Standard DVD Lovers - Unite!

I've received a lot of grief for posting in the wrong section, but I couldn't figure out where this thread should go, since Standard DVD doesn't rate a "general" forum, so my apologies to anyone who is immediately offended by the location of this thread.

So, who else is sticking by their regular DVD collection and DVD buying, even with all the hype around Blu-Ray and HD DVD? Personally, I've checked it out, and there is some improvement in the picture, but that's about it, and neither format seems worth the investment right now. Plus, there's some great standard discs coming out in the near future, so the whole HD craze is not going to slow me down from picking up the big Superman set later in the year, or Apocolypse Now, or even some of the better movies of the last year, like Syriana. I think we SD lovers who aren't jumping on the bandwagon of either format need a thread to discuss why we are sticking to our guns and still buying standard, when most of these threads are all from the people praising HD DVD.

We are a DVD Web site. In addition to the "New on DVD" section, you might have tried "Not on DVD," "DVD Defects," "DVD Players," "Projectors," "Plasma," etc.

We welcome all input, especially about standard-definition DVDs because there is no doubt that SD discs are going to be around for a very long time. However, there is no reason to think the SD format can't peacefully coexist with HD.

John

I'm with you! Curse those damn HD people!!! ;)

No, actually I'm happy there are people who can afford the new beast on the block and are able to share their experiences with us. However, I too have my reasons for holding out and it really has nothing to do with *format* wars. Persaonally, I could care less who wins that battle.

My reasons for holding out are:
a) Cost
b) The kinks need to be worked out
c) John won't stop yapping about how great it is!

Actually, I'm just joking on "c".

I'm with you on the "Wait it out campaign", though. I too have seen the differences and I can't say they are Jaw Dropping *Oh My God* differences. They're more like, "humm, that's not bad."

I think this whole DVD thing is the first time I've disagreed with something John has said on here. Usually his reviews are dead on. You're really dropping the ball on this one, John. :)

I find it very interesting that people can watch the same movie on the same format, on the same size screen, and have such huge differences of opinion on how much better it is. Maybe the SD people are playing it down to justify their "hold out" philosophy, while the hardcore HDers are boosting it up to fit their agenda.

interplanetaryspy,

I'm not sure what it is you're disagreeing with me about. That HD is an improvement over SD? That people can buy HD if they want to or not? That SD will be with us for a long, long time? That HD is not a threat to our normal way of life?

I don't mind someone disagreeing with me if at least I know what the disagreement is about.

Really, I'm so confused! I'm going to go downstairs and watch a movie. An SD movie ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang").

John

Just disagreeing with your assessment in other threads that the improvement is worthwhile. I think we all agree that there is an improvement in picture, but I get the impression from all of your posts in various threads on the topic that, in your opinion, HD DVD is a very significant improvement, and is a viable option right now, which I disagree with.

I do however agree completely in your viewing choice for the evening - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of my favorite movies of the year. One of the funniest, most unique scripts to come along in a long time.

Let me try to make myself clear one more time, since there appears to be some misunderstanding about my feelings on HD (HD-DVD or Blu-ray, assuming Blu-ray's picture quality will be the same as HD-DVD): I have never advised people who currently own SD televisions to go out and buy into HD. I have never said that in any of my reviews. In fact, I've reminded people that it is a costly proposition, esp. during this period of a format war.

I have told people that HD-DVD is an improvement over SD-DVD. It is. Fact. If you can't see it, either your eyesight is defective or the equipment you're watching is sub-par. However, as I keep saying, it is not a night-and-day difference. It will not knock your socks off. So it is not for everyone, even if you have the money to spend on it. It is for people looking for the very best audio-visual experience (because, yes, the DD+ audio through the 5.1 analogue outputs is an improvement over regular DD 5.1, too).

Finally, what I did say in another thread is that for people who already own televisions capable of high-definition reproduction not to investigate HD seems to me a waste of a good television. Why would people buy HD televisions if not to watch a better picture? If HD offers a better picture (and it does), and the person can afford another $499 (or even $999 if Blu-ray strikes your fancy), why not go for it?

I can understand Tim's argument that the investment in a new TV and player when you can't afford it and when there is a format war on is inadvisable. Agreed. I can also understand Eddie's argument that a person should wait and see how the format war shakes out. Agreed. But I cannot understand your argument, Spy, that people should stick with SD in any case.

(Not understanding or agreeing with your opinion, incidentally, does not mean I don't respect it. I just don't want my own opinions mischaracterized.)

John

Well, in John's defense, he really has not been one of the over-exaggerated HD fans, and as he has said, it's not a night-and-day difference. As it has been pointed out before, it is not the drastic change that we saw in the video industry close to ten-years ago. It's more like the comparison of a partly cloudy day turning into a perfect blue sky.

In reading John's reviews, yes, of course, he's happy with the technology but at no time has he given anyone the -- "Oh my God! Drop everything you're doing and go buy this unit now" -- green light. He's been honest in his evaluation and I appreciate his point of view in that aspect. Even in John's review of the A1 unit he points out the *flaws* the unit has, as well. So yes, I feel out of everyone here, his opinion has at least been the most honest and toned down.

Nevertheless, there is absolutely no reason a good progressive scan SD should be scoffed at or frowned upon because it still delivers a very, very good quality picture and I have no doubt that it will remain in the playing field for several more years. Fact is no one said the SD was dying, and if anything, it is just evolving and changing into a new future. *The bottom line* (TM, James Plath) is, we all see something visually different from one another and we all develop our own opinion from that. I say if you see a far more drastic change than I do, then I'm tickled pink for ya! I say go for it and indulge yourself until *hell freezes over* (TM, The Eagles). By no means am I against the new technology. I'm just being safe and evaluating everything it has to offer before I take the advice from some fan that has overrated and over-exaggerated the entire topic.

And isn't this really the main problem - that people went out the day the format came out, bought the player, bought the 3 discs that were available, without having any idea if it was any good. I'm sure John, as a reviewer on the site, probably has the discs and player sent to him for promo - he doesn't need to invest in it, he can just try it out. But the fact that so many decided that it was the greatest thing to happen to DVD ever, without ever seeing or trying it, makes me a little skeptical about their motives for worshipping the format so relentlessly. I've seen only 1 HD DVD, and there is an improvement, and the improvement is probably better the bigger screen you have. It simply seems odd to buy into a new, unproven format, when a new one (and possibly better one) is coming, just so that for the time being you can see the wrinkles on Harrison Ford's face a little bit better. Anway, I'm never going to convince anyone who bought into HD DVD that they were hasty, or that SD is still the best option until everything gets sorted out, or even that Blu-Ray or some future format could be better - they have simply invested too much to be objective.

It's all gonna come down to money. Whats affordable, and what costs too much for the average consumer.