36 replies to this topic

[Dr Jeaus]

WOW!!  

What an image. I've managed to get my hands on a BR movie from the States called UltraViolet.
Not a bad flick but I wasn't really paying attention to the storyline.
I was way too engrossed in the PQ.  
It was a slightly softer image than I had imagined but I think that was a bi-product of the Projector not the player or the movie itself. The movie was mainly action and had lots of fight scenes.
Even in these indoor fight scenes the depth of the image was quite amazing, I can only draw a likeness to 3D
images althouth not quite to the extemity of jumping off the screen.

Although on the 100" screen I was veiwing it on it looked as if I could simply stand up and walk into the image, it was that clear.
The movie itself was quite dark(much like the matrix) so I still probably haven't seen the best that it can produce. But after finally seeing it after the long wait I can say that the ait was worth it.
The only thing now is waiting for more options for BR players to come too the market, not to mention some flat panel displays to resolve the image correctly so I can watch these things in my loungeroom rather than locking myself away in a theatre room.

Anyway thought I'd let you all know it is definatly worth the wait and the expense.

Doc

[Jace]

Are you watching this through the Samsung Blu-Ray player?  From all reports, it's a steaming pile of crap.

[dazbug]

Gee if u think that looks good, you should see HD-DVD then.

where did you get your player and how much did you shell out !!

[Amfibius]

Dr Jeaus, on Aug 31 2006, 02:43 PM, said:

WOW!!  

WOW!! Finally, someone with something positive to say about Blu-Ray! I was starting to think that this format war is going to be a walk-over with HD-DVD trampling all over Blu-Ray.

Would love to hear more. What equipment?

[Chui]

Jace, on Aug 31 2006, 05:13 PM, said:

From all reports, it's a steaming pile of crap.

Are you holding back Jace??

[Chicken Man]

I do agree with Jace but rather I am commenting on the movie as "  it's a steaming pile of crap."

So even seeing it in high definition cannot compensate for the crummy acting and story line that pervades the movie.

I pulled the plug on it after enduring 25 minutes of brain rot.

C.M

[williamtassone]

as bad as Aeon Flux? Now Thats an achievement.

Glad ur enjoying the Samsung. now jump on the band wagon and ride with the big guys.

[ajm]

Definately worth the expense?  How can anyone judge that without knowing the expense?  How much are we talking about?  $1000?  $2000?  $3000?

I'll go out on a limb here and predict that the good Dr works at/for Sony in some capacity.  Either that or he's got something of a hard-on for the company much like our local forum Sony fanboi Highjinx (who is due here any moment).

There's a definate theme to his posts that's for sure

[David K]

williamtassone, on Sep 1 2006, 01:19 AM, said:

as bad as Aeon Flux? Now Thats an achievement.
.....

WORSE than Aeon Flux!  I suffered thru the whole movie.. thats 87 min of my life Ill never get back!

[Foggy]

My first impression of BluRay on a Ruby was that it was impressive, but not as impressive as a single chip 720p DLP running XviD HD Demo clips via Zensonic Z500.

...where's highjinx... he's running late

[Austen]

Amfibius, on Aug 31 2006, 07:53 PM, said:

WOW!! Finally, someone with something positive to say about Blu-Ray! I was starting to think that this format war is going to be a walk-over with HD-DVD trampling all over Blu-Ray.

Is there supposed to be any difference between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD as far as PQ is concerned ?

All other things being equal, I guess the Blu-Ray camp could claim their PQ was better as the disk size is bigger so less compression is needed ????

But for all the warring between the camps, I'm not sure that I've heard PQ as a difference ???

Amfibius, on Aug 31 2006, 07:53 PM, said:

Would love to hear more. What equipment?

You betcha !!  Spill the beans !!!

Austen.

[Foggy]

Audioholics have just reviewed the Samsunf BDP-1000.

Click here to view the full article

Quote

Conclusion

Let’s understand something. The $999 Samsung BD-P1000 is for those consumers who want, and can afford, the latest and greatest. This is an early-adopter product. With these products come several factors: Buy it, and you will 1) have the greatest level of quality available in DVD (compared to standard definition, this is not a statement on comparing formats), 2) be subject to the occasional bug or issue associated with a first-generation product, and 3) pay more than what these products will eventually cost once early adopters allow manufacturers to recoup R&D and bring down prices.

What can we say overall about the BD-P1000? It’s a decent product – worth every penny to those who have the funds and demand the latest and greatest gadgets. For those looking to work on a budget, you can afford to wait a bit and settle for standard DVD upconversion to 720p/1080i which is now available in decent form for less than $150. For those looking at high end DVD players with upconversion capability, the Blu-ray player now looks very tempting indeed and might actually save you some money.

We are very disappointed with the software available for Blu-ray. It seems very unpredictable and adds one more level of “buyer beware” to an already uncertain marketplace. When it’s all said and done, my vote is for everyone to rush out and buy these players – once you do the prices will come down and “mere mortals” can then enjoy high definition without having to empty their wallets of quite so much cash. So, support those of us who can’t afford the latest gadgets – buy these players up!

[Santa]

Jace, on Aug 31 2006, 03:13 PM, said:

Are you watching this through the Samsung Blu-Ray player?  From all reports, it's a steaming pile of crap.

Whoa!  

Sorry, but reports do not support this!


As far as I have been able to tell, no credible reports of steam have been made.  


Pile of crap ... sure! But steaming ... you're going too far with that one!  

[ozcal]

Austen, on Sep 1 2006, 08:35 AM, said:

Is there supposed to be any difference between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD as far as PQ is concerned ?

All other things being equal, I guess the Blu-Ray camp could claim their PQ was better as the disk size is bigger so less compression is needed ????

But for all the warring between the camps, I'm not sure that I've heard PQ as a difference ???
You betcha !!  Spill the beans !!!

Austen.

Austen Sony are still using the Mpeg2 codec rather than hd264 for thier first generation of players.The use of Mp2 is thought to reduce picrure quality from what I have read.
Gordon

[Chicken Man]

Rather than start a new thread on 'The Shortage of Blue Lasers ", I have provided a link here .

http://www.gamerevol...iew.php?id=1789

Quote..............

"   Blue Laser Shortage May Affect Blu-ray/HD DVD Battle

    Optical drive manufacturers have indicated that yield rates for blue laser diodes have been much behind demand. This shortage has forced Sony to suspend its blue laser shipments so that they can be used in the supposed 4 million PS3s being produced this year.

    It seems as if the impending next-gen DVD format war may not start in earnest until 2007, according to a report from technology site DigiTimes.com. Apparently the manufacturers of blue laser diodes, which are needed for both the Blu-ray and HD DVD optical drives, have not had much success in improving their yield rates.

    Many manufacturers, including Philips, Sony, Matsushita, Hitachi, Ben-Q and others, have already announced plans for either HD DVD or Blu-ray drives, but only Pioneer and Plextor said that they would be able to maintain actual shipments, according to the report.

    This puts Sony in particular in quite a bind. Sony has obviously invested quite a bit in the Blu-ray format and the company would very much like consumers to pick up a Blu-ray player and not an HD DVD player or the HD DVD peripheral for Microsoft’s Xbox 360. In order to make sure that the Blu-ray enabled PlayStation 3 does not run into any further problems, Sony has actually suspended shipments of blue laser diodes to other customers so that the components can be used for PS3 manufacturing first.

    So high-definition movie enthusiasts looking for the BDP-S1 Blu-ray player may not be able to find one. The easiest way to get the Blu-ray experience this year will likely be to be buy a PS3 (if you think spending $600 is easy, that is).

    The supply of blue laser diodes is expected to ease by the first quarter of next year, and Sony still maintains that it will ship 6 million PS3 units by the end of that quarter. "


* Let me add here that Hitachi also produce Blue Laser diodes, and Hitachi is part of the HD-DVD group, so Toshiba is not entirely held captive to Sony supply.

C.M

[kiwimeat]

Chicken Man, on Sep 1 2006, 01:53 PM, said:

Rather than start a new thread on 'The Shortage of Blue Lasers ", I have provide a link here .

http://www.gamerevol...iew.php?id=1789
C.M

Obligatory "They haven't got any frinkin lasers! How am I 'spossed to have sharks with frinkin laser beams, if I ain't got no frickin lasers!?" comment.

[williamtassone]

as of now, Blu ray is a joke compared to HD-DVD as far as pic quality goes.

Sony has announced that they will release movies with AVC rather than low bit rate MPEG2 .

Maybe then , and with a non-samsung player, things will get better. Who knows?

[Paranoid666au]

Many people and many reviewers think Blu Ray picture quality is not as good as HD DVD. Why?

Well Blu Ray movie's has so far only been published on single layer 25GB disk. Where as HD DVD have been released on double layer 30GB. But that's not the real problem, the real problem lies with most of the Blu Ray movies using MPEG2 where as HD DVD has been using VC-1, a far more modern and efficient codec that can compress high quality HD even further.

Lions Gate are releasing movies later this year that will use AVC (H.264) and even at least one movie is said to be released on dual layer 50GB disk (A first for sure). So it'll be interesting to see how the quality of these movies shape up.

EDIT: The Samsung also has a picture processing bug that could be hindering the picture quality. It wont be fixed till later this year.

[Drizt]

I find it interesting that lots of people on this forum in particular want Blu-Ray to fail, and even laugh at its teething problems.

I will save my judgements until the second generation players and titles from each party is released.  My money is on Blu-Ray for one simple fact, it has higher capacity.  All things being equal, higher capacity is always going to win.

Take a DVD for instance.  If you took a single layer DVD and and dual layer DVD and use the same compression algorithms (the single layer obviously being more compressed) then the dual layer disk is always going to have higher quality.

This same theory can apply for HD DVD and BluRay.  If they both use the same compression algorithms, then teh one with the higher capacity will have the better picture quality.

[williamtassone]

paranoid, are u getting the PM's im sending u?

[ajm]

Drizt, on Sep 1 2006, 03:18 PM, said:

All things being equal, higher capacity is always going to win.

Take a DVD for instance.  If you took a single layer DVD and and dual layer DVD and use the same compression algorithms (the single layer obviously being more compressed) then the dual layer disk is always going to have higher quality.

This same theory can apply for HD DVD and BluRay.  If they both use the same compression algorithms, then teh one with the higher capacity will have the better picture quality.

Aahhh but that's the issue you see.  Both things aren't equal.  Not by a long shot.

Sony can't reliably produce the dual layer discs.
Early release media in MPEG2
The first BD player is about twice the cost of the HD
The PS3 will weigh in at a $GRAND!  It's a console games machine ffs!!

Fact is there seems to be enough space on the dual layer HD disc to fit an entire movie in 1080p res at high bit rate.  The extra space doesn't really seem to provide much.

If they're matched $ per GB then you're probably right but that's the higher capacity would be desirable but Sony don't ever seem to work like that.

[Drizt]

ajm, on Sep 1 2006, 05:51 PM, said:

Aahhh but that's the issue you see.  Both things aren't equal.  Not by a long shot.

Sony can't reliably produce the dual layer discs.
Early release media in MPEG2
The first BD player is about twice the cost of the HD
The PS3 will weigh in at a $GRAND!  It's a console games machine ffs!!

Fact is there seems to be enough space on the dual layer HD disc to fit an entire movie in 1080p res at high bit rate.  The extra space doesn't really seem to provide much.

If they're matched $ per GB then you're probably right but that's the higher capacity would be desirable but Sony don't ever seem to work like that.

Time will tell.

Ill put money on Blu-Ray in the long run.

[Chicken Man]

A point I have made in times past is that the success of any product in the marketplace is in the perception that product creates, through its ability to satisfy customer expectations and the quality of customer service provided,not in the printed specifications nor the future promises made for it.

A case in point is that of the Oppo upscaling DVD player, a brilliant machine (in HDMI output) amd at an affordable price with outstanding customer service.If only other manufacturers could do the same.

Another point I have raised was that the Rental Video market will not accept a video disc that is vulernable to damage through scratches of the top layer, regardless of whether it has a surface coating to minimise this.

The Blu-ray disc construction is much more susceptible to physical damage than is the HD-DVD disc due to its top plastic layer thickness being only .1 of a millimetre as against that of .6 of a millimetre for the HD-DVD disc.

The problem here is that there is little tolerance for polishing out scratches on the Blu-ray disc whereas the HD-DVD disc which conforms to the physical DVD standard construction,does.

The success of the format will largely be dependent on the Rental market which inadvertently promotes the sales of discs.

Most, like myself often preview a movie through a rental disc before outlaying on the full cost of a disc to add to one's collection.

So the format war is going to be won through the Rental market,not one that is based

[williamtassone]

Chicken Man, on Sep 1 2006, 07:21 PM, said:

High Definition video is a' money spinner' and not about pretty pictures.

C.M

a fair point and maybe J6P will go for blu-ray cause it sounds sexy and has an enormous propaganda budget. Lest we forget that they chose VHS over Beta

[Austen]

williamtassone, on Sep 1 2006, 08:34 PM, said:

a fair point and maybe J6P will go for blu-ray cause it sounds sexy and has an enormous propaganda budget. Lest we forget that they chose VHS over Beta

If I wasn't at work now slackin off    busy working, I'd review some of my previous posts where I predict the failure of HD-DVD based solely on the fact that Blu-Ray has a sexier name   !!

But I do take your point that Blu-Ray may also have a far larger promotional budget, and that's why I have a Sony BETA-HiFi deck that I hardly ever use !!!

J6P isn't all that smart   !!!!!!!!!

Austen.