HD Format Wars = Over! - Page 4

*Roseangelo* · 01-10-2008, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machias Banshee

Let's not forget that new federal mandate that is Requiring everyone to get HDTvs in order to get any tv channels in a couple years from now. So basically if you still have an analog TV, youre not going to get anything. What a way to force everyone to buy HD anything...

This isn't true at all. You don't need an HDTV to get a digital signal, you need a TV with a digital converter, which can be found in newer standard TVs as well.

Also, if you do have an older, analog TV, you can request from the government up to two coupons per household worth $40/each to buy the digital converters.

Having a TV with a cable jack doesn't mean you'll be able to get the digital signals. I've lost a handful of cable channels because they've converted to digital while my TV, which has a cable jack, is old and analog.

I've already requested my two coupons, so I can continue to be a cheapskate when it comes to my TV.

(It's really quite pathetic seeing that my bedroom TV, which is the one I usually watch, is 10+ years old and the screen is turning white.)

**GK Punk** · 01-10-2008, 12:40 AM

Hey, I used my old TV until it just completley died.

The Shelf · 01-10-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Snackpants

I don't need to read anything after the bolded remark. You clearly know nothing about HD. Get a good HD tv and put in a regular dvd, then compare to Blu Ray/HD DVD. It's more than a "small difference".

On the contrary, I watched Batman Begins and Transformers on my friend's HDDVD player on a projector that was nearly the size of the living room wall. I'm not disputing the fact that HD looks great, but... compared to a normal DVD, the cost isn't worth the boost in quality.

I can buy a good TV and DVD player for $500 or less, whereas a good HDTV and HDDVD player is considerably more than that. So yeah, HD is expensive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Snackpants

Quit acting like we're stupid and irresponsible for purchasing one.

If you would have actually "read anything beyond the bolded remark" you'd know that I never said anything of the kind. Thanks for putting words in my mouth.

*Mr. Snackpants* · 01-10-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Shelf

On the contrary, I watched Batman Begins and Transformers on my friend's HDDVD player on a projector that was nearly the size of the living room wall. I'm not disputing the fact that HD looks great, but... compared to a normal DVD, the cost isn't worth the boost in quality.

I can buy a good TV and DVD player for $500 or less, whereas a good HDTV and HDDVD player is considerably more than that. So yeah, HD is expensive.

If you would have actually "read anything beyond the bolded remark" you'd know that I never said anything of the kind. Thanks for putting words in my mouth.

That wasn't directed towards you. That's why it wasn't in the paragraph about your "small difference" remark.

And may I ask what kind of projector your friend has? Because unless it was top of the line, projectors won't look nearly as good as a tv set.

*Spitfire* · 01-10-2008, 12:52 PM

They have HD projectors that are pretty damn good. The thing is how good the backdrop is as well, which is easy to get a good one. If you have the space a grand for a projector and a good screen is a better deal then a grand for a 32 inch-42 inch HDTV. But most people don't have the space to make good use of a projector, or a room dark enough. If the room was pitch black with just the projector going on the white screen it would look great but good luck watching stuff without boarding up your windows in the room or something, any outside light kinda screws the picture up.

愛 · 01-10-2008, 12:55 PM

The best place for a projector is definitely the basement, if you have one. It's usually pitch black down there if you turn off the lights. HD projectors are just insane. When I finally have a career and steady income, that's the first thing I want to buy. A home theater setup.

*That Matt Guy* · 01-10-2008, 01:16 PM

i still use vhs and a crappy 80s tv. screw that new s***.

愛 · 01-10-2008, 01:26 PM

Did DVDs get to where you live yet, Matt?

The Shelf · 01-10-2008, 02:07 PM

The projector is set up in my friend's basement so light is not a factor. In fact, it's a pretty impressive theater room, although it could use better seating. Anyway, I'm not sure if he has an HD projector or not so you may have gotten me there. In any case, I won't be investing in HD until it's as cheap as DVD stuff is right now.

Peanut · 01-10-2008, 02:49 PM

HD projectors are good, but in no way do they compare to an actual HDTV. If you're watching an HD movie on a projector running in 1080i, (what most of the reasonably priced HD projectors run in) with the screen size around 70" (once again, usually the average size people project at) or higher, you're going to get picture equal in quality to a regular DVD upscaled on a high-end upscaler.

And like others have said, it also relies on what you're using as your surface. There are certain materials that, while made specifically for projectors, actually reflect the light in a strange way that leads to a dulling of the picture.

*jeff the cheff* · 01-10-2008, 05:40 PM

A big problem for me with the HD DVD's is the cost of the actual disks. Getting the equipment to play everything is expensive but its a huge upgrade and would be worth it to a lot of people. I'd love an HDTV to watch sports games on, just because it looks so great. However, the DVD's are way too expensive. I'll buy a movie I really like if its around $10, but that same movie would cost about $30 for HD.

I can see myself getting an HD player sometime, but I think most of my movie collection would stay on regular DVD unless its one of those movies that demands top of the line picture and sound quality.

**Machias Banshee** · 01-10-2008, 09:16 PM

Thank you for the clarification, Michi and Rose, I was half-remembering some blurb they'd written in my local newspaper sometime last year...

*KROW* · 01-11-2008, 04:07 PM

Remember when laser discs were the sh*t?

Peanut · 01-11-2008, 05:49 PM

Not really.

The market for those things was even worse than the market for HD-format discs.

愛 · 01-11-2008, 06:25 PM

I have a laserdisc player in my attic. I wish I had the old Star Wars laserdiscs...for basically no reason. I guess to see Han shoot first?

**Jester** · 01-11-2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ai

I have a laserdisc player in my attic. I wish I had the old Star Wars laserdiscs...for basically no reason. I guess to see Han shoot first?

That and I think it's worth quite a bit....but you know that matters little.

~~AquaParade~~ · 01-13-2008, 01:00 PM

Didn't wanna create a new thread for this, but does anyone know anything about miramax hdtv's? I got one last christmas, and have'nt been able to excersize it as much as I want...so I'm trying to figure out how long it will hold up, and how it compares to others...i can't find it online, but it was being sold in mass amount at target last christmas if that helps...I believe it is 15 inches.

Peanut · 01-13-2008, 04:42 PM

LOL! Are you serious?

*Brodie* · 01-13-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ai

I have a laserdisc player in my attic. I wish I had the old Star Wars laserdiscs...for basically no reason. I guess to see Han shoot first?

You can get the original cut dvds, like I did, from wal mart. Each is 2 discs, one disc is the theatrical, and the other is the bad version with added effects.

I prefer my Anakin Skywalker to be someone I don't recognize, not Hayden Christiensen.

愛 · 01-13-2008, 06:47 PM

Well, I also have the original VHS's. I just thought it'd be cool to have on laserdisc.

01-10-2008, 12:52 PM	#65
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	They have HD projectors that are pretty damn good. The thing is how good the backdrop is as well, which is easy to get a good one. If you have the space a grand for a projector and a good screen is a better deal then a grand for a 32 inch-42 inch HDTV. But most people don't have the space to make good use of a projector, or a room dark enough. If the room was pitch black with just the projector going on the white screen it would look great but good luck watching stuff without boarding up your windows in the room or something, any outside light kinda screws the picture up. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

01-11-2008, 04:07 PM	#73
KROW Meat-n-Potatoes Man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: State's Anus, NY Posts: 6,472	Remember when laser discs were the sht? __________________ - Optimus Acid Trip - Cult of a Half-Shell - Raiden's Bitter Tongue - I don't try to be funny; I fail at it naturally.*

01-10-2008, 12:40 AM	#62
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	Hey, I used my old TV until it just completley died.

01-10-2008, 12:55 PM	#66
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	The best place for a projector is definitely the basement, if you have one. It's usually pitch black down there if you turn off the lights. HD projectors are just insane. When I finally have a career and steady income, that's the first thing I want to buy. A home theater setup.

01-10-2008, 01:16 PM	#67
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	i still use vhs and a crappy 80s tv. screw that new s***.

01-10-2008, 01:26 PM	#68
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	Did DVDs get to where you live yet, Matt?

01-10-2008, 02:07 PM	#69
The Shelf Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,031	The projector is set up in my friend's basement so light is not a factor. In fact, it's a pretty impressive theater room, although it could use better seating. Anyway, I'm not sure if he has an HD projector or not so you may have gotten me there. In any case, I won't be investing in HD until it's as cheap as DVD stuff is right now.

01-10-2008, 02:49 PM	#70
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	HD projectors are good, but in no way do they compare to an actual HDTV. If you're watching an HD movie on a projector running in 1080i, (what most of the reasonably priced HD projectors run in) with the screen size around 70" (once again, usually the average size people project at) or higher, you're going to get picture equal in quality to a regular DVD upscaled on a high-end upscaler. And like others have said, it also relies on what you're using as your surface. There are certain materials that, while made specifically for projectors, actually reflect the light in a strange way that leads to a dulling of the picture.

01-10-2008, 05:40 PM	#71
jeff the cheff Mad Scientist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 122 and an eighth Posts: 2,129	A big problem for me with the HD DVD's is the cost of the actual disks. Getting the equipment to play everything is expensive but its a huge upgrade and would be worth it to a lot of people. I'd love an HDTV to watch sports games on, just because it looks so great. However, the DVD's are way too expensive. I'll buy a movie I really like if its around $10, but that same movie would cost about $30 for HD. I can see myself getting an HD player sometime, but I think most of my movie collection would stay on regular DVD unless its one of those movies that demands top of the line picture and sound quality.

01-10-2008, 09:16 PM	#72
Machias Banshee Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 17,163	Thank you for the clarification, Michi and Rose, I was half-remembering some blurb they'd written in my local newspaper sometime last year...

01-11-2008, 05:49 PM	#74
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	Not really. The market for those things was even worse than the market for HD-format discs.

01-11-2008, 06:25 PM	#75
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	I have a laserdisc player in my attic. I wish I had the old Star Wars laserdiscs...for basically no reason. I guess to see Han shoot first?

01-13-2008, 01:00 PM	#77
~~AquaParade~~ Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 8,450	Didn't wanna create a new thread for this, but does anyone know anything about miramax hdtv's? I got one last christmas, and have'nt been able to excersize it as much as I want...so I'm trying to figure out how long it will hold up, and how it compares to others...i can't find it online, but it was being sold in mass amount at target last christmas if that helps...I believe it is 15 inches.

01-13-2008, 04:42 PM	#78
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	LOL! Are you serious?

01-13-2008, 06:47 PM	#80
愛 Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 7,449	Well, I also have the original VHS's. I just thought it'd be cool to have on laserdisc.