Posted by tssk on 08/15/07 00:57

"Blofelds Cat" <nospam@dotcom.com> wrote in message
news:46c2462e$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>
> "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
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Excellent synopsis...
And I would add... price is all, as is backward compatibility.
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