Posted by Blofelds Cat on 08/15/07 00:17

"Tim Burchell" <timothy.burchell@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:xsKdnZtcc6VHil_bRVnygAA@bt.com...
> As a newbie to this group, I was wondering what the current thinking was
> regarding Blu Ray or HD DVD recorders? I am thinking of getting a new
> machine, but would prefer some honest and unbiased advise. What do you
> think?

As Steve observed, no HD recorders as yet (unless you are thinking of
computer burners).

At the moment it's looking like BluRay will be the dominant HD format but
the market is yet to see the gloves come off in the battle.

As an early adopter, I plumped for the purchase of a Playstation 3 (BluRay)
console as my player of choice because its capabilities (still) exceed those
of currently available standalone decks i.e. BluRay disc player, onboard
Hard Disk Drive onto which can be stored a variety of file formats such as
MP3 and other audio files, AVCHD video files and image files, built-in wi-fi
Networking capability (enabling a user to not only surf the web via the
PS3's built-in browser or by installing a Linux OS, but also facilitates the
viewing of a variety of files stored on a user's PC), and of course it also
functions as a PS3 and PS2 games unit.

Additionally, the PS3 will decode DTS HD-MA (High Definition Master Audio)
and Dolby TrueHD bitstreams and send the discrete channels down an HDMI
cable in the form of LPCM (Linear Pulse-Code Modulated) audio. As there are
currently few, if any, DTS HD-MA and/or Dolby TrueHD raw bitsream-capable
receivers on the market currently, the ability to utilise those streams, via
HDMI cable, from the PS3 to an HDMI-equipped receiver (in plentiful supply
currently), is a terrific bonus.

Don't know how the price compares these days between the PS3 and standalone
decks but at the time I purchased, the PS3 was AU$500 cheaper than the
cheapest standalone (a Samsung model) and a staggering AU$1700 cheaper than
the derest standalone (Panasonic). While prices have dropped considerably
since then, I believe that the price of a PS3 is still competitive in
comparison to standalones. Worth considering.

But perhaps the best bit of advice I could give anyone concerning the HD
video formats is to hold-off 'til 2008 when the Hi-Def market will shift up
a few gears and a clearer picture (sorry fr the pun) will emerge. There is a
very good reason why back-catalogue DVD discs are being peddled at heavily
reduced prices these days and that is the Studio's are wringing as much as
they can out of SD-DVD before throwing their weight behind the emerging
Hi-Def market.

cheers,

Blofelds Cat

[Back to original message]