Wonderwoll Messages: 40 Registered: September 2010
Baron
Has anyone set up their home theater with Blu-ray equipment? I'm looking to upgrade but a bit nervous that in a year or two this will be old hat and I'll be left longing for the next 'latest thing'.
rkeman Messages: 78 Registered: March 2010 Location: Florida
Viscount
Blu-ray is a good technology and will be around for some time. Physical formats have a number of disadvantages, but sound and picture quality is higher than any of the current alternatives. Software prices are beginning to fall significantly and the mainstream media providers are supporting Blu-ray with continuing older catalog releases.
Wonderwoll Messages: 40 Registered: September 2010
Baron
rkeman wrote on Thu, 30 September 2010 08:59
Blu-ray is a good technology and will be around for some time. Physical formats have a number of disadvantages, but sound and picture quality is higher than any of the current alternatives. Software prices are beginning to fall significantly and the mainstream media providers are supporting Blu-ray with continuing older catalog releases.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Superior sound and visuals are key of course and dropping prices make it even more of an option. Can I ask what you mean by your comment about issues with the 'physical format'?
Adveser Messages: 434 Registered: July 2009 Location: USA
Illuminati (1st Degree)
I don't wanna speak for anyone else, but physical formats degrade over time. This is a huge problem for some and not an issue at all for other people. Depends on how careful you are about handing them.
Bluray appears to be the high definition DVD of the immediate future, if it ain't already is. Upgrading to Bluray equipment would be a good move.
But don't get upset when new technologies come that make your equipment passe. That's how things are when it comes to gadgets. For as long as your equipment keeps on reading Bluray discs, be happy with that. Then wait for another two to three years down the line to upgrade again.
Wonderwoll Messages: 40 Registered: September 2010
Baron
3dfreak wrote on Mon, 18 October 2010 08:22
Bluray appears to be the high definition DVD of the immediate future, if it ain't already is. Upgrading to Bluray equipment would be a good move.
But don't get upset when new technologies come that make your equipment passe. That's how things are when it comes to gadgets. For as long as your equipment keeps on reading Bluray discs, be happy with that. Then wait for another two to three years down the line to upgrade again.
Thanks all for the replies. I think this is a good point, Whatever I buy now should still be able to play Bluray discs even when new ideas emerge. I suppose for people of a certain age the VHS - Betamax situation still looms large. I dread getting stuck with something that is pretty near useless within a year.
I was still very young (I'm 30) when VHS and Betamax polarized the market. I believe VHS won in that tug of war. It was a short-lived victory though. Movies in CDs flooded the market. Many VHS rental shops shifted to CD rentals, but that didn't help. CDs are a different and much cheaper medium. Many video rentals closed down.
That I see is the source of your fear.
Many Betamax players were rendered useless when the market got saturated with VHS. This happened over many years though.
The rise of CDs was different. VHS players were still being sold despite the rising popularity of CDs at that time. In some parts of the world, people still buy VHS.
Long post
Anyhow, keep your own pace in upgrading your gadgets. No need to buy the latest all the time. Only the manufacturers would profit from that
Adveser Messages: 434 Registered: July 2009 Location: USA
Illuminati (1st Degree)
Just an interesting aside. The porn industry dictates the format of media. That may not be true today though because it is very easy to view the stuff for free. That was the no. 1 reason VHS won despite it's lesser quality.
But seriously, don't think one format or anther will be the last. Producers of entertainment will and always have been attempting to get people to pay them on a "per view" basis. We just haven't adapted well to the model and always refuse to do so. There will be at least another half dozen formats in the next 50 years guaranteed, because it is extremely profitable to do so.
audioaudio90 Messages: 623 Registered: October 2010
Illuminati (1st Degree)
I waited awhile to switch to BluRay because prices always drop if you wait a bit. I don't mind not riding the newest technology wave because I get frustrated with the perceived obsolescence issue.
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