$170 blu-ray player from sharp!

[---MAD---]

Finally, a blu ray player cheaper than the PS3!

Sharp has recently released a $170 blu ray player which is pretty impressive as most bluray players are very expensive (which is why most opt to go for the PS3).

[Jamesy]

until bluray becomes more maintstream these things are not going to be much good. :(

[---MAD---]

until bluray becomes more maintstream these things are not going to be much good. :(
Many analysts seem to think it won't really go mainstream mainly because people will start to download movies more and more over the next few years, especially as internet speeds increase.

The fact the Xbox live market place is doing so well is a sign.

Many people don't even notice differences between DVD and bluray (except the techies or if you have a big TV to really appreciate the image quality).

[RyanDOT]

DVD's won't be out of fashion in the nest 5 years.
Because people still your video's (VCR), Everyone will buy Blu-Ray when it becomes more cheaper.

[Jordy]

That's true we were discussing this in IT. Blu-ray will over-take DVD eventually, I have no doubt, but if internet speeds get faster and cheaper it will never be as successful as DVDs. Soon it will become cheaper to buy games and movies off the internet, but Blu-Ray would still replace the DVD as it can be used to backup and it's excellent for games in terms of space (Not speed though).

[Tomm]

720p (Not even full HD):

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/72071174e7bf6fbvlcsnap-00001.png

DVD:

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/19522174e7bf6fbvlcsnap-00004.png

Both are compressed videos so its a relatively fair comparison.

Don't take alot to notice the quality change.

Edit:

Full 1080p, its got a fair bit of compression though:

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/38761434bed2c81vlcsnap-00002.png


Many analysts seem to think it won't really go mainstream mainly because people will start to download movies more and more over the next few years, especially as internet speeds increase.

The fact the Xbox live market place is doing so well is a sign.

Many people don't even notice differences between DVD and bluray (except the techies or if you have a big TV to really appreciate the image quality).

[MrPinkPanther]

Finally, a blu ray player cheaper than the PS3!

Sharp has recently released a $170 blu ray player which is pretty impressive as most bluray players are very expensive (which is why most opt to go for the PS3).
Its a refurb http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-10047379-58.html

[DrLacero]

Both are compressed videos so its a relatively fair comparison.

Not really, that DVD would have been ~9GB uncompressed and the 720p would be from an HD-DVD (as Blu-ray uses 1080i) which is ~30GB.

The video you posted is from what looks like a 700MB rip, that's 1/12.8th of the size and that 720p rip will be ~4GB, which would give be 1/7.5th of the size.

[Jahova]

To be honest, I'd still buy the PS3.
I'd use it for the blu-ray, the features and also I'd shove Windows onto it and use it as a PC =D

[Tomm]

You can't really compare the size as a compression factor.

Not really, that DVD would have been ~9GB uncompressed and the 720p would be from an HD-DVD (as Blu-ray uses 1080i) which is ~30GB.

The video you posted is from what looks like a 700MB rip, that's 1/12.8th of the size and that 720p rip will be ~4GB, which would give be 1/7.5th of the size.

[GommeInc]

I was in GameStation in Canterbury a few weeks back and noticed in the 360 section they're selling HD-DVDs. I never knew they actually existed! I buy a few Blu-Ray DVDs sometimes, I can see the difference on a 22" HD TV and can notice some changes in the sound. But that may just be me :P Blu-Ray at the moment is kinda like a luxury. Sony were giving out free Blu-Ray players a few months ago with any Sony HD TVs.

[Stephen!]

The PS3 blu ray player is top notch though. It has the ability to be updated via firmware. Something that current standalone Buray players cannot do.

[Pyroka]

I was in GameStation in Canterbury a few weeks back and noticed in the 360 section they're selling HD-DVDs. I never knew they actually existed! I buy a few Blu-Ray DVDs sometimes, I can see the difference on a 22" HD TV and can notice some changes in the sound. But that may just be me :P Blu-Ray at the moment is kinda like a luxury. Sony were giving out free Blu-Ray players a few months ago with any Sony HD TVs.

Buying a HD-DVD player would be silly. SILLY.

[Jordy]

Buying a HD-DVD player would be silly. SILLY.Not necessarily, I was doing a bit of thinking and it wouldn't be easy but it could be cheaper.

You can now get a HD-DVD Player for just £20, the Xbox 360 one's also work with PCs in mind. The HD-DVDs are also dirt cheap. If you bought a HD-DVD/Blu-Ray RW for your computer, £80-£150, you could convert Blu-Ray disks to HD-DVD and still have the same quality ;)

It isn't a very good option but it would cost about half the price and still the same great quality.

[---MAD---]

Don't forget you can also upscale DVDs which improves their quality.

I agree that bluray can only become the main player once it becomes affordable enough for the general mass market.

[Pyroka]

Until of course they release a new format of DVD playing. Maybe they'll go backwards and make casette players which are better quality than DVDs! :D

[Flisker]

Until of course they release a new format of DVD playing. Maybe they'll go backwards and make casette players which are better quality than DVDs! :D
Highly doubt that lol otherwise the tape will be like a tank (massive)

[Tomm]

Although upscaling DVDs produces no where near the quality of 720p let alone 1020p.


Don't forget you can also upscale DVDs which improves their quality.

I agree that bluray can only become the main player once it becomes affordable enough for the general mass market.

[---MAD---]

Although upscaling DVDs produces no where near the quality of 720p let alone 1020p.
Yeah, off course not.

[Lubricant]

I agree that downloading will beat DVDs in the future but owning the DVD disc is better than downloading. You can show off your dvd collections.