Blu-Ray vs. DVD
Sunday, 5. July 2009, 04:50:49
As some of you might know, I got a new job last year. I've had it for 9 months now, so it's kind of wrong to keep calling it a "new job"! Anyway, when I started there, I had myself a new laptop, a huge motherf*cker of a computer! They call it a multimedia centre - it plays music, CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray. It has a built in TV-tuner - so I can watch TV on it also - which I don't.
Anyway - I hardly ever turn on my TV, not even for watching DVDs. I watch them on my "lap"top instead.
So - I went to the DVD store to buy a few movies. I found a couple of interesting ones, and then I suddenly stood by the Blu-Ray shelf, just to check what they had. I've been curious if the format is as good as they claim.
The first one I laid eyes on was "PS. I love you", a romantic movie, that is also on my top 5 list of Movies that made me cry (click link to read the list)...
The difference in price on the DVD and the Blu-Ray was DKK 100 (13.4Eur) - but since I already knew that I absolutely love this movie, I decided to buy it and check out if Blu-Ray is really worth the extra money.
So, that evening I turned on the computer, made sure that there were cold Pepsis in the fridge, and lots of Kleenex nearby. I inserted the BluRay and leaned back - only to find out that the HP QuickPlay needed an update to play the disc.
After what seemed like forever I had the update downloaded and installed. I leaned back one more time, turned up the volume, and let the movie begin.
Okay, let me say right away - the quality is better. Much much better! There's nothing blurry or not sharp at all when you're watching a movie in Blu-Ray format.
The other things I've read should be better with this format is the sound quality. In order to judge that, I'll have to compare directly - which I couldn't because I don't have this movie on DVD. But I doubt it's so evident that I'll be willing to pay extra for it. Remember that I watch it on a computer, there's nothing fancy like surround sound or something like that available for me.
The last thing that should be better, is the access to menus while watching the movie, but I couldn't see any difference in that. Whether it's the HP QuickPlayer's fault or the disc's - I do not know. But fact is that it looked exactly like when I am playing a DVD.
There was one thing, that weighed heavily on the negative side of the scale. It wasn't possible to "speed up" the movie. I could only jump from chapter to chapter, I couldn't press the "fast forward"-button. And that's a huge minus in my book!
So - all in all - I'll keep buying my movies on DVD while it's still an option. That means I can buy more for the same amount of money. :yay:
Anyway - I hardly ever turn on my TV, not even for watching DVDs. I watch them on my "lap"top instead.
So - I went to the DVD store to buy a few movies. I found a couple of interesting ones, and then I suddenly stood by the Blu-Ray shelf, just to check what they had. I've been curious if the format is as good as they claim.
The first one I laid eyes on was "PS. I love you", a romantic movie, that is also on my top 5 list of Movies that made me cry (click link to read the list)...
The difference in price on the DVD and the Blu-Ray was DKK 100 (13.4Eur) - but since I already knew that I absolutely love this movie, I decided to buy it and check out if Blu-Ray is really worth the extra money.
So, that evening I turned on the computer, made sure that there were cold Pepsis in the fridge, and lots of Kleenex nearby. I inserted the BluRay and leaned back - only to find out that the HP QuickPlay needed an update to play the disc.
After what seemed like forever I had the update downloaded and installed. I leaned back one more time, turned up the volume, and let the movie begin.
Okay, let me say right away - the quality is better. Much much better! There's nothing blurry or not sharp at all when you're watching a movie in Blu-Ray format. The other things I've read should be better with this format is the sound quality. In order to judge that, I'll have to compare directly - which I couldn't because I don't have this movie on DVD. But I doubt it's so evident that I'll be willing to pay extra for it. Remember that I watch it on a computer, there's nothing fancy like surround sound or something like that available for me.
The last thing that should be better, is the access to menus while watching the movie, but I couldn't see any difference in that. Whether it's the HP QuickPlayer's fault or the disc's - I do not know. But fact is that it looked exactly like when I am playing a DVD.
There was one thing, that weighed heavily on the negative side of the scale. It wasn't possible to "speed up" the movie. I could only jump from chapter to chapter, I couldn't press the "fast forward"-button. And that's a huge minus in my book!
So - all in all - I'll keep buying my movies on DVD while it's still an option. That means I can buy more for the same amount of money. :yay:
(28%)
WIDGETIZE
Dacotah # 5. July 2009, 05:27
ellinidata # 5. July 2009, 05:39
is enough reason for me too!
not to mention that my lap top is close to three years old and very tired to run a movie on it!
by the way,
remind me if we ever see a movie together,
to bring about 3836462636734 boxes of Kleenex
movies and books do it for me too!
the last time I was snorting and did cry my heart out in a movie theater...
the lady three seats further down
was passing Kleenex to me!
not that I will ever stop going to the movies or anything
but DVDs allow you to cry and snort your heart content!
DVD's get the vote again!
.
Zaphira # 5. July 2009, 06:13
@ Angeliki ~ If you had a lady three seat further down passing you Kleenex, then you're worse than me at crying.
This movie is the first one that had me crying through the entire movie, from beginning to end.
Dacotah # 5. July 2009, 06:25
qlue # 5. July 2009, 06:35
Zaphira # 5. July 2009, 06:46
I just thought it would be fun to try it out, now that my computer has the option.
AnitaMargita # 5. July 2009, 07:39
Zaphira # 5. July 2009, 07:41
AnitaMargita # 5. July 2009, 07:44
Zaphira # 5. July 2009, 08:00
AnitaMargita # 5. July 2009, 08:11
Zaphira # 5. July 2009, 08:15
AnitaMargita # 5. July 2009, 08:26
Spaggyj # 5. July 2009, 10:38
Furie # 5. July 2009, 11:32
I also download music, though I refuse to pay for it when it's something I've already had to buy three times on tape (not built to last) and twice on CD before. They've had more than their fair share of my money and I'm putting that song on my phone for free, damn it!
Blu-ray (and HD-DVD before it went tits up) has a higher storage capacity on the disc meaning they can fit more on there, but it's up to the movie creators to decide what to add on, and up to the player creators to decide what to support. For audio features the thing they sometimes add is the cinema sound file, which on the most expensive systems really does make a difference, but not one worth getting the most expensive systems. I believe the Phantom of the Opera movie was the first to do this, but not everything since that has done that. Other things players usually support is picture in picture, meaning you can set an extra so that the film keeps playing but the director or cast members pop-up in a window on screen and start telling you about a particular scene, with the audio for the pop-up given priority. The format has higher storage capacity which means that you can usually fit a series on a single disc complete with extras.
While the price is higher than DVD for both the players and the discs, they'll only appeal to those curious about the player they've gotten included in their computer/console or those who define their lives by having the newest shiny expensive thing before anyone they know. Once the price comes down to be in line with DVDs (my DVD player is £250 cheaper than the cheapest Blu-ray player I've seen) though, people will start swapping over.
rose-marie # 5. July 2009, 15:44
night wolf # 5. July 2009, 17:46
Zaphira # 5. July 2009, 18:05
@ Mik ~ Are you reading books on your phone?
I've listened to a few books, but I like to be able to flip back a page or two, and that's a bit difficult with audio.
As for Blu-Ray - I think you're right about the price - it needs to be lower. For new movies they still charge about 10 pounds more than for the same movie on DVD. That's way too much.
@ Rose ~ I've considered to switch my PS2 into a PS3. That plays Blu-Ray as well.
@ Amir ~ I hadn't either.
Furie # 5. July 2009, 19:03
theoddbod # 5. July 2009, 22:26
When BD+ gets properly cracked, i'll consider it
flamingo-rinse # 6. July 2009, 00:35
Never tried audio books - reading for me is kind of a solitary exercise, and the audio element means someone else probably has to listen too - I spend enough time on headphones as it is & when I read, I want it to be with my eyes, know what I mean??
Furie # 6. July 2009, 01:04
dbshadow # 6. July 2009, 03:08
qlue # 6. July 2009, 06:19
Betamax only lost because the licencing needed to legally manufacture a Betamax cost too much. Had Sony made it an open standard, VHS wouldn't have stood a chance.
theoddbod # 6. July 2009, 07:12
Furie # 6. July 2009, 10:02
Suntana # 7. July 2009, 23:51
Zaph, what about that bit whereby it was said that the detail on Blu Ray is such that unless the Actors have perfect faces, any imperfection is gonna be magnified several times over? Did any of your Fav Actors suddenly look like Monsters because now you saw what they REALLY look like?
Zaphira # 8. July 2009, 04:02
As for the actors, hmm, none of my favourite actors was starring the film, allthough I must admit that I found Gerard Butler pretty yummy ...
Suntana # 8. July 2009, 15:14
Zaphira # 8. July 2009, 18:02
Chas4 # 10. July 2009, 04:15