Friday, March 10, 2006
Member since:
March 2006
March 2006
HI there everyone, I'm new here. I haven't got the money to purchase a HDTV at the moment and would like to know if I purchase a next generation High Definition DVD or Blu Ray Player will it be compatible with my existing TV? (Obviously I know it won't be High Definition but I'd like to know If it'd work?)
Many Thanks
Jonathan
Many Thanks
Jonathan
Friday, March 10, 2006
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
The other issue is how HD-DVD and Blu-Ray machines will function with SD TVs. Yes, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray machines will downconvert to less than 720p resolutions, but downconverting and upconverting introduces artifacts and problems of their own. Like Hock wrote, people without SD TVs have no real good reason to buy an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player. It's best for people with SD TVs to buy DVD players that output at what their TV will display.
Besides, we don't know what format will win in the future--HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, a unified format, or a new format altogether. There is no rush to get into the high-def optical disc game.
Besides, we don't know what format will win in the future--HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, a unified format, or a new format altogether. There is no rush to get into the high-def optical disc game.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
ELREDSKINS,
It's possible that we're both saying the same thing. Everything I've read has said that both kinds of HD players will also play standard-definition DVDs. If they didn't, they'd be dead in the water. Nobody would buy a new machine (presumably replacing their old machine) that couldn't play their existing hundreds or thousands of discs. But as you say, they will have to use both blue and red-laser diodes, which both camps have said they will do. Here's more info on the subject:
"Blu-Ray and HD-DVD both use blue lasers, which operate at lower wavelengths (405 nanometers) than current red lasers (650 nanometers). That microscopic difference goes a long way. Longer wavelengths suffer more diffraction, which limits their ability to focus tightly on a surface. But a blue laser's shorter wavelength allows it to read and write data over a much tighter surface area, which in turn allows storage of far more data on a disc that's roughly the same diameter of current DVDs. The benefits for backward compatibility are clear: New players will be able to handle both old and new DVD formats in the same machine (outfitted with both red- and blue-laser diodes)—a major consumer benefit that manufacturers hope will drive unit sales."
--Michael Grebb, e-coustics.com
As far as what the HD will output, again you're correct...but. The copy protection scheme recently adopted by both camps, if implemented by the studios (and it's up to them, but they probably will use it), will deliver the full 1080x1920 pixels only through digital (HDMI or DVI) outputs and inputs. Through analogue component connections, the signal is downcoverted to 540x960 pixels, which is still a little better than standard-definition but a far cry from the HD discs' potential. Yes, my guess is that most of the major Hollywood studios will implement the copy protection. Thus, with copy protection the component video connections will not output true (720px minimum) high defintion.
John
It's possible that we're both saying the same thing. Everything I've read has said that both kinds of HD players will also play standard-definition DVDs. If they didn't, they'd be dead in the water. Nobody would buy a new machine (presumably replacing their old machine) that couldn't play their existing hundreds or thousands of discs. But as you say, they will have to use both blue and red-laser diodes, which both camps have said they will do. Here's more info on the subject:
"Blu-Ray and HD-DVD both use blue lasers, which operate at lower wavelengths (405 nanometers) than current red lasers (650 nanometers). That microscopic difference goes a long way. Longer wavelengths suffer more diffraction, which limits their ability to focus tightly on a surface. But a blue laser's shorter wavelength allows it to read and write data over a much tighter surface area, which in turn allows storage of far more data on a disc that's roughly the same diameter of current DVDs. The benefits for backward compatibility are clear: New players will be able to handle both old and new DVD formats in the same machine (outfitted with both red- and blue-laser diodes)—a major consumer benefit that manufacturers hope will drive unit sales."
--Michael Grebb, e-coustics.com
As far as what the HD will output, again you're correct...but. The copy protection scheme recently adopted by both camps, if implemented by the studios (and it's up to them, but they probably will use it), will deliver the full 1080x1920 pixels only through digital (HDMI or DVI) outputs and inputs. Through analogue component connections, the signal is downcoverted to 540x960 pixels, which is still a little better than standard-definition but a far cry from the HD discs' potential. Yes, my guess is that most of the major Hollywood studios will implement the copy protection. Thus, with copy protection the component video connections will not output true (720px minimum) high defintion.
John
Friday, March 10, 2006
Member since:
February 2006
February 2006
John,
There is no provision in the Blu Ray format that creates compatibility with DVD. Unless the BD hardware manufacturer's add a 650nm red laser and pickup to their players, they will not be backward compatible with DVD, the file structure on the discs is totally incompatible.
Hock Guan Teh,
The Toshiba models WILL output HD through the component outputs. Remember, as with DVD, the player is simply a slave to the software. If the software doesn't have the token to limit HD output to HDMI, the component outputs will be HD. As I am sure you are aware, there are several major studios who aren't as worried about HD output through the analog component outputs. Since there are some studios who are worried, the HD DVD technology made provisions for the Hollywood studios to include a token that will tell the player to limit or not limit the component outputs.
Jonthomas83,
Both Toshiba models will include the following connections:
Composite
S-Video
Component Video (480i, 480P, 540P, 720P*, 1080i*) * if the studio allows analog HD output for their software.
HDMI (Ver. 1.1)
Stereo Analog audio
Coax digital output
Toslink optical output
5.1 ch multi channel analog audio output
This means that yes, the Toshiba HD DVD models will work with your current TV, unless you only have an RF coaxial input.
And yes, IMHO there is a perfectly good reason to purchase an HD DVD / Blu Ray disc player, even without an HDTV. It keeps you from having to buy HD releases twice. If you continue purchasing SD DVD until you get an HDTV, you will, most likely go back and purchase many of them again in the HD version.
*I can't be sure that my comments are correct regarding the Blu Ray disc player because there are no hard specs. released yet so we cant be sure where they are going.
There is no provision in the Blu Ray format that creates compatibility with DVD. Unless the BD hardware manufacturer's add a 650nm red laser and pickup to their players, they will not be backward compatible with DVD, the file structure on the discs is totally incompatible.
Hock Guan Teh,
The Toshiba models WILL output HD through the component outputs. Remember, as with DVD, the player is simply a slave to the software. If the software doesn't have the token to limit HD output to HDMI, the component outputs will be HD. As I am sure you are aware, there are several major studios who aren't as worried about HD output through the analog component outputs. Since there are some studios who are worried, the HD DVD technology made provisions for the Hollywood studios to include a token that will tell the player to limit or not limit the component outputs.
Jonthomas83,
Both Toshiba models will include the following connections:
Composite
S-Video
Component Video (480i, 480P, 540P, 720P*, 1080i*) * if the studio allows analog HD output for their software.
HDMI (Ver. 1.1)
Stereo Analog audio
Coax digital output
Toslink optical output
5.1 ch multi channel analog audio output
This means that yes, the Toshiba HD DVD models will work with your current TV, unless you only have an RF coaxial input.
And yes, IMHO there is a perfectly good reason to purchase an HD DVD / Blu Ray disc player, even without an HDTV. It keeps you from having to buy HD releases twice. If you continue purchasing SD DVD until you get an HDTV, you will, most likely go back and purchase many of them again in the HD version.
*I can't be sure that my comments are correct regarding the Blu Ray disc player because there are no hard specs. released yet so we cant be sure where they are going.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Member since:
October 2002
October 2002
Frankly, there is no point in spending money to buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player if you do not own a HDTV. Might as well go with a regular DVD player first until you get one.
To answer your question, the Toshiba HD-DVD player will include component and composite connections for SD images. HD can only be obtained through HDMI.
To answer your question, the Toshiba HD-DVD player will include component and composite connections for SD images. HD can only be obtained through HDMI.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
Yes, HD-DVD and Blu-ray players will be backward compatible; they will play existing standard-definition DVDs and CDs.
John
John
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Member since:
March 2006
March 2006
Thanks all of you for your input. Let me explain my argument....
The reason for my question is, I don't want to be buying DVD's for much longer if they are going to be written off by the new big boys (HD DVD or Blu ray or ???). I want to keep my collection as new as possible without buying doubles in DVD and the new format. So whether I have a HDTV or not does not interest me, there's plenty of time for that in the future, but what infuriates me no end is the fact that new technologies and formats are made available, each better than the last. This infuriates me so much that I cannot keep a good collection going because doubt sets in my mind, "is it worth buying this?" at risk of it goin out of date and needing replacing. DVD's set a massive standard IMO they outclassed VHS isn so many ways and I was under the impression that I could start a good collection of films etc, by collecting DVD's now I have to re-address the situation and ask myself if it's worth it with all the talk of "the new format". This is why I asked.
The reason for my question is, I don't want to be buying DVD's for much longer if they are going to be written off by the new big boys (HD DVD or Blu ray or ???). I want to keep my collection as new as possible without buying doubles in DVD and the new format. So whether I have a HDTV or not does not interest me, there's plenty of time for that in the future, but what infuriates me no end is the fact that new technologies and formats are made available, each better than the last. This infuriates me so much that I cannot keep a good collection going because doubt sets in my mind, "is it worth buying this?" at risk of it goin out of date and needing replacing. DVD's set a massive standard IMO they outclassed VHS isn so many ways and I was under the impression that I could start a good collection of films etc, by collecting DVD's now I have to re-address the situation and ask myself if it's worth it with all the talk of "the new format". This is why I asked.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
well, dvds can be played for a very long time as far as anyone knows. in fact, there are plans to release dvds until at least 2010. the thing is, we don't know if hd-dvd, blu-ray, a unified format, or another format will prevail. on the other hand, we do have an established format in dvd.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
I feel your frustration with new technology, but things change and nothing we do can stop that. Every few years, technology evolves: From the Edison cylinder to the flat shellac record to the wide-frequency recording to the stereo recording to the CD to the SACD to who-knows-what. If you like the new technology, you embrace it. If you don't like it, you don't. My guess is that standard-definition DVDs will be around for a good number of years to come. Should you continue to buy SD DVDs? Sure, if you like them and have no intention whatever of ever upgrading to HD.
It is yet to be seen if the studios will make hybrid HD discs, ones with both standard-definition and high-definitions movies on them. If they did, they could ease the transition for people like yourself. But nobody involved in this HD revolution seems to have yet applied any common sense to the situation, so we'll have to wait and see.
John
It is yet to be seen if the studios will make hybrid HD discs, ones with both standard-definition and high-definitions movies on them. If they did, they could ease the transition for people like yourself. But nobody involved in this HD revolution seems to have yet applied any common sense to the situation, so we'll have to wait and see.
John
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
well, sacd and dvd-audio have been on the market for a few years now, but most people have stuck with the cd technology that was introduced in the late-1970s. sacd and dvd-audio are fairly simple technologies when compared to hd-dvd and blu-ray, and people were hella confused by the two audio formats. people are already hella confused about basic definitions like analog tv, digital tv, 4:3, 16:9, standard definition, high-definition, etc. hd-dvd and blu-ray? forget it.
