|
I have to agree with a lot of that at this point.
Blu Ray is a lot like Laser Disc. At this point, I think it is just for the video/audiophiles with dedicated home theater systems.
As for the people not being able to see the difference in picture quality between Blu and an upconverted DVD, I'll agree with that ... to a certain point.
The difference on a properly calibrated system is not like going from VHS to high def, but it is there and it is very noticeable. Unfortunately, I'm only talking about a finely tuned, calibrated screen. For most HDTV owners, they will not spend days tweaking their brightness, color and contrast settings. They will plug their new TV in, get skin tones looking half assed OK, set it to stretch the aspect ratio and be done with it.
I've spend a year tweaking the video settings on my projector to get everything just perfect and the results show. There have been a couple of movie nights here where we have watched a Blu Ray movie and then, still wanting to watch something else, gone to the DVD collection and thrown something in. I and everyone else have been amazed at the difference. For example the level of grain on DVD is so much higher than Blu Ray or HD, and the definition of the picture just isn't there.
If JSP is watching a Blu Ray over component on his barely calibrated TV and then puts in a DVD which he watches upconverted, of course he is going to see little difference. I was totally unimpressed with Blu Ray until I was forced to go Blu and do the set up myself because all I had ever seen was in store demos (and we all know how well set up Best Buy/box store TVs are). When I was working at The Brick, all I ever heard from the manager of electronics was "I want those TVs turned up BRIGHTER! Adjust those brightness and contrast settings! Those TVs have to blow people away when they come in the store!". I tried to explain about black levels... maybe thats why I was fired.
|