In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips Robert Redelmeier
<redelm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Just because HD-DVD is dead does not mean Blu-ray will thrive.
> There is competition from upscaled DVDs:
>
>
http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/techview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10610923
>
> As always, the question will be "Is the difference worth it?"
> Not something a techie can answer. It depends on mass market
> perceptions. If Joe Sixpack can plug a [sinfully expensive] HDMI
> cable into a decent DVD player and his HDTV and see a picture as
> good as s/he remembers from the BigBox store Blu-ray, why would they
> switch?
Except, of course, upscaled DVD is nowhere near as good as the blu-ray
player.
In fact, upscaled DVD players only better than regular DVD players if you
have a *cheap* HDTV which doesn't already have a good upscaler built in.
Higher-end ones have had them since HDTVs first hit the market, and often
better ones than the typical $100 upscaling DVD player.
Of course, the question is not whether it's "as good," but whether regular
DVD is "good enough." DVD had huge advantages over VHS even if you take
the
picture quality when new out of the picture.
HD-DVD/Blu-ray has much better picture quality, but if regular DVD is
"good
enough" then I can only see a few advantages left for HD-DVD/Bluray. One
big one is that you can fit a heck of a lot more content onto one disk, if
you're not hung up on getting HD quality content. I've yet to see anyone
DO
it, but one killer app I've predicted for a while is the ability to put a
full season of older non-HD shows on one disk.
> Please remember, Sony PSP, Apple iPod, airline seat backs and personal
> DVD players all show fewer than 400 lines. People still watch.
Personal DVD players vary by the quality of the individual player; some DO
show a full 480p picture. The older ones which basically did broadcast
NTSC
quality suck. Further, all of those are either ****table or captive
applications.
--
Nate Edel http://www.cubiclehermit.com/
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