BlockBuster Goes Blu-ray -- Should You, Too?
HD-DVD or Blu-ray? It may have just gotten a little easier to decide between one of the two high-definition DVD formats: Today, Blockbuster announced it would offer only Blu-ray movies for rental, starting in July. (Apparently, 70 percent of users rented Blu-ray over HD-DVD in a recent trial at some of the Blockbuster stores.) This could be the end for HD-DVD, since Blockbuster has 1,450 stores around the country and also runs a Netflix-style movies-by-mail program. Either way, it's good news for fans, who, instead of paying $40 a pop, can now rent these enhanced discs that not only offer high-def versions of movies, but also innovative extra features like in-movie, picture-in-picture commentary, Pop-Up-Video-style trivia, and more.
But before we sound the death knell for HD-DVD, let's revisit these two formats so we can see what's good and bad about each one.
HD-DVD:
Pros: If you're a fan of TV shows like 'The Sopranos' and 'Battlestar Galactica' and movies like 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'The Bourne Identity,' you'll want HD-DVD, since it's the only format that handles releases from HBO and Universal. HD-DVD players and drives for your PC are still cheaper than Blu-ray players and drives. The least expensive standalone player is the Toshiba HD-A2, approximately $300. Xbox 360 owners need only add a $170 HD-DVD drive and presto, they've got high-def movies on their TV. Many discs come in a hybrid format that plays on regular DVD players, too.
Cons: Space on each disk is smaller than Blu-ray, which means fewer DVD extras in HD. Only three major studios –Universal, Warner, Paramount -- support the format.
Blu-ray:
Pros: Supported by every major studio except Universal. Larger memory means more DVD extras in HD and better-quality film transfers. If you've got a PlayStation 3, you're in luck since it doubles as a Blu-ray player.
Cons: Standalone Blu-ray players – and the PlayStation 3 – are pricey (the cheapest one is the Sony BDP-S300, around $500). Some early releases plagued by technical glitches. No porn (Sony, the company behind the format, said no.)
Bottom line: We applaud the wider availability of any high-definition DVD format at rental stores, since both HD-DVD and Blu-ray cost around $40 a pop. But this war ain't over yet, at least not until Universal and/or HBO make the move over to Blu-ray. In the meantime, consumers still lose out. Solution? Buy the hybrid LG BH-1000 hybrid player, which can handle both formats. For more information on current HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs, check out highdefdigest.com.
[CORRECTION: HBO has reversed its previous stand and is now releasing its shows, including 'The Sopranos,' on Blu-ray.]
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But before we sound the death knell for HD-DVD, let's revisit these two formats so we can see what's good and bad about each one.
HD-DVD:
Pros: If you're a fan of TV shows like 'The Sopranos' and 'Battlestar Galactica' and movies like 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'The Bourne Identity,' you'll want HD-DVD, since it's the only format that handles releases from HBO and Universal. HD-DVD players and drives for your PC are still cheaper than Blu-ray players and drives. The least expensive standalone player is the Toshiba HD-A2, approximately $300. Xbox 360 owners need only add a $170 HD-DVD drive and presto, they've got high-def movies on their TV. Many discs come in a hybrid format that plays on regular DVD players, too.
Cons: Space on each disk is smaller than Blu-ray, which means fewer DVD extras in HD. Only three major studios –Universal, Warner, Paramount -- support the format.
Blu-ray:
Pros: Supported by every major studio except Universal. Larger memory means more DVD extras in HD and better-quality film transfers. If you've got a PlayStation 3, you're in luck since it doubles as a Blu-ray player.
Cons: Standalone Blu-ray players – and the PlayStation 3 – are pricey (the cheapest one is the Sony BDP-S300, around $500). Some early releases plagued by technical glitches. No porn (Sony, the company behind the format, said no.)
Bottom line: We applaud the wider availability of any high-definition DVD format at rental stores, since both HD-DVD and Blu-ray cost around $40 a pop. But this war ain't over yet, at least not until Universal and/or HBO make the move over to Blu-ray. In the meantime, consumers still lose out. Solution? Buy the hybrid LG BH-1000 hybrid player, which can handle both formats. For more information on current HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs, check out highdefdigest.com.
[CORRECTION: HBO has reversed its previous stand and is now releasing its shows, including 'The Sopranos,' on Blu-ray.]
From AOL: Money & Finance
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tekm @ Jun 18th 2007 6:23PM
The Sopranos has been released in Blu-ray by HBO
The Sopranos: Season Six Part 1 Blu-ray DVD
Item no: 2568739
http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2568739&cp=1885646.1901330&clickid=mainnav_browse_txt&parentPage=family
billy @ Jun 29th 2007 7:18PM
Blockbuster is evil. I haven’t spent a dime in one since they announced they would not carry NC - 17 movies. Now they get to dictate which format we have to live with. Boycott blockbuster before they destroy the movie industry. They are paired up with Sony, another evil corporation I'll never buy from again, in an attempt to force DRM virus laded media down our throats.
jamin @ Jul 19th 2007 9:24AM
What do you mean no blu-ray porn? Vivid has already released titles on blu-ray. http://adult-videos.vivid.com/details.link/tid/884124/dvd/Debbie-Does-Dallas----Again---Blu-Ray.htm
Scott VanPala @ Jul 24th 2007 6:16PM
If you were to put money on it. Always bet AGAINST Sony. For no other reason than the fact that it ALWAYS losses a format war.
Sony Beta LOST to VHS
Sony MINIDisc LOST to CD
Sony UMD LOST to DVD
Sony MemStick LOST to Sandisk
Sony BluRay OR HD-DVD - Hmmmmm....
Kevmanone @ Aug 8th 2007 4:25PM
LMFAO to Scott VanPala! Minidisc is still widely used as well as memstick. As far as Blu Ray, looks at facts instead of opinion. Almost all major studios are backing this format. All PS3 users now have the ability to play these movies. Technically superior to HD-DVD as far as space goes. 30 Gigs dual layer HD-DVD versus 50 Gigs Blu ray. hmmm, maybe we should think about that for a bit. Using the same codec with less compression and more surround formats is the loser? Logic has failed anyone who things HD-DVD is the better format. Try and argue with facts.