I'm Upgrading and I need your help

[Greenleaf1]

This past weekend I actually sat down and read up on HDTV's, HDDVD and Blu-ray, and I'm kinda making it my Christmas gift to me to upgrade. I have about 760-some DVD's which I'm kinda pumped about watching in upconverted mode, plus I'm sick of buying these new movies coming out and watching them come out on something better.

Since I have a pretty limited amount of money with which to update (About 600, i'm just a poor college student), I'm asking you guys for your help.

With the limited finances I have already decided upon HDDVD over Blu-ray based strictly on cost (although I would love Pirates and Lost on Blu-ray, I'll have to wait until the price of those players goes down I guess).

I'm planning on buying a 26" from a friend for $250 (it's a CRT, but he insists that it works great), and I'm trying to find the best deal on an HDDVD player. I've heard about HDDVD players on sale for $199 and even $99, but I'm not sure if they're available at that price anymore. I also know something to look out for is getting sometimes up to 10 HDDVDs free with the player.

I also would like to know if there's anything else I need besides the HDTV, an HDDVD player, and an HDMI cable to connect the two. I was under the impression that was all I needed (and if you know any good deals on cables let me know also).

I'm basically looking for help from anyone who knows such things and can help me make a more educated decision on which player to buy (or even if you can point me in the direction of a better deal on a TV, but I doubt it). Thanks for your help!

[MisterChristian]

Is the CRT TV you're buying an HDTV? What exactly are you buying?

If you want my honest opinion, here you go: JUST WAIT. DON'T BOTHER. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Hold off jumping into the HD/BR game until later. You can always make a purchase down the road, and in the meantime you'll be better schooled on the whole issue and save some bucks while you're at it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with DVD. Stick with it for now. That's my advice :)

[ChickFlick]

Is the CRT TV you're buying an HDTV? What exactly are you buying?

If you want my honest opinion, here you go: JUST WAIT. DON'T BOTHER. SAVE YOUR MONEY. Hold off jumping into the HD/BR game until later. You can always make a purchase down the road, and in the meantime you'll be better schooled on the whole issue and save some bucks while you're at it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with DVD. Stick with it for now. That's my advice :)


I second that 100%.

Due to the low price on the HD-DVD players, I almost jumped on it a few times, and held back. Still haven't regretted it. Could always do it down the road.

[MisterChristian]

This is from someone who owns both HD DVD and Blu-Ray. But alas, I'm an early adoper :)

[Greenleaf1]

The CRT is an HDTV, yes, but today I got an offer for an LCD that was about the same price and about the same size. I'm getting an offer from a friend to buy an HDTV for $200, and if I can get an HDDVD player for about the same, that's worth it for me.

Still not a sure thing, but I've seen HD and it looks pretty great to me.

[Jrod99]

wait for superblu or the trublu to come down in price!

which means blu ray and hddvd in one combo player plus dvd

[KyleG]

honestly your not going to notice that much of a difference on such a small tv, i would wait and get the hd dvd player once you get a much larger tv

[Greenleaf1]

on a side note:

- I'm looking at Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and it's only 1 disc on HDDVD, does it have the same features as the 2-disc?

- Also, is an internet connection required at all times while watching an HD DVD?

I'd greatly appreciate answers to both these questions (in regards to the first, I was curious about that with all HD DVD's, not just Potter).

[sirdizzy]

HAHAHA for all the toting of of the fact that hddvd and bluray has so much more storage compacity, they release most of their movies bare bones. I mean these are supposed to be superior formats and you get more on the regular dvds.

So the answer to your question is no you get hosed if you buy potter on hddvd.

[Greenleaf1]

I don't think that's true. I went to HD DVD's website and they had all the same special features listed.

I would believe you about other titles though.

[sirdizzy]

are they listing the one disk or two disk features though. Wb the bastards that they are found out they can screw people for special features especially when it comes to Harry Potter (the first 3 movies were all released as one version a 2 disk version not until the last 2 movies have they split the releases).

[MisterChristian]

Also, is an internet connection required at all times while watching an HD DVD?


You certainly don't need the internet hooked up to an HD DVD in order to play HD DVDs and DVDs. If you're updating the software, then you need to.

[MisterChristian]

Here's the back artwork to showcase the special features on the Two-Disc DVD and the HD DVD/DVD Combo:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/783/1368837dvdyk2.jpg

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/8563/1368840hdur1.jpg

[Greenleaf1]

so it looks like "the hidden secrets of harry potter" is on the DVD, but the HDDVD has some sort of in-movie documentary you can watch (sounds almost like a video commentary).

Looks like I'll probably be going with the HD DVD then, sounds like it has more to offer. These Potter DVD's make me angry, all these different versions make my head spin.

[MisterChristian]

double post - sorry

[MisterChristian]

Here's Blu-Ray, so you can compare to HD DVD:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4937/1368841brzh4.jpg

[Greenleaf1]

Well, thanks for all those who posted here, I did get a 26" LCD HDTV for $200 (which I considered a steal since the TV still works great), and I got an HDDVD player for $200 at Best Buy (good ol' price match) with 10 free HDDVD's.

All the HDDVD's I got so far have the same special features as the regular versions (Unforgiven has all the 2-disc features, so do Last Samurai, Children of Men, and Bourne Identity, I also got 300 but didn't really care about special features for that).

So I guess there's really no more reason for this thread but I don't know if I can lock it or what...I suppose we can just let it die.