I've been thinking about the upgrade, but to be honest, 4/5 of my collection is TV shows and music-related DVD's. Movies like The Matrix and Lord Of The Rings, which are meant to truly be experienced in hi-def aren't movies I'm a fan of (tho Harry Potter is a consideration, I do like those) and as of now, I don't have a big HDTV player, most of my DVD viewing is on my computer and on a TV-DVD player I have in my bedroom, so it's not like I need it.

Anyone made the upgrade and/or hesitating? I know the quality is better, but outside of the Alien and Harry Potter movies, I can't think of very many big-budget films that are loaded with wonderful effects that the upgrade would truly be worth it for. I mean, after all, I get enjoyment from somewhat fuzzy 11-14 year old Facts Of Life recordings from USA transferred to DVD and ancient recordings of Solid Gold and Soul Train with commercials that are as old as I am.

Upgrade? What is... an "Upgrade"?

No. If I had my way, I would never upgrade a single thing. Things that work, should never be replaced. I hate how technology just keeps outdoing itself. It's getting so nothing is designed to last anymore.

^ I feel the same way. It's funny when you consider that the vinyl record lasted some seventy years before "replaced" by the compact disc in the late 80's (and vinyl technically never died, there are still people who only buy their music on vinyl), yet now they're already bettering DVD's when DVD's have been here barely a decade.

If I was a hardcore fan of movies like LOTR, Matrix and the sort, I would've upgraded by now, but as my taste is more television and music-oriented, I don't really feel compelled yet. In reality, there's only a handful of movies that have the replay value to me to own, even something like Star Wars lost it's appeal to me trying to watch a second time. So for now, I don't feel the need to upgrade since most of the things I'm interested in aren't really going to be able to look any better than they already do because of limitations

Its too expensive to keep up with, lol. I'm not upgrading any time soon and i hope they don't stop making regular dvds and turn everything into blu-ray. I have a Playstation 2 that plays dvds and several DVD players that work just fine and it would be a ridiculous waste of money for me to upgrade. I'm staying clear of the Blu-ray aisle, just give me regular DVDs that play in my dvd players.

People wanted me to upgrade from VHS to DVDS and now from DVDS to Blue Ray...No way. I'm tired of spending money on the same things only in different formats. :lol:

Eventually I'll probably have converted all my VHS tapes to regular DVD at a reasonable timeframe. And I buy other DVD's of my favorite things and interests when I can. That is enough for me. Most of my favorite shows aren't in high-def or Blu-Ray or any of that. I'm happy with my regular DVD player too.

I am not upgrading to anything until the format war is resolved.
I may get an Apple TV tho, cause you can rent HD movies right on that.

I am not upgrading to anything until the format war is resolved.
I may get an Apple TV tho, cause you can rent HD movies right on that.
from the looks of it, the format war has been won. Warner has been the biggest HD-DVD pusher thus far and announced a week or two back that they are abandoning HD-DVD and going to just do BluRay. There are a few companies left that continue to market both, but it looks like BluRay has officially won out now that the biggest HD-DVD company has gone Blu.

Nothing is resolved until its resolved. They thought the same thing with Betamax, and where is it at now.

I believe both Blu Ray and HD DVD will play regular dvds, so when you do have to get a new one, at least they wont be obsolete like the VHS.

^ I feel the same way. It's funny when you consider that the vinyl record lasted some seventy years before "replaced" by the compact disc in the late 80's (and vinyl technically never died, there are still people who only buy their music on vinyl), yet now they're already bettering DVD's when DVD's have been here barely a decade.

If I was a hardcore fan of movies like LOTR, Matrix and the sort, I would've upgraded by now, but as my taste is more television and music-oriented, I don't really feel compelled yet. In reality, there's only a handful of movies that have the replay value to me to own, even something like Star Wars lost it's appeal to me trying to watch a second time. So for now, I don't feel the need to upgrade since most of the things I'm interested in aren't really going to be able to look any better than they already do because of limitationsI agree. The old adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies here.

Just like people who still use typewriters and are perfectly happy with them. I mean, hell, my mother's friend is a newspaper collumnist and she still writes all her collumns out in longhand, and won't even go NEAR a typewriter; has a computer at her job, and never uses it, has a web site but never goes in it; and at her house she doesn't even own a TV and just listens to the radio ocasionelly. And, I'll bet she still has a black, rotary dial phone. (do they still even MAKE those?) :lol: And, she's perfectly happy. (of course, she's also 85 years old!:lol: )

People wanted me to upgrade from VHS to DVDS and now from DVDS to Blue Ray...No way. I'm tired of spending money on the same things only in different formats. :lol:


Yes, I totally agree. But because DVDs are so much better than VHS, I did convert the VHS shows/movies I really loved to DVD and gave the VHS's to charity. I ALMOST NEVER buy any VHS any more. But I'm not going to upgrade any further for a long time. DVD's really work for me.

We didn't "convert" but bought a Blue Ray quite a while ago and love it. Incredible picture from them.

All I can see better than these is holographs!

nope not upgrading. I don't plan on anytime soon. I would not want to pay an extra 10-15$ for a blue ray disk when my dvd's still are great.

I believe both Blu Ray and HD DVD will play regular dvds, so when you do have to get a new one, at least they wont be obsolete like the VHS.


Yes - you're right - our BluRay does play the older DVDs, it's just a BluRay DVD can't be played on a regular DVD. Nobody will lose anything.


And the war WAS won - two weeks ago Sony announced they'd go BluRay rather than HD. And when you mention look at Beta - you're right - that was also Sony's which they were holding onto for dear life and they lost that battle too.

Feel confident - go out and buy a BluRay.

nope not upgrading. I don't plan on anytime soon. I would not want to pay an extra 10-15$ for a blue ray disk when my dvd's still are great.


So keep playing your current DVDs. Within a year, the price of BluRay disks will drop to the same prices. Just start buying them then.

You feel like you can walk into the picture its so 3D and clear. :)

I also can't see spending the extra money when DVDs are good enough. Besides; in a few years they'll introduce something that's better and say how it's a "must-have" item.

Yes - you're right - our BluRay does play the older DVDs, it's just a BluRay DVD can't be played on a regular DVD. Nobody will lose anything.


And the war WAS won - two weeks ago Sony announced they'd go BluRay rather than HD. And when you mention look at Beta - you're right - that was also Sony's which they were holding onto for dear life and they lost that battle too.

Feel confident - go out and buy a BluRay.
Wait Blu Ray can play regular DVDs?

Wait Blu Ray can play regular DVDs?
yep, it's just a "better" player, kinda like how DVD's can play CD's and DVD-R's can burn CD-R's, it's just the next step further

The quality is great, but I don't think either Blu-Ray or HD DVD will become successful anytime soon. The players are close to $1,000... people who want HD movies could simply use pay-per-view which is only $3.99. The biggest threat might even be Apple TV... iTunes is starting to get a pretty good selection of HD movies, and now they even have a rent service as well.

yea, I think BluRay will catch on, but mainly as a niche for videophiles. Kinda like true audiophiles embraced the SACD/DVD-Audio formats but most people were just fine with their cd's, and preferred iPod's to a superior sound quality. I think the same will happen with BluRay and the sort. True videophiles will make the upgrade, but the average joe who upgraded from VHS to DVD isn't ready to upgrade yet again, much like people who upgraded their old vinyl and tapes to CD didn't want to rebuy yet another copy of Thriller or Rumours in an even better version when they are fine with their CD/iPod version.

The quality is great, but I don't think either Blu-Ray or HD DVD will become successful anytime soon. The players are close to $1,000... people who want HD movies could simply use pay-per-view which is only $3.99. The biggest threat might even be Apple TV... iTunes is starting to get a pretty good selection of HD movies, and now they even have a rent service as well.


Where are you shopping??? Usually everything (especially electronics) are more expensive in Canada but you can pickup BluRays now for around $600 and January/February is the best time of the year always for buying any electronics. Keep your eyes open for sales - failing that, I'll guarantee you the prices will start dropping drastically in the next few months.

And yes, definitely all your current DVDs can be played on any BluRay player. You just can't play BluRays or HDs on a regular DVD player. Good news there at least! :)

Where are you shopping??? Usually everything (especially electronics) are more expensive in Canada but you can pickup BluRays now for around $600 and January/February is the best time of the year always for buying any electronics. Keep your eyes open for sales - failing that, I'll guarantee you the prices will start dropping drastically in the next few months.

And yes, definitely all your current DVDs can be played on any BluRay player. You just can't play BluRays or HDs on a regular DVD player. Good news there at least! :)
Better idea: You can get a PlayStation 3, which has a built-in blu-ray player along with the fact that it's a PlayStation for $399.

I have one and I haven't looked back.

Better idea: You can get a PlayStation 3, which has a built-in blu-ray player along with the fact that it's a PlayStation for $399.

I have one and I haven't looked back.

That's also an option (like when the X-Box came out with the DVD player builtin). It's a great introduction to them.

My husband wouldn't go for that though - he's an electronics snob so he said those are "base" model BluRay players and he wanted a better model. He did get the PlayStation 3 for our nephew though.
I'm sure he overpaid for the BluRay, but he always likes to "be first on the block" with the new toys so it's tough holding him back from buying early. ugh!

That's also an option (like when the X-Box came out with the DVD player builtin). It's a great introduction to them.

My husband wouldn't go for that though - he's an electronics snob so he said those are "base" model BluRay players and he wanted a better model. He did get the PlayStation 3 for our nephew though.
I'm sure he overpaid for the BluRay, but he always likes to "be first on the block" with the new toys so it's tough holding him back from buying early. ugh!
The PS3 isn't a "base" model player. It's constantly getting firmware updates that enhance both the blu-ray and gaming capabilities and it'll keep getting the ability to play the latest blu-ray profiles as they are released.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluray#Player_profiles It can do Profile 1.1 now. It's definitely not a base model - it's probably one of the better and more functional players on the market and will continue to be since it can be so easily upgraded.

This is such a pain after buying most of my favourite tv-shows and movies etc on regular dvds, then they go and bring out bluray :mad:
I'm not upgrading any time soon.

But the PS3 is so unattrative to keep out in either a living room OR even a TV room.

But the PS3 is so unattrative to keep out in either a living room OR even a TV room.
How is it unattractive? It looks much better in person to me. It's black so it matches most other electronics and looks really shiny and sleek.

There's even a rumored price drop:

http://www.ps3forums.com/showthread.php?t=120206

This is such a pain after buying most of my favourite tv-shows and movies etc on regular dvds, then they go and bring out bluray :mad:
I'm not upgrading any time soon.



:yeahthat

I have always wondered what the Blu Ray was when I went to Wal Mart. I'm just getting upgraded to dvd's. I'll upgrade in about 10 years. I remember when vhs/dvd combos first came out. I saw it on QVC and they sold it for 350.00 Now you can get one for 89.00. It's worth it to wait.

I see no need. But I am thinking of getting an upconverting DVD player. Supposedly it makes SD DVDs look closer to HD on an HDTV. And they have many under $100.

Exactly. I hope dvds won't stop being made. I've spent way too much money replacing all the vhs tapes with dvds. It's only been in the last year that I finally was willing to even convert from vhs to dvd. A few years ago I said I would never buy dvds. :lol:
I remember saying that too...until I watched a DVD on the only DVD player I had, which was in my computer. The clearness of the pic sold me instantly.