Re: M$ say they never backed the wrong format.

Apple iTV store will look like this. Small for your portable device, Medium for your SD image, and Large for your HD image. An the bottom link to go back to the Apple iTV store. Done Deal.

Does anyone remember that commercial where that one girl had like 200 skateboard decks in her room, or that guy that had like a zillion concert tickets on his wall?
When I started buying dvds i always made sure i kept the little sticker at the top, yaknow, the one that seals the box and has the name of the movie on it in big black letters. anyhow for a while i plastered my home entertainment center with them. That is just one of the reasons people like tangible things. We are collectors. Please stop with this download bs, because ur grabbing for straws now.

It is at least 10 years off before we start seeing a large amount of people using downloads. The people who have developed the software for distribution are like any other group that develops a tech. They will charge you up the ass for the use of it.
So, like you say, people are dl'ing on itunes or whatever, people aren't paying any less. A large part of that money is going directly to itunes. And not only that but when I want to download a song from my friends computer, I have to re-sync and delete every song from my ipod just to get it. Good luck re-syncing every time you go to blockbuster to dl a movie.
Bottom line, people aren't smart enough to know the simple way to do things. No majority cares enough to learn. And when someone comes out with a dumbed down version, they get shafted on the price, just like itunes does for it's customers.
PS: I've only ever bought 1 song from iTunes which is the only song from the cd that was online. I then passed by a used cd store and found the cd for 5 dollars. Nice to know that the song exists on media, rather than have some server tell me when my desire is "too old" for them to carry.

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[Post edited by theprof00 on Apr 6, 2008]

FYI...

> And All That COULD Have Been (criticism of Microsoft and their push for the HD-DVD, so as to stall Blu-ray adoption) - followed by reader comments about 'downloads/streaming' etc

EXCERPT -

Considering that Microsoft has only been backing HD DVD since September of 2005, their decision to push digital distribution supersedes their intention to back HD DVD, and more importantly, reinforces the notion that Microsoft was only backing the now defunct format in order to stale adoption of Blu-ray, and thus, increase the likelihood of digital distribution as a viable format. Unfortunately for them, HD DVD is now dead, and digital distribution of films is still not considered viable by the vast majority of consumers.

Now that Blu-ray has been declared the victor, it is shocking to think of what could have been if Microsoft had succeeded in getting HD DVD established as a high definition format, only to pull the rug out from the format and switch to digital distribution. For as much as the mandatory Ethernet connection was praised by HD DVD supports, its a scary thought of how that could have easily become a way to easily switch to a digital download - and much lower quality - distribution format.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Good One!

LH - I'm not defending M$ - far from it, but your link from bluray.com is more than slightly biased.

Quote:
Blu-ray provides consumers with the ultimate in high definition picture and sound that is not compromised by the necessity to stream it over the Internet. HD DVD's use of lower quality video...

1080p is 1080p and most independents have stated that between the two formats that was nothing to choose with regards picture quality. The only real difference was in features - and we all Know HD-DVD won that one.

You'll note Scotsman, that in my post above, I did NOT include the paragraph you cited - precisely because I (like you) disagree with that final paragraph (stating HD-DVD is of 'less quality'). My link and post above was centered rather on the Microsoft angle, and the revealing info provided, including the quotes from the UK M$ exec.

HD-DVD and Blu-ray are of equal quality (audio and video). However, as I've explained here several times previously, I believe that Blu-ray disc surfaces are better-protected (superior coating) against scratches, dirt, smudges etc (which can affect playback). From my own experience with each format (being a heavy renter), this is definitely so, having had to get unplayable HD-DVD rental titles replaced several times over the past 20 months, but not any Blu-ray titles needing to be replaced (owned a PS3 since last June).

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Quote:
HD-DVD and Blu-ray are of equal quality (audio and video). However, as I've explained here several times previously, I believe that Blu-ray disc surfaces are better-protected (superior coating) against scratches, dirt, smudges etc (which can affect playback). From my own experience with each format (being a heavy renter), this is definitely so, having had to get unplayable HD-DVD rental titles replaced several times over the past 20 months, but not any Blu-ray titles needing to be replaced (owned a PS3 since last June).

LH, I wish you frequented some of the other boards that I do. I once got threatened by making that same claims you did. Naturally, I didn't take it seriously. I wish the consumers and studios were as informed (or in the studios cases, cared about the consumers) as most of the people here. If that were the case, I'm sure the format war would have been a lot different.

Quote:
Blu-ray disc surfaces are better-protected (superior coating) against scratches, dirt, smudges etc (which can affect playback). From my own experience with each format (being a heavy renter), this is definitely so, having had to get unplayable HD-DVD rental titles replaced several times over the past 20 months, but not any Blu-ray titles needing to be replaced

That's another plus for digital distribution - no surface to get scratched in the first place.