Microsoft has infiltrated Sony and Nintendo

[Asher]

Originally posted by Wiglaf
Huh?

They're still using a IBM PowerPC750-derived CPU (used most famously in Apple's G3), and a DirectX7-level graphics chip...

[Asher]

Originally posted by laurentius
You are still stuck at 2006-07. BRdiscs will become more cheaper over the time and to be honest DVDs are just bloated coded movies that take 4,7 gb for a semi crappy picture quality.

Dual layer DVDs are 9GB.

BR dics will make a huge difference. Its gonna be like VHs and DVD in '97. Are you going to gdefend the VHS equivalent? HD-DVD....forget it, its a dead tech already.

Not true, it has momentum.

The BR/HD-DVD battle is another reason why it's less of a big deal. Many people are taking a "wait and see" approach.

To be honest, I don't think I'll buy a player either way. I already watch high-definition movies regularly via commercial-free movie channels, and I archive them on my computer in their native MPEG4 format.

I don't think physical media is going to be as big a deal in the coming 5-10 years than it was in the past.

Look if Sony has been capable of keeping the Memory stick and Minidics alive for 15 yaers it will surely have the resources and know how to triumph with really advanced format like the Bru-Ray.

BETA, memory stick, minidiscs...you raise a good point -- Sony often launches more technologically advanced formats that the market shuns for cheaper, more practical alternatives.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Asher

By the way, I doubt you can even name one 1080p TV commercially available.

Oh come on, you know those are available world wide at a high price. Its not relevantr at this moment, in the future it will be though. These prices fall increadibly quickly. i've already seen these in action in some of my friends households. The reso isnt so much of a experience for me for having 1920x1200 reso lcd in 2003 but when it comes to big screen image quality it will have a huge impact and people will be able to see the difference between 720 qnd 1080.

[Asher]

Originally posted by laurentius
Oh come on, you know those are available world wide at a high price. Its not relevantr at this moment, in the future it will be though. These prices fall increadibly quickly. i've already seen these in action in some of my friends households. The reso isnt so much of a experience for me for having 1920x1200 reso lcd in 2003 but when it comes to big screen image quality it will have a huge impact and people will be able to see the difference between 720 qnd 1080.

You forget that 1080i is an option, if resolution is your big thing.

And no, I don't know they're actually available worldwide at a high price. I have never seen one in stores here -- ever. And yes, I am actively looking because in a couple months I'm buying a TV for my new place.

By the time the prices fall in line with regular 1080i HDTVs, it'll be 3-4 years from now. By then we'll be talking about the "next generation" consoles and stand-alone Bluray players will have more features and at a far cheaper price than the PS3.

And I'm not sure if you have an HDTV or not, but it is actually surprisingly hard to tell the difference between 1080 and 720. There's a point of diminishing returns. Most US networks are 1080i, except for Fox which is 720p. I really don't notice a difference.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Asher



Not true, it has momentum.

The BR/HD-DVD battle is another reason why it's less of a big deal. Many people are taking a "wait and see" approach.

To be honest, I don't think I'll buy a player either way. I already watch high-definition movies regularly via commercial-free movie channels, and I archive them on my computer in their native MPEG4 format.

I don't think physical media is going to be as big a deal in the coming 5-10 years than it was in the past.


BETA, memory stick, minidiscs...you raise a good point -- Sony often launches more technologically advanced formats that the market shuns for cheaper, more practical alternatives.

I agree with you on this one. The pshysical medium wont matter as much as it sued to. The Broadband will change that to some extend. However i be,ieve you are royally wrong with the beta references and missed my pount. The fact is that for the fist time Sony actually ahs both the technological as well as marketing advantage with BR. Its going ot be very different from the beta/VHS struggle. For MS to succeed it shuld have expanded to hardware martkets and should have a hd-dvd palyer alrready out. For just selling hte 360 and being otherwise inactive its loosing the game alread yas we are speaking. When PS3 lauches it will be too late. MS better come up weith somehitng radical right now if ti wants to win the race globally. I just dont hink it will be willing ot play with stakes big enougth to win this one. For Sony, its much more important battle, and as we know, the will to fight is what counts the most.

[Asher]

How can they have HD-DVD players already out when the first HD-DVD player came out just days ago and the movies don't even launch for a month?

MS has nothing to worry about, honestly. The PS3 is out of the pricerange of a huge portion of gamers, who want to enter the next-gen gaming arena, and will enter MS' open arms with the cheaper console. Xbox 360 is also easier to develop for and you'll be seeing 2nd gen Xbox games vs 1st gen PS3 games.

[Sava]

rofl

consoles

lol

[Imran Siddiqui]

Its going ot be very different from the beta/VHS struggle.

You mean Sony is going to have the cheaper brand, able to be afforded by most consumers, with comparable quality as the more expensive one.... oh wait, it's exactly like beta/VHS, isn't it?

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Asher

You forget that 1080i is an option, if resolution is your big thing.

And no, I don't know they're actually available worldwide at a high price. I have never seen one in stores here -- ever. And yes, I am actively looking because in a couple months I'm buying a TV for my new place.

By the time the prices fall in line with regular 1080i HDTVs, it'll be 3-4 years from now. By then we'll be talking about the "next generation" consoles and stand-alone Bluray players will have more features and at a far cheaper price than the PS3.

And I'm not sure if you have an HDTV or not, but it is actually surprisingly hard to tell the difference between 1080 and 720. There's a point of diminishing returns. Most US networks are 1080i, except for Fox which is 720p. I really don't notice a difference.

On my 17 inch screen the difference is less dramaric than on a 36 inch one. Howevrr remember taht the European PAL standard is not so fasr(625) from 720 so the big leap here will not be to 720 HD but to 1080 HDTV. So here the highher HDTV will matter more than in the US where the leap from NTSC to 720 is relatrively more significant.

ATM I dont recieve any publicly broadcasted HDTV channels.

[Asher]

That's good. I have a 36" HDTV and regularly watch 720p/1080i feeds and I really find it difficult to tell the difference.

So what is a guy with a 17" screen and no HDTV channels doing arguing this?

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Its going ot be very different from the beta/VHS struggle.

You mean Sony is going to have the cheaper brand, able to be afforded by most consumers, with comparable quality as the more expensive one.... oh wait, it's exactly like beta/VHS, isn't it?

Well not exatclty, on top of that it has the backing of the major Hollywood studios. As well as a potentially hugely popular gaming console/blu ray player. Thats the differnce. The japanese have this amazing avibility to learn from apst mistakes.

[laurentius]

Originally posted by Asher
That's good. I have a 36" HDTV and regularly watch 720p/1080i feeds and I really find it difficult to tell the difference.

So what is a guy with a 17" screen and no HDTV channels doing arguing this?

Its beyond me my dear Canadian. I'm satisfied witrh my 17 inch lcs and 28 ich tv but in the coming years it will change. I'm glad you agree with the facts that the situation in EU and NA is very different when it comes to 720 vs 1080. As always we prefer the highher quality

[Asher]

Originally posted by laurentius
Well not exatclty, on top of that it has the backing of the major Hollywood studios.

Universal is HD-DVD only. Universal is one of the largest picture companies.

The Disney CEO recently said they'd release HD-DVD and bluray titles, contrary to their original position of bluray only.

Almost all the movie studios except Sony are releasing on both formats.

[laurentius]

gimme a break. Its funny how you are testing peoples vigilance. Yeah I read the news too and I know that the Panasonic et all have some HD DVd players on the market, but Blu-ray in ont he market too. Toshiba is not releasingf a HDDVD player until may 18th the soonest.

Paramount, Universal, HBO, New Line Entertainment and Warner Home Video are releasing with HD DVD but there are already a Pioneer blu Ray player on the market as well as the backing from matsu****a corp and all major hollywood studios and as mentioned before its the formsat of the upcoming PS3. Even the conservative reserch corp. Forrester has b et on favor of Blu ray.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If Paramount, Universal, New Line, and Warner are releasing HD DVD, how are "all major hollywood studios" backing Blu-ray?

Paramount, Universal, and Warner are 3 of the "Big Six", after all!