers are choosing Blu-Ray, then HD-DVD will surely inevitably (and perhaps rapidly) die. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/18 "2008-01-05T01:58:58Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] The key is the consumers. If most studios are exclusively on Blu-Ray, and most consumers are choosing Blu-Ray, then HD-DVD will surely inevitably (and perhaps rapidly) die. [/QUOTE] Of course you’re right, and that’s where the endgame will be. I’m just not sure that it’s as close as you seem to think. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > This seems to have been motivated by sales figures for Blu-Ray products showing them as being consistently better sellers all through 2007. By products do you mean players, discs or a combination of both? I’ve heard that Bluray’s lead in player sales has been skewed by the PS3 which, while technically a Bluray player, is not the main reason people are buying them. Regardless, both the HDDVD and Bluray sides are deeply entrenched at this point and neither one of them are going to budge without a fight. Even if HDDVD is ultimately doomed, the death throes will be drawn out. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/19 "2008-01-05T04:27:04Z")
[QUOTE=EsotericEnigma] I’ve been delaying my choice between the two as I’ve delayed my choice on a new console - 360 or PS3. This makes the choice harder (I lean towards the 360 because of the far, far better lineup in games), though. [/QUOTE] I bought a 360, but not for the HD-DVD support. I just want to play some games, dammit. I haven’t bothered buying any HD movies - watching movies on a console is a pain in the ass anyway. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333/20 "2008-01-05T04:36:42Z")
[QUOTE=Hodge] By products do you mean players, discs or a combination of both? [/QUOTE] I have no idea. I was just going by the press release. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hd-dvd-vs-blu-ray-did-you-choose-wisely/432333.md?page=2)