Is it worth it?

HankG · 04-24-2009, 03:23 PM

I am setting up my first home theater system and since I don't want to buy Blu Ray right now, would it be worth the money to get a HD dvd player? I already have the Xbox 360, so buying the HD DVD player will only cost me about $50. Will there be a very noticeable difference between standard and HD DVDs? Should I just stick with the standard definition until blu ray drops in price some more?

**PFC5** · 04-24-2009, 04:35 PM

Well considering that you can get the HD DVD player for that cheap and most HD DVD movie titles only cost about $5.00 each it is a good start for the titles released already, but sooner or later you will want to add BD for the newer releases and future releases. Also consider you will likely want to buy a back up HD DVD player IF you buy a lot of titles on HD DVD so they can still be played down the road also as part of the cost of getting into HD DVD.

You can get a BD player for about $250.00 right now I think and just rent BD movies from Netflix at under $2.00 per rental if you watch them fast enough and return them, so in the long run you might be better to into BD and just rent until BD movies get cheap enough to own them at YOUR price point.

The final decision would have to be yours, but I think you NEED to allow for HD DVD player redundancy as part of the cost of getting into HD DVD at this point. Of course, the stand alone HD DVD players are also excellent upscalers also and at $50.00 they are a good deal just for that use if you think about it.

I own 2 HD DVD players that work and 2 that do not work, and I am thinking about buying a 3rd HD DVD player as a backup myself while they are still available.

Keep in mind this is coming from a staunch HD DVD supporter back when it was a viable format, so I am not just pushing BD and want you to understand the full cost of getting into HD DVD right now.

Hope this helps!

Chris Gerhard · 04-24-2009, 05:22 PM

If you are going to have one or the other, Blu-ray or HD DVD, by all means you want that one player to be Blu-ray. You can rent new movies at local stores and online and there are plenty of budget priced Blu-ray releases. Yes, you can get HD DVD players and software at great prices and I have a lot of HD DVD's but having HD DVD is a good supplement to owning Blu-ray but would be a terrible substitute in my opinion. The movies you want to see, new blockbusters and the best classic films won't ever be available on HD DVD.

Chris

isurf · 05-08-2009, 03:39 AM

maybe!@

Nikopol · 05-08-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HankG

I am setting up my first home theater system and since I don't want to buy Blu Ray right now, would it be worth the money to get a HD dvd player? I already have the Xbox 360, so buying the HD DVD player will only cost me about $50. Will there be a very noticeable difference between standard and HD DVDs? Should I just stick with the standard definition until blu ray drops in price some more?

I take it, that Blu-ray prices are an issue in your case. Is in the price for the hardware and/or the software? As Chris said, you might consider the option to get a player and simply rent the movies.

What kind of display do have/plan on getting?

How far away from it will you sit?

Besides from that: Since you have the XBOX 360, i think HD DVD is always worth $50 to be able to play the format. You get access to a pretty large selection of films in HD, most of them can be bought for cheap. You can and should add Blu-ray later on, since this is the format where moving forward new films are being released on.

dvd-blue-ray · 05-08-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HankG

I am setting up my first home theater system and since I don't want to buy Blu Ray right now, would it be worth the money to get a HD dvd player? I already have the Xbox 360, so buying the HD DVD player will only cost me about $50. Will there be a very noticeable difference between standard and HD DVDs? Should I just stick with the standard definition until blu ray drops in price some more?

yup sure ..

raissazhou · 05-17-2009, 10:19 PM

I think it is worth it, only $50, to make your life much better, and you should think that using money inorder to make life better, so, you should buy one anyway.

jakedean · 05-21-2009, 05:37 PM

It's always worth it man..

gizmoupdate · 05-23-2009, 08:48 PM

I think, it is worth it

The_Omega_Man · 05-27-2009, 01:27 AM

No complaints or regrets so far!

iaintnoname · 07-02-2009, 09:53 PM

i think it would be worthy .....u know ..u dun need to spend a lot ...but u can get so much fun from it ....

HD Goofnut · 07-03-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iaintnoname

i think it would be worthy .....u know ..u dun need to spend a lot ...but u can get so much fun from it ....

Ok let's keep the Ebonics to a minimum.

couchpotato99 · 07-05-2009, 01:09 PM

It is DEFINITELY worth it. Even if new HD-DVD titles won't happen, you can still find hundreds of older titles online at Amazon.com or Frys.com.

Best of all, HD-DVD players are GREAT upscalers of standard dvd's.

So if you can get a good deal on the HD-DVD player, buy it!

If you're just looking for a paperweight, ask Sony if they have any SACD players left.

HD Goofnut · 07-05-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by couchpotato99

It is DEFINITELY worth it. Even if new HD-DVD titles won't happen, you can still find hundreds of older titles online at Amazon.com or Frys.com.

Best of all, HD-DVD players are GREAT upscalers of standard dvd's.

So if you can get a good deal on the HD-DVD player, buy it!

If you're just looking for a paperweight, ask Sony if they have any SACD players left.

I totally agree with you there. As far as SACD goes the only player worth buying is the new Oppo Blu-ray player that supports that and DVD-A.

bkugotit · 07-06-2009, 11:48 PM

should I get upscale dvd player or hd dvd player if they were about same price?

04-24-2009, 03:23 PM	#1
HankG A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 11	Is it worth it? I am setting up my first home theater system and since I don't want to buy Blu Ray right now, would it be worth the money to get a HD dvd player? I already have the Xbox 360, so buying the HD DVD player will only cost me about $50. Will there be a very noticeable difference between standard and HD DVDs? Should I just stick with the standard definition until blu ray drops in price some more?

04-24-2009, 04:35 PM	#2
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,333	Well considering that you can get the HD DVD player for that cheap and most HD DVD movie titles only cost about $5.00 each it is a good start for the titles released already, but sooner or later you will want to add BD for the newer releases and future releases. Also consider you will likely want to buy a back up HD DVD player IF you buy a lot of titles on HD DVD so they can still be played down the road also as part of the cost of getting into HD DVD. You can get a BD player for about $250.00 right now I think and just rent BD movies from Netflix at under $2.00 per rental if you watch them fast enough and return them, so in the long run you might be better to into BD and just rent until BD movies get cheap enough to own them at YOUR price point. The final decision would have to be yours, but I think you NEED to allow for HD DVD player redundancy as part of the cost of getting into HD DVD at this point. Of course, the stand alone HD DVD players are also excellent upscalers also and at $50.00 they are a good deal just for that use if you think about it. I own 2 HD DVD players that work and 2 that do not work, and I am thinking about buying a 3rd HD DVD player as a backup myself while they are still available. Keep in mind this is coming from a staunch HD DVD supporter back when it was a viable format, so I am not just pushing BD and want you to understand the full cost of getting into HD DVD right now. Hope this helps! __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

05-17-2009, 10:19 PM	#7
raissazhou What is HD? Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1	I think it is worth it, only $50, to make your life much better, and you should think that using money inorder to make life better, so, you should buy one anyway. __________________ cheap portable dvd players china mobile phone wholesale Led Light Manufactory

05-23-2009, 08:48 PM	#9
gizmoupdate gizmoupdate Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: indonesia Posts: 17	I think, it is worth it __________________ Sharp Aquos LC32DB60U Samsung LN40B550 Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD Samsung LN32A450 HDTV Sony KDL-26L5000 HDTV

07-02-2009, 09:53 PM	#11
iaintnoname iaintnoname Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	i think it would be worthy .....u know ..u dun need to spend a lot ...but u can get so much fun from it .... __________________ CHEAP DVD http://www.buydvdezy.com

04-24-2009, 05:22 PM	#3
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,206	If you are going to have one or the other, Blu-ray or HD DVD, by all means you want that one player to be Blu-ray. You can rent new movies at local stores and online and there are plenty of budget priced Blu-ray releases. Yes, you can get HD DVD players and software at great prices and I have a lot of HD DVD's but having HD DVD is a good supplement to owning Blu-ray but would be a terrible substitute in my opinion. The movies you want to see, new blockbusters and the best classic films won't ever be available on HD DVD. Chris

05-08-2009, 03:39 AM	#4
isurf What is HD? Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 3	maybe!@

05-21-2009, 05:37 PM	#8
jakedean What is HD? Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2	It's always worth it man..

05-27-2009, 01:27 AM	#10
The_Omega_Man Don't touch the remote! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Encino,CA Posts: 3,431	No complaints or regrets so far!

07-05-2009, 01:09 PM	#13
couchpotato99 couchpotato99 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Studio City Posts: 15	It is DEFINITELY worth it. Even if new HD-DVD titles won't happen, you can still find hundreds of older titles online at Amazon.com or Frys.com. Best of all, HD-DVD players are GREAT upscalers of standard dvd's. So if you can get a good deal on the HD-DVD player, buy it! If you're just looking for a paperweight, ask Sony if they have any SACD players left.

07-06-2009, 11:48 PM	#15
bkugotit My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 9	should I get upscale dvd player or hd dvd player if they were about same price?

Similar Threads to Is it worth it?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
tigerbangs prescription for deep fringe reception	rbinck	Local HDTV Info and Reception	1007	Yesterday 09:19 PM
The decade is pretty much over, what were your favorite games in it?	GLOW	Gaming & Systems	25	11-18-2009 05:57 PM
What to buy?	pjc	Blu-Ray Players	11	11-18-2009 04:32 AM
HD clips	HDTV_NZ	High Definition Movies & Video Clips	198	04-18-2006 01:42 AM
Future HD Directv	dynomutt88	DirecTV Forum	14	06-24-2004 02:50 PM
Golf in high def - is it worth it?	coleynyc	The High Definition Lounge	7	05-28-2004 01:39 PM