Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

[Feba]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

I'd invite you over tomorrow to watch 300 on my 1080p screen and 7.1 surround system tomorrow if I could in hopes of changing your mind on that, but unfortunately I can't. :/

I might be traveling to Atlanta by the end of the year, can I watch?

As far as anime goes, fansub the good stuff before it's illegal here.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

Anyway, everybody knows that this year's Blu-Ray . . .

is going to be Red-Ray.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZqWv7kDRy8[/YOUTUBE]

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

http://wesleytech.com/blu-ray-vs-hd-...-revealed/111/

This article sheds some light on the costs of replication for BD and HD-DVD in single and dual-layer forms. If you read the update you'll find more information, with some comparisons that find that in some instances BD is slightly more expensive to manufacture than HD-DVD, and vice versa. Neither are largely more expensive than the other at any time however.

I'm curious though, as to how much more it costs for the HD-DVD/DVD combo format, if at all, considering the $5+ markup at retail.

[Malacite]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-DVD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-Ray

Furthermore TDK announced in August 2006 that they have created a working experimental Blu-ray Disc capable of holding 200 GB of data on a single side, using six 33 GB data layers.[3] Such discs would probably not work on today's players, as these devices are only designed and tested on discs that meet the current specification.

Holy crap.... watch Sony release a new model of PS3 in a few years from now that can use it > _ <

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

It's highly unlikely, as all BDs used for video, music and games will have to adhere to the current spec in order to be compatible with all the players out there. Those super-high capacity discs will probably only be used for storage purposes on PCs. There are similar high-capacity HD-DVD discs as well.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

I'd invite you over tomorrow to watch 300 on my 1080p screen and 7.1 surround system tomorrow if I could in hopes of changing your mind on that, but unfortunately I can't. :/ Of course, it is all subjective in that respect, which is why it's certainly not time for HD to reach the mass markets. Everyone has different opinions on how much better BD and HD-DVD look compared to standard DVD, and there will be plenty of people who choose to take their own time shifting to HD formats, and plenty of people who will never care to do so anyway. Most people look at BD and HD-DVD as replacements to DVD, when they will most likely continue to be sold alongside DVD as alternatives for HD-installed consumers.

I think the problem lies more in televison programming itself. Movies are cool, but TV? I can't even count what I care to watch there beyond the first hand. I'm not going to be shoving BD discs in my systems for movies so much as games and the non-gamer is going to use HDTV more for programs than movies.

I might be in the minority when it comes to my lack of interest in TV programming, but I'm right in the middle of that 18-35+ male demographic advertisers are scrambling to find. They're started to realize where we went - games. But they're still looking for us and trying to draw us back elsewhere and overlooking where the women are going - back to books and headlong into PC and portable gaming.

And the marketing for either HD format is poor. I hear the HD Radio ads all the time. Its portrayed like some utopia and I'm some guy that needs to get with the program - its the same corporately controlled crap radio was. I don't think I have to even ask how much control Clear Channel has over these "new stations" in my region or how few diverse, independant, local low-power radio stations are allowed to get on it.

And when I go to check out HDTVs, I'm not only underwhelmed by the "leap" but treated like some uneducated peasent. I know what TVs do, only thing I like about HDTV is they're all widescreen. The price still isn't right at any rate, not with the economy the way it is now.

[Malacite]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

>_> there is a clear difference between SD and 1080p. Maybe you just can't see it?

The big problem right now, aside from the cost of HDTVs is that there are very few actual HD channels. We're still in the middle of the conversion stage. HD will be the new standard by 2010 at the latest I'd say.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

February 17th, 2009 is when all stations will be required to broadcast in DTV signal. Analog TVs will no longer be able to access regular programming. As that time approaches we'll probably see the HD install rate go through the roof, and we'll begin to see the majority of channels available in HD, most likely.

[Malacite]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

awesome, I hope this means a price drop. I saw an amazing Aquos 46" TV at best buy the other day for $2499.99

But that's still so much money to spend on a TV. I'll be buying my PS3 in a few weeks (waiting as long as I can so I can get that bundle with Lair rather than Resistance or Armored Core 4) and it's be nice to have a 1080p TV ready.

[Icemage]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

awesome, I hope this means a price drop. I saw an amazing Aquos 46" TV at best buy the other day for $2499.99

I bought my Sony 50" KDS50A2000 SXRD for $1899 last Black Friday. $2499 for a 46" is way too expensive now.

But that's still so much money to spend on a TV. I'll be buying my PS3 in a few weeks (waiting as long as I can so I can get that bundle with Lair rather than Resistance or Armored Core 4) and it's be nice to have a 1080p TV ready.

Resistance is good. Armored Core 4 is not so good. Lair... the jury's still out, but I'm expecting it to be good. I've got it preordered and it arrives on my birthday (Aug. 14)!


Icemage

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

February 17th, 2009 is when all stations will be required to broadcast in DTV signal. Analog TVs will no longer be able to access regular programming. As that time approaches we'll probably see the HD install rate go through the roof, and we'll begin to see the majority of channels available in HD, most likely.

It was supposed to happen in 2004, its 2007 now and the market penetration is still very slow. I'd say my TV is safe for about another 5-8 years at the current rate.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

I'm holding my breath on Lair for now. Early builds of the game had me very concerned, although many people have said the gameplay has been cleaned up quite a bit. If anything, it'll be a spectacular showcase for the PS3's 1080p and 7.1 audio power, but I'm gonna wait to see if it's worth a purchase.

And yeah, I'd never pay full price for an HDTV, they're all way too expensive. Which is why I'm glad I got the deal I did. Just keep looking around, and definitely be sure to look around on Boxing Day and other sale-heavy holidays.

[Malacite]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

AC4 kinda threw me off to be honest, but I didn't play it for very long when I rented it either. Some of the changes I like, some not so much (like the campaign; I really hate how Sega is managing this series now instead of Agetec) I'm a long time fan of the series so I'd like to give it another go.

The other thing is Ice, I'm in Canada. Despite our rising dollar, prices haven't come down to match > _ < and so we're still paying a lot of extra mark up that we shouldn't.

[Pai Pai Master]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

Indeed, I've heard some Canadian retailers have marked the PS3 back up to $699 due to limited supplies.

[Malacite]

Re: Target Goes the Blu-Ray Route

Well thankfully the guys I asked at futureshop told me yesterday that their deal on the PS3 (System, 2 controllers, 1 Game, 1 Movie, HDMI cable and 3-year warranty that covers anything) for about $855 (that's tax included) should last for a while longer.

I'm going to go back and ask them though if I can take Lair for my game instead of one that's out and pick it up when it comes out.