Microsoft Podcast Discusses HD-DVD/Blu-Ray

**To Mods: Not really sure where to post this; I don't feel it belongs in the computer hardware section, as it doesn't apply to computers at the moment. So it was either Media Centre or Microsoft Section. Move it if you feel it's in the wrong place.**

Yea, this is from last week but I think it's pretty interesting, especially for those who aren't in the know about both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.

Yes, I know most will think this is a biased discussion, considering it's from Microsoft and all. However, this podcast from Major Nelson has some respected authortities in the field, such as Amir Majidimehr, who's a regular poster in the AVS Forums, which is a highly-regarded website for video/audiophiles.

It's a very interesting discussion though, as it explains the differences between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray's media storage, compression methods, bitrates, etc.

It's a good education to learn what some of the lingo tossed around means, and it might help you become a better-informed consumer.

I just figured I'd post it here since it is a Microsoft podcast after all, and the 360's eventual HD-DVD player will reap the benefits of the format.

Major Nelson Podcast About HD-DVD

How ya doing, buddy?

Really, I had posted this as a source of info for those who aren't up to snuff on the whole Blu-Ray/HD-DVD issue itself. I felt the podcast was a good source of info, and the guests do explain what HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are capable of.

It'll always boil down to which formats better; and at the moment, HD-DVD is winning. As is said in the podcast, Blu-Ray is only using 25GB Single-Layer discs; add that to the various botch-jobs they've had on transfers thus far (such as The Fifth Element and House of Flying Daggers), things aren't looking so well in their camp at the moment.

Either way, I haven't found a specific thread on here pertaining to the formats, so I guess this can be considered a discussion on that topic as well. But yea, I'm curious to hear thoughts/opinions on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Perhaps one of you guys have purchased one of the players and can give a hands-on opinion?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Colonel Skills: Yea sure. I guess it might actually be better fitted on that section either way.

I think you're mistaken though; it's the Samsung Blu-Ray player that is $1,000 at the moment. The Toshiba HD-DVD Player is $500 and Serenity is only on HD-DVD. That is a good movie as far as PQ is concerned though.

I've seen some demos of HD-DVD movies, and so far, the best ones as far as picture quality is concerned are Phantom of the Opera, Blazing Saddles, Constantine, and Chronicles of Riddick. See one of those playing, and you'll really see the true potential of what HD-DVD has to offer.

I recently saw a Blu-Ray demo at my local Best Buy, and I must say that i was completely underwhelmed. Though it was running on HDMI and on 1080p, the picture completely lacked any definition and was far too soft. If anything, it matched the quality of what I see on my HD channels over-the-air. Nice, yes. But I'm expecting much much more, as over-the-air HD is riddled with compression artifacts and macroblocking when there are motion scenes; Blu-Ray shouldn't have that at all, and it did from what I saw.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Inhert

and trying to justify a poor quality with Ultraviolet as an exemple is really stupid, because this movie has the poorest CGI-video quality lately >.>

Yes, Ultraviolet isn't what you'd call reference material, but a movie such as The Fifth Element, which was of reference quality when it hit DVD (and is still considered to be), should show off the supposed benefits of what Blu-Ray has to offer. Unfortunately, the transfer is marred with extreme artifacts, noise, screen dirt, and edge enhancement. In other words, you're better off with the old Superbit release of the movie.

Now this especially bummed me out, as this movie is a fine example of the use of color in film. Also, the unique visual style of the movie should lend itself nicely to High-Definition. If anything, the fact that this movie was encoded with MPEG-2 seems to be the main culprit, as the small 25GB space on the current discs was what lead to the transfer being so bad. I can just see it now though...Sony being lazy with this transfer just for the sole reason of double-dipping the movie later on to be on a "Blu-Ray Superbit" type BD. After all, the movie itself has already been released on DVD 3 or 4 times now.

I really hope they didn't screw up the transfer for Terminator 2. Now that would be a crime.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?