The big decision is, which version to buy

AMAZON currently wants $54.99 for the 5-disc ultimate DVD edition, but for $15 more you can get either the HD-DVD or BLU-RAY. It's definitely worth the upgrade price.

But the question is, which to get. I see that LG has their combo HD-DVD/BLU-RAY player out, butthe cost is staggering right now $999). I want to base the pruchase of the ultimate set on future-proofing, so I'd like to pick an HD DVD format. Not sure what to do.

Ooof. Decisions.
Ed

Ed,
If you pre-order the HD-DVD or Blu Ray box set from the Warner Store it would be $59 (you'd need another title to get free shipping). I pre-ordered my copy from there with the new 25% coupon as I'm sure Warner won't be sending review copies of the limited box, and this is one instance where I WANT the goodies

It's a tough call but HD-DVD is the most effective way to go in terms of cost -- plus it'll look just as good as it will in Blu Ray.

My advice is this: I would HOLD OFF on purchasing an HD-DVD player for the next month or two, unless you see the A2 at $199...which you probably will because Toshiba's new generation-3 players are coming out in October. One of them will even retail for $299, so chances are the A2 will be going for less than it even is now ($249 is currently the best price out there).

Frankly I would not invest any money in an expensive combo player. If you are looking to get in on the ground floor and have something to watch BLADE RUNNER in, I'd go with the HD-DVD A2 for $200 -- that would enable you to even buy a Blu Ray player if you need one next year as prices drop for probably half the lost of the combo unit...and the combo units have been buggy too. If the lowest Blu Ray standalone players are $499 this year they will be dropping next year for sure.

So I'd say for around $300 bucks you can get the A2 player, the Limited BLADE RUNNER box set, and probably 2001 or another Kubrick as well all in HD-DVD. Not a bad way to go.

AndyDursin wrote:Ed,
If you pre-order the HD-DVD or Blu Ray box set from the Warner Store it would be $59 (you'd need another title to get free shipping). I pre-ordered my copy from there with the new 25% coupon as I'm sure Warner won't be sending review copies of the limited box, and this is one instance where I WANT the goodies

It's a tough call but HD-DVD is the most effective way to go in terms of cost -- plus it'll look just as good as it will in Blu Ray.

My advice is this: I would HOLD OFF on purchasing an HD-DVD player for the next month or two, unless you see the A2 at $199...which you probably will because Toshiba's new generation-3 players are coming out in October. One of them will even retail for $299, so chances are the A2 will be going for less than it even is now ($249 is currently the best price out there).

Frankly I would not invest any money in an expensive combo player. If you are looking to get in on the ground floor and have something to watch BLADE RUNNER in, I'd go with the HD-DVD A2 for $200 -- that would enable you to even buy a Blu Ray player if you need one next year as prices drop for probably half the lost of the combo unit...and the combo units have been buggy too. If the lowest Blu Ray standalone players are $499 this year they will be dropping next year for sure.

So I'd say for around $300 bucks you can get the A2 player, the Limited BLADE RUNNER box set, and probably 2001 or another Kubrick as well all in HD-DVD. Not a bad way to go.

This is a great deal from the Warner's Stor. I will definitely check it out. I appreciate your rationale on the issue. I think the Toshiba A2 may be the way to go. I'm not current on the state of the technology, but does this unit do 1080p through HDMI?

Regards,
Ed

Ed,
It does 1080i through HDMI.

I have the next-in-line Toshiba 1080p model (which is $329 currently at Amazon) and can tell you I've set my 1080p DLP on both 1080i and 1080p with the player -- and there is no discernable difference between them. Even a skeptical friend could not tell any difference, not even on my 1080p set.

The A2 is currently $259 at Amazon but I do feel it's going to be discounted even further as we head closer to the fall. There was a recent run of these on sale at $199 at Value Electronics.

That 25% coupon for Warner (TVWS) is only good thru August 6th. The 20% off coupon (WBWEL) still works and should afterwards too.

http://formatwarcentral.com/

^^ Intruiging site.

Toshiba is going to already come out with "third gen" HD-DVD player by early October.

It's amazing how a "generation" goes by every 6 months or so with these.



Basically, I'd wait to buy something until the movie(s) you want are out on the streets. Make that the day you make a move or two.

In this case, this awesome Blade Runner stuff isn't coming out until December 18! By then, you're going to have a TON of movies, lots of hardware and all kinds of mess.



The longer you can wait, it's more to your advantage in terms of lower prices and overall selection.

I think you can glance over just that site alone for starters and get the idea that you're probably going to want to find a way to have both formats in your house by around Christmas time if not earlier.

You could get the A2 Andy is talking about and either get something like this:

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=020071

^^ If you don't care about gaming, the hard drive is irrelevant. If you do, 20 will easily get you off the ground for some time to come. The hard drives are easily upgradeable. The BD remote is something I highly recommend for $20 or whatever.

Using the gaming remote for BD simply sucks.

The only thing the PS3 does not have is any kind of analog audio outputs except it is still the most future proof of any BD hardware out there as of now. It has HDMI 1.3 and the firmware support has been downright remarkable.

Pretty much all the new hardware rolling out by year's end should have HDMI 1.3 and all the other "new fangled" bells and whistles.

All Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players play DVD's. All BD and HD-DVD players upscale and upconvert DVDs and that includes the PS3.


^^ They all play CD's as well except for Sony's very first BD standalone player the BDPS1.




Normally in the past I've been very "anti-game console" when it comes to applications outside of games, but the PS3 has been a downright remarkable surprise. Just about every leading home theater magazine and outlet of merit has given that thing at LEAST a 90/100 and usually higher than that.

It's a safe, easy call if you're already a gamer that wants to get into this stuff for sure.



^^ If this really does not appeal to you, then the standalone Sony BDP-s300 is due out any day now at an MSRP of $500. This means street prices will, of course, be considerably cheaper.

Samsung, Pioneer, Sharp, heck just about everyone under the sun save for Toshiba obviously is going to be putting out some kind of BD hardware at varying price points up and down between now and end of the year. You just need to keep a close eye out.


If you want 100 percent studio support and you don't want to wait any longer and you want to be able to buy what you want in HD and not think about it... then you need to buy a player from each format. It's as simple as that.



The LG combo player is handicapped on the HD-DVD side. It's an ok player. Expensive. Not worth it IMO.


http://www.twice.com/article/CA6462973.html

^^ You can see Samsung is coming out with some new BD players and possibly even a combo player.

Their combo player will cost $1050 MSRP. Yet again, this means haggling and street prices will be somewhat cheaper.

This could be viable for a lot of fence sitters. On paper, that thing is loaded.


You still can get the job done right and more affordably by buying a dedicated player seperately although if you want to wait for this, more power to you.


Since we're only in early August, you can except more announcements from pretty much everyone between now and holiday time.

You run this up to around Black Friday and suddenly you could be the beneficiary of some sweetheart deals.



If one format ultimately goes out, it's not like the player and software you bought will suddenly be enveloped into a black hole and disappear that day.

If you like that combo player from Samsung and it all works out, you put yourself in an arguably even safer spot.



For a fence sitter, unless you're really dying to make a move now, I'd wait until at least October before making any moves.

Wait for the Samsung combo and maybe those new Toshibas to hit the street and some of the other BD standalone players.



http://www.blu-raydisc.com/

^^ That's the official BDA site

http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com/

^^ That's the official HD-DVD site.

You can see who's supporting what and then you can find areas like Nielsens and see who and what is outselling who on a consistent basis broken down anyway you want.

All things you need to consider going in.

If you can wait a bit longer, then do so. It's to your advantage ultimately.

Waiting is always good. But I think it is pretty obvious if Ed isn't willing to drop a lot of money because of the dueling formats and it still looks like we're in the "format war" in a month or two, there will not be a better option than going with the A2. It's already been $199 in the last month and it stands to reason it will be back at that price point again, especially if Toshiba has new players coming out in the fall.

That way he's got that player, and he can pick up a Blu Ray machine once they start settling down to those retail numbers (or near it) in 2008 and he still needs/wants one. And if those roster of studios -- some of whom have released nothing really remarkable at all to date -- ARE still BD only, sure he'll want to go that route too.

But there will not be a standalone player on the BD format coming anywhere near $299 retail, not this year. It's the one area HD-DVD has a clear advantage right now, and if he wants the Kubricks and BLADE RUNNER, the A2 would suffice for the moment.

Again, that 25% off Warner deal is only good for a few more days.

No matter which way you go with Blu Ray or HD-DVD, $14.96 shipped for some of those titles is just insane...the BLADE RUNNER limited collector's box is $59.96 shipped too! The Deepdiscount sale won't come close to those deals

I've ordered a few titles from them before and the shipment is quick and will get it right at street date (ROAD WARRIOR arrived a day before). Check it out!

Bill Hunt also noted that not ALL of the extras will be in High Definition.

All versions of the MOVIE will be in HD, so that's kind of the bottom line for me. I didn't want the theatrical cut only in standard definition.

I doubt anyone is going to go crazy because the documentary is only standard def...but there are people out there who will (and surely they will post on message boards, lol).

AndyDursin wrote:Bill Hunt also noted that not ALL of the extras will be in High Definition.

All versions of the MOVIE will be in HD, so that's kind of the bottom line for me. I didn't want the theatrical cut only in standard definition.

I doubt anyone is going to go crazy because the documentary is only standard def...but there are people out there who will (and surely they will post on message boards, lol).

I say: It's ALL good in the 'hood.