It's Beta-max vs. VHS all over again

[Moonliner]

Ps.. For anyone that wants to dig into the guts of the HD craze I know a good site for that... http://www.highdefforum.com/ Them folks know HD like you folks knows DLR...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by SzczerbiakManiac

Other than the boneheads evangelizing the format (and the unfortunate few suits who headed major studios), did anyone really think DIVX was going to make it?

Heh, now that you mention it...the porn industry was quite big (hehehe) on DIVX. Kinda puts a hole in the "the winner will be determined by the porn industry" theory.

[scaeagles]

Kevy Baby must have been big on DIVX.

[innerSpaceman]

I liked MiniDisc.


That said ... capacity is NOT going to be an issue for theatrical DVDs. How much more bonus material can there possibly be? The most popular DVD extra, the running commentary, can already fit quite comfortably on the current format. Heck, some DVDs have three or four frelling commentaries. After that, there's only so much behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes that can be found.

So the question really becomes whether everyone is ready to throw away their relatively new DVD collections for slight picture improvement. I, for one, don't think so. In this regard, even considering the lack of studio backing, HD DVD has the huge advantage in being compatible with regular DVD.


CDs may have replaced vinyl ... but only after vinyl was out for over 40 years. Everything since CD has failed in the audio world. DVDs have replaced VHS ... over 30 years later. It's way too soon for other formats to do anything but fail.

[The Shadoe]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

HD DVD has the huge advantage in being compatible with regular DVD.

Just to clarify, HD DVD is not compatible with regular DVD. Blu-Ray has the capacity to be compatible with DVD format, as a dual-layer Blu-Ray disc can have high-def content on one layer, and regular DVD content on the other layer. Many studios plan on releasing movies this way. This allows for a one-sided disc with all the content on one side, and the disc print on the top.

The only way that HD DVD can be compatible with DVD format is to have one side of the disc with the HD content, and then flip the disc over for the standard DVD content. There are several problems with this though, namely that mastering fees are quite high to have a dual-sided disc as it is and the mastering fees will be even higher with different types of content on each side of the disc. Other problems with this include that the disc is more vulnerable to being scratched up, and you can only have a surface print on the inner hub of the disc.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by The Shadoe

Just to clarify, HD DVD is not compatible with regular DVD. Blu-Ray has the capacity to be compatible with DVD format, as a dual-layer Blu-Ray disc can have high-def content on one layer, and regular DVD content on the other layer. Many studios plan on releasing movies this way. This allows for a one-sided disc with all the content on one side, and the disc print on the top.

The only way that HD DVD can be compatible with DVD format is to have one side of the disc with the HD content, and then flip the disc over for the standard DVD content. There are several problems with this though, namely that mastering fees are quite high to have a dual-sided disc as it is and the mastering fees will be even higher with different types of content on each side of the disc. Other problems with this include that the disc is more vulnerable to being scratched up, and you can only have a surface print on the inner hub of the disc.

I think ISM ment that HD-DVD players will also play current DVD's. However I think that Blue's will also but don't quote me on that.

[The Shadoe]

Oh, ok. Blu-ray players are/will also be compatible with DVD.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Kevy Baby must have been big on DIVX.

Deluxe Indigo-Violet Xylophones? Loved 'em!