Does everything need to be in High def?

HDDVDSupport · 12-20-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

To me there are many scenarios where I would welcome a choice between SD and HD, where SD, of course, would be offered at a much lower price. Smallville season 5, for example, is on both formats, and as new release, the price difference is really not great ($40 SD vs about $50-50 HD), but I know Smallville S5, like many other TV on DVD and movies, will go down considerably in price to under $20.

My point is, what would the price ratio need to be order to "settle" for SD over HD? 2 to 1? 3 to 1? 5 to 1? What is a better value: Silence of the Lambs in SD for $8.00, or the same in HD for $20.00?
Of course, it depends on the person, the price difference, and the movie (whether HD really adds much more enjoyment to the viewing experience). I like to have that choice since I agree that for many type of programs that SD is just fine for me, especially when it's upscaled.

Another thing to consider is the transfer quality. Smallville S5 in HD is an excellent transfer and the PQ upgrade to me was worth the extra money.

If given the choice, I will always pick the HD version, regardless of the price of the disc.

**bruceames** · 12-20-2006, 06:52 PM

One thing I hadn't thought of was that renting either (SD or HD) would be the same price (assuming Netflix), so the price vs. quality choice would only apply to buying.

But the OP does raise good points. How much extra viewing pleasure really is derived from watching HD over SD and how much better does the content need to be to choose an SD movie over a lesser movie in HD?

dontknowjack · 12-20-2006, 08:08 PM

I myself will not buy every one of movies on HD. At least not until they all go HD. Certain movies are not worth paying extra just to go HD.

**PFC5** · 12-20-2006, 09:27 PM

I am renting a lot of movies from Netflix, but other than buying movies for the 2 younger kids on SD DVD, EVERY movie I buy is HD-DVD.

Why buy a movie in SD when the HD is only a few dollars more, and I imagine in a couple of years, most/all of my TVs will be HDTVs and have HD-DVD players with them.

Remember, we will be watching them for many years to come, and if you won't be, then why buy them to begin with?

Hisgreatnessth · 12-20-2006, 09:31 PM

Im not rebuyin movies made before 2005, except star wars cause I am a Luca$ slave.

HDDVDSupport · 12-20-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hisgreatnessth

Im not rebuyin movies made before 2005, except star wars cause I am a Luca$ slave.

Wow... must be a movie lover.

**bruceames** · 12-20-2006, 09:37 PM

I bought House season 1 for $12.99. That's one example of just saying to hell with it and buying even though it's SD. There are many, many good movies available for under $5.00 now in SD, so to me there still is an attractive alternative. I'm not enslaved to HD by any means and never will be because upscaled SD still looks damn good. If the content is good enough, then I won't notice that it's not HD because I will be "distracted" by the content.

**PFC5** · 12-20-2006, 09:39 PM

True Bruce, very true. I didn't realize SD DVDs were getting that cheap. I need to get out more.

ja2935 · 12-20-2006, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

..... There are many, many good movies available for under $5.00 now in SD.......

Yes, piles and piles of them in Walmart - not very many are 'good' though! and many are full screen versions which Wallmart seem to push for some reason!

rmslives · 12-20-2006, 09:58 PM

Even ten years from now, I'm not sure every tv I will own will be high def. Do I need a high def 26'' tv in the bedroom? Will my kids need 15" high def monitors?

I have to be honest and say that now that I know I will be getting a HD player, I feel like I ought to buy nothing but HD titles. There's still something inside me, though, that cannot bring myself to pay an extra $10 just to see A Christmas Story in HD. I don't think I would enjoy it $10 more!

**bruceames** · 12-20-2006, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ja2935

Yes, piles and piles of them in Walmart - not very many are 'good' though! and many are full screen versions which Wallmart seem to push for some reason!

I rarely go to Walmart. The cheap movies I refer to are those on sale or those as part of box collections. For example, I got the 6 movie Steve McQueen collection at Costco for $16.95. I also like classic movies and now I only buy them in collections if the average price is under $5.00 per movie.

It's simple math really. If they price it low enough and I want it, I will buy it. But with HD DVD out, I'm for the most part limiting my SD purchases to older movies and TV shows.

rockaway1836 · 12-21-2006, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmslives

Even ten years from now, I'm not sure every tv I will own will be high def. Do I need a high def 26'' tv in the bedroom? Will my kids need 15" high def monitors?
I have to be honest and say that now that I know I will be getting a HD player, I feel like I ought to buy nothing but HD titles. There's still something inside me, though, that cannot bring myself to pay an extra $10 just to see A Christmas Story in HD. I don't think I would enjoy it $10 more!

Twenty five years ago , you could have said the same thing about color TV. Now today it's almost imposible to find a black and white set. Just a few years ago the thought of a kid having there own PC was almost mind boggiling. Today in my house, both of my kids have HD in their bedrooms as well as PCs. What we will need or have in the future is anybodys guess
The choice you make is of course your own. I, at this point in time have no intention of re-buying everything I own either. And from time to time I may buy a title that is not available in either BD or HD because I wish to see it now. However if there is a title that comes out in SD and either BD or HD I'm going with either of the hi def formats and skipping the SD alltogether.
If you own a HDTV, why would you not want to optimize what comes out of it? The price of the discs in both formats can be a bit high at times. ($30 area) But with some smart shopping, it's not too hard to keep the price within reason. ($20-$25) Anyone that finds the prices for players or discs too high in either format should not be getting into it right now.

**PFC5** · 12-21-2006, 03:36 AM

Wow Rock. Your family household is as hi-tech as mine. I got you beat on the computers I think, but you got me on the HDTVs.

rockaway1836 · 12-21-2006, 06:13 AM

At one time I had 5 PCs in the house. Now I'm down to 3. TV's are all over the place. I think I have 16 total 4 of them are HD. I like my toys!

JimmyJames · 12-21-2006, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ja2935

Yes, piles and piles of them in Walmart - not very many are 'good' though! and many are full screen versions which Wallmart seem to push for some reason!

The Wal-Mart "$5.00" bins are interesting. Most of it is crap, but if you have a few extra minutes to spare, look through it. Sometimes you find "diamonds in the rough"...Titles in Widescreen and 5.1 and actually good older films that you wouldn't expext to be that cheap. Like I said, most of it is junk but there are some goodies to be found.

12-20-2006, 09:27 PM	#34
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,376	I am renting a lot of movies from Netflix, but other than buying movies for the 2 younger kids on SD DVD, EVERY movie I buy is HD-DVD. Why buy a movie in SD when the HD is only a few dollars more, and I imagine in a couple of years, most/all of my TVs will be HDTVs and have HD-DVD players with them. Remember, we will be watching them for many years to come, and if you won't be, then why buy them to begin with? __________________ 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

12-20-2006, 09:39 PM	#38
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,376	True Bruce, very true. I didn't realize SD DVDs were getting that cheap. I need to get out more. __________________ 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

12-21-2006, 03:36 AM	#43
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,376	Wow Rock. Your family household is as hi-tech as mine. I got you beat on the computers I think, but you got me on the HDTVs. __________________ 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

12-20-2006, 06:52 PM	#32
bruceames Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 10,170	One thing I hadn't thought of was that renting either (SD or HD) would be the same price (assuming Netflix), so the price vs. quality choice would only apply to buying. But the OP does raise good points. How much extra viewing pleasure really is derived from watching HD over SD and how much better does the content need to be to choose an SD movie over a lesser movie in HD?

12-20-2006, 08:08 PM	#33
dontknowjack High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 949	I myself will not buy every one of movies on HD. At least not until they all go HD. Certain movies are not worth paying extra just to go HD.

12-20-2006, 09:31 PM	#35
Hisgreatnessth High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 36	Im not rebuyin movies made before 2005, except star wars cause I am a Luca$ slave.

12-20-2006, 09:37 PM	#37
bruceames Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 10,170	I bought House season 1 for $12.99. That's one example of just saying to hell with it and buying even though it's SD. There are many, many good movies available for under $5.00 now in SD, so to me there still is an attractive alternative. I'm not enslaved to HD by any means and never will be because upscaled SD still looks damn good. If the content is good enough, then I won't notice that it's not HD because I will be "distracted" by the content.

12-20-2006, 09:58 PM	#40
rmslives High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 314	Even ten years from now, I'm not sure every tv I will own will be high def. Do I need a high def 26'' tv in the bedroom? Will my kids need 15" high def monitors? I have to be honest and say that now that I know I will be getting a HD player, I feel like I ought to buy nothing but HD titles. There's still something inside me, though, that cannot bring myself to pay an extra $10 just to see A Christmas Story in HD. I don't think I would enjoy it $10 more!

12-21-2006, 06:13 AM	#44
rockaway1836 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: May 2005 Location: Myrtle Beach SC Posts: 1,035	At one time I had 5 PCs in the house. Now I'm down to 3. TV's are all over the place. I think I have 16 total 4 of them are HD. I like my toys!