Is it time to move into the 21st century and get a Blu Ray?

Dis · July 23, 2009, 08:46

I've been neglecting this for a while. but seeing as the format wars seem to have been won by blu ray, should I get one? What should I get?

And more importantly how long will these last before they are obsolete again by future technology?

loinburger · July 23, 2009, 08:49

Don't bother, stick with DVDs.

Dis · July 23, 2009, 08:59

That's the problem with getting blu ray. Then I need to get an HD tv. Considering I don't watch tv at all, and rarely watch my movies, I just don't see it as worth it.

I have between 10 to 15 movies right now, probably closer to 15. Those are the only movies worth watching a few times.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 09:06

Um... why in the world are you even thinking blu-ray if you don't have an HDTV? Get one of those first.

Mint · July 23, 2009, 09:11

Blu ray killed Steve Irwin

rah · July 23, 2009, 09:12

Originally Posted by Imran Siddiqui

Um... why in the world are you even thinking blu-ray if you don't have an HDTV? Get one of those first.

Ding ding ding ding ding.

Dinner · July 23, 2009, 09:33

Blu-Ray sucks.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 09:33

Originally Posted by Oerdin

Oerdin sucks.

Fixed.

Blu-ray

Dis · July 23, 2009, 09:43

Originally Posted by Imran Siddiqui

Um... why in the world are you even thinking blu-ray if you don't have an HDTV? Get one of those first.

I would get both at the same time of course. Sometimes I have wild urges to spend lots of money. I'm tired of being responsible with my money all the time. I've been saving money for a while. But sometimes you get these pent up urges to go crazy. Kind of like when you go without sex for a while then have a wild urge to have sex with 3 female midge whores in a flea bag motel while high on cocaine. Not that I've ever done that...

I should buy a house. Local articles are now saying houses are at the bottom and likely won't drop any more. But houses are a lot of work and not as entertaining as blu ray.

There's actually a house in my city for only $10,000!! Although the house is old, and the neighborhood is how should we say in a PC way... gang infested.

SpencerH · July 23, 2009, 09:45

AFAIK, its also got to be a "high-end" HDTV to really appreciate the picture.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 09:45

Ah, if you are planning on getting both at the same time, GET A BLU-RAY PLAYER! Make sure the HDTV is 1080p to get the best picture (even with a 1080i, it'll look great). Blu-ray is fabulous and even if you don't buy a lot of movies, you can get Netflix.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 09:46

Originally Posted by SpencerH

AFAIK, its also got to be a "high-end" HDTV to really appreciate the picture.

True, but you can still tell the benefits on a smaller, 1080i, one. But these days, go for the 50 inch, 1080p, because they aren't prohibitively expensive.

Dis · July 23, 2009, 09:47

50 inch!! What am I? some old blind guy? That'd take up my entire living room.

I can't see having anything over 25" (my current tv).

Dis · July 23, 2009, 09:51

well anyways I decided against it. But it's good to have info. and try to keep up with the technology. I'll stick with regular dvd's. Maybe when I do get into a new house, I'll want to update my home theatre setup. Which now only consists of a 25 inch regular tv, dvd player, and 5.1 sound surround system.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 09:53

Originally Posted by Dis

50 inch!! What am I? some old blind guy? That'd take up my entire living room.

I can't see having anything over 25" (my current tv).

25'' is woefully small. Hell, I wonder if you can even buy one that small these days.

Nostromo · July 23, 2009, 10:42

I have a 32 inch 720p TV and I can easily see the difference between standard DVD's and Blu-rays. Blu-ray's look way better.

BTW, Blu-ray has won the format war with HD-DVD, but not with DVD. Whether it'll become the new standard is not a sure thing at this point.

Caligastia · July 23, 2009, 10:57

Originally Posted by Dis

I should buy a house. Local articles are now saying houses are at the bottom and likely won't drop any more. But houses are a lot of work and not as entertaining as blu ray.

There's actually a house in my city for only $10,000!! Although the house is old, and the neighborhood is how should we say in a PC way... gang infested.

Buy that $10,000 house, then buy the blu-ray and a massive HDTV after you move in. Make sure to leave the empty boxes out where everyone can see them, keep your living room windows free of curtains, and run the thing 24x7. You'll be the envy of the neighborhood!

Asher · July 23, 2009, 11:04

Originally Posted by Nostromo

I have a 32 inch 720p TV and I can easily see the difference between standard DVD's and Blu-rays. Blu-ray's look way better.

BTW, Blu-ray has won the format war with HD-DVD, but not with DVD. Whether it'll become the new standard is not a sure thing at this point.

Sales are up something like 90% year over year. I don't think it'll replace DVD, but it's definitely viable and will be around for a long time.

Personally, I love high def movies. I've got a PS3 which is mostly a Bluray player...I watch tons of them, mostly zip.ca movies. But I also just recently bought a bunch on Amazon's huge sales (Office Space, Matrix Trilogy, Austin Powers trilogy (nostalgia, baby). etc.

DanS · July 23, 2009, 11:05

If you have an HDTV over about 40", I would go with Blu-Ray. Anything less than that, the marginal quality improvement probably isn't worth it.

That said, if Blu-Ray players keep coming down in price, they eventually will be worth the purchase.

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 11:09

Hell, I got mine at Christmas-time for $200. This Christmas, you should be able to get one for $100.

Blaupanzer · July 23, 2009, 11:37

Beta won the tape format wars, but without the consumer footprint of VHS, it faded away. Similarly Blu-Ray has a clear tech lead but almost everyone is rigged for DVDs, making the market. It has ever been thus, best tech can be beaten by a broader installed base.

Asher · July 23, 2009, 11:39

Beta didn't win any war...

Imran Siddiqui · July 23, 2009, 11:40

??

Blu-ray beat out HD-DVD for the high definition movie market. It's the next standard. That was Betamax vs. VHS analogy.

A better example is CDs beating out tapes.

Dis · July 23, 2009, 11:54

just seems like regular DVD's didn't last long in the market. It seems technology moves too fast sometimes. But if you think about it, regular cassette tapes (for audio) didn't last that long in the market either. Or VHS for that matter.

Asher · July 23, 2009, 12:02

DVDs have been out for 13 years. That's eons in technology.

SpencerH · July 24, 2009, 07:14

Originally Posted by Asher

............. I've got a PS3 which is mostly a Bluray player....

I was gonna mention that fact. Its a "twofer", you get a game console and a blue ray player all in one.

Tuberski · July 24, 2009, 08:17

Originally Posted by Dis

I would get both at the same time of course. Sometimes I have wild urges to spend lots of money. I'm tired of being responsible with my money all the time. I've been saving money for a while. But sometimes you get these pent up urges to go crazy. Kind of like when you go without sex for a while then have a wild urge to have sex with 3 female midge whores in a flea bag motel while high on cocaine. Not that I've ever done that...

I should buy a house. Local articles are now saying houses are at the bottom and likely won't drop any more. But houses are a lot of work and not as entertaining as blu ray.

There's actually a house in my city for only $10,000!! Although the house is old, and the neighborhood is how should we say in a PC way... gang infested.

"up and coming" neighborhood.