Blu-Ray players (2 Viewers)

[Unicron]

I saw Spiderman on Blu-Ray. It looked incredible. That was on a €5000 tv though.

Prick.

Not you, whoever dropped that much on a TV.

 

[Wilbert]

Prick.

Not you, whoever dropped that much on a TV.

Well, they're not a prick so much as an early-adopter. He got it about 2 and a half years ago before the prices started to come down. Still the best plasma tv I've ever seen.

 

[Stan Bowles]

Hurrah! Too right.

Having not seen too many HD DVDs or Blu-Rays... is the leap forward really THAT amazing?

New films, yes. Old films, not really.

Though I'm watching on a 26" TV, and apparently you have to watch on a 32" or bigger to really notice a difference.

 

[Lefty Frizzell]

The upscaling on the hd-dvd drive is generally thought to be poor and only works through HDMI and VGA. It doesn't work over component.

 

[Wilbert]

The upscaling on the hd-dvd drive is generally thought to be poor and only works through HDMI and VGA. It doesn't work over component.

Yep, will be getting a HD tv in a few months.

 

[dudley]

i have it upscaling over hdmi, and it's superb!

 

[Wilbert]

i have it upscaling over hdmi, and it's superb!

You have the Xbox HD-DVD player, Dudley?

 

[dudley]

i do indeed

deffo wouldn't bother with the blu-ray player, and only with the hd-dvd if you get it for mad cheap,and like a good bunch of the films already available. difference between an upscaled dvd and hd is only discernible when the hd transfer has been done very well, which frequently they aren't.

also, irritatingly, most hd films are presented in ultra widescreen, so you end up with giant black borders on screen, whereas dvds tend to have more forgiving aspect ratios.

if you're looking for an upscaler, just get a dedicated multiregion dvd player. think the samsung ones are meant to be aces

 

[nlgbbbblth]

Hurrah! Too right.

Having not seen too many HD DVDs or Blu-Rays... is the leap forward really THAT amazing?

As said already

not a bad improvement for new films.

but the bulk of my DVD purchases are

1) Pre-1990 cult movies

2) Archive television from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s

Neither can be much improved that what's already there on DVD.

 

[Lefty Frizzell]

As said already

not a bad improvement for new films.

but the bulk of my DVD purchases are

1) Pre-1990 cult movies

2) Archive television from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s

Neither can be much improved that what's already there on DVD.

"Unfortunately there are currently no plans for a Banacek Blu-Ray release."

 

[nlgbbbblth]

"Unfortunately there are currently no plans for a Banacek Blu-Ray release."

haha

See this

Good value but still entertaining? Hard to say not having seen him for ages.

 

[Lefty Frizzell]

I got Pans Labyrinth on Blu Ray and it looked amazing.

Generally anything by Pixar looks great too.

haha

See this

Good value but still entertaining? Hard to say not having seen him for ages.

I've found that some of Benny Hills sketches have aged well but the majority are unwatchable. I have a few at home and as they say the proof is in the pudding.

However some things are better left in the memory. That doesn't include Van Ver Valk and anything with Richard O'Sullivan.

 

[the strange guy]

I picked up a BluRay drive for my PC, did a few registry hacks and it's region free now.
You need a decent graphics card though.

 

[pete]

most bluray movies are region free anyway, aren't they?

nearly bought a bluray writer in tokyo, but then thought - why??? a rare moment of common sense.

 

[the strange guy]

Yknow, I never even checked!
I just assumed there would be, so I looked up a hack and set it up.
Wikipedia have a bit about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Region_codes
Looks like there is region restriction but it's not compulsory so two thirds of discs aren't restricted.

A bluray writer?
The decadence!

 

[Lefty Frizzell]

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/08/13/sony.dvdplayer/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10016208-1.html

 

[CitySickness]

I can see BluRay becoming the cinephile's choice format, like Laserdisc (anyone here ever have a Laserdisc player?), but most people sticking to buying DVDs 'cos they couldn't give a toss about the marginal resolution boost. That all hinges on how the PS3 sells in the future, mind you.

I remember Sony doing this splitscreen demo of BluRay Vs. DVD quality that was intended to blow you away with its awesomeness, but ended up reminding you that well-mastered DVDs are pretty good to begin with.

 

[nlgbbbblth]

I had use of a laserdisc player (belonged to my cousin who went to Africa for a couple of years) in the 1990s.

Big improvement on VHS but the discs were expensive and in pre-internet days, the selection in the shops wasn't great.