Progress in technology can suck

[bh8690]

After building a reasonable DVD library, with the burgeoning field of HD-DVD render my library obsolete and garbage bound? or, will the new players be able to read old dvds...

In other words, do I stop buying DVDs today?

[I 8 Piglet]

From what I understand both of the new formats are backwords compatible. I just read an article that said the new media is also supposed be playable in old machines, just at the lower resolution.

If that is the case I wont replace the majority of my collection, only those movies that will bennefit the most from HD. Although, I am holding off on certain movies (Spiderman 2 for example) to avoid double dipping.

[snipsnapsappy]

Also, it will likely take another 7-10 years for all the titles to come out on HD-DVD. And if the format never takes off, which is likely because of the format war and the fact that Joe Sixpack will never see or hear the difference, we will not see releases of anything except for major Hollywood blockbusters that will truly benefit from the imporvement. I.E. SACD/DVD-Audio/D-VHS.

Also, like we do today. You should wait to read reviews to see if the new version is truly worth the upgrade. They may butcher the picture by doing a new transfer or some other problem.

All in all, do not start getting rid of your collection and I would also not recommend holding off of buying titles now because of future formats.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by snipsnapsappy

Also, like we do today. You should wait to read reviews to see if the new version is truly worth the upgrade. They may butcher the picture by doing a new transfer or some other problem.

You make some good points, snipsnap but I think re-releases on HD-DVD won't have transfer issues as you describe but J6Ps lack of interest in the new format fueled by lack of appreciation of it will most likely prevent HD-DVD from taking off.

I'm very much looking forward to HD-DVD and since I've been through the LD experience, I'm "ok" with niche technology. As long as I can experience the best that current technology has to offer, I'll be happy.

Peace...

[snipsnapsappy]

What I mean by the tranfer issues is how there are a lot of discs that are not color timed correctly, so many vidoephiles actually prefer the laserdisc version or earlier DVD (i.e. Braveheart or Reservoir Dogs). I am just saying that sometimes studios do strange things with transfers. Hopefully, every transfer will be fully supervised by both director and cinematographer so we get exactly what we are supposed to get.

It is likely, however, that most of the transfers we will see will just be the HD transfers we already get on DVD, only uncompressed. Which is fine by me, for the most part.

I also think that the upgrade in quality will be marginal with many titles. Some titles just do not look that good on DVD or HBOHD. So, getting a HD-DVD version may not improve on those titles at all.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by snipsnapsappy

What I mean by the tranfer issues is how there are a lot of discs that are not color timed correctly, so many vidoephiles actually prefer the laserdisc version or earlier DVD (i.e. Braveheart or Reservoir Dogs). I am just saying that sometimes studios do strange things with transfers. Hopefully, every transfer will be fully supervised by both director and cinematographer so we get exactly what we are supposed to get.

It is likely, however, that most of the transfers we will see will just be the HD transfers we already get on DVD, only uncompressed. Which is fine by me, for the most part.

The thing is, if HD-DVD turns out to be a niche format, like LD, chances are HD-DVD releases might actually be better than DVD releases since the "pressure" to get to market wouldn't be the same. D-VHS can be used today to test this theory. Has there been any transfer issues that videophiles have complained about the the D-VHS releases that are out?

Also, given the backward compatibility with current DVD-Video discs there possibly won't be a push to create HD-DVD versions of each and every title that is out on DVD since that would cost the studios money they feel would be better spent on great HD-DVD transfers of new titles, etc. Not every title released on VHS has been released on DVD yet and vdieo rental stores are already reducing their VHS inventories.

I also think that the upgrade in quality will be marginal with many titles. Some titles just do not look that good on DVD or HBOHD. So, getting a HD-DVD version may not improve on those titles at all.

A/V quality is just one aspect. With the increased storage capability, these titles might be more feature rich if they are even released on HD-DVD at all. If HD-DVD becomes mainstream, then there might be a push to remaster a ton of catalog titles. Something else to keep in mind, the DVD authoring technology has improved greatly since current DVD technology hit the street so re-authoring catalog titles on DVD in HD-DVD releases might be a good thing since the studio can benefit from:

• Benefits of HD-DVD technology, namely increased storage capacity
• Improvements in DVD authoring tools and technology
• Lessons learned from current DVD releases

At this point, I certainly hope HD-DVD remains a niche format, like DVD, so those who choose to invest in it can experience the absolute best the current technology has to offer without the pressure of having to satisfy J6P's demands. LD had a good lifespan and even though DVD technology is superior to it at the spec level, DVD still hasn't "killed" off LD as many like to think. Current DVD technology certainly has the market penetration to give it a very long lifespan and the great part is current DVD is more the sufficient/adequate for J6P so HD-DVD being a niche format might allow us to have the best of all worlds available to us.

Peace...

[snipsnapsappy]

Maybe, if it is a niche technology, the studios will allow Criterion to release all of those great Laserdisc special editions the studios wont allow.

[Reese]

Originally posted by Tomdkat
At this point, I certainly hope HD-DVD remains a niche format, like DVD, so those who choose to invest in it can experience the absolute best the current technology has to offer without the pressure of having to satisfy J6P's demands.

Hmm, I never thought of it like that.

Good point.