Yeah like you said though, that would take awhile (or a heck of a lot of movie purchases). Ahh, corporate Disney. Gotta love em 
lennonluvr9 - Ha-ha. Yeah, there’s no point in earning all of those points for the thing anyway, as it would probably cost you just as much (if not more) money to buy the DVDs to get the points. (snigger)
– Mitch
I am pro-Blu, and even though Sony has a bad history in format support (Beta, UMD, MD, M-Stick…) I think they’re on the right side here. It’s technically superior (though that doesn’t really count for anything historically), and has stronger studio support (v HD-DVD). Intel/MS support of HD-DVD could be concerning, but hardware-wise, Blu-Ray seems better to me (though it does tend to be more expensive), though maybe that’s my Toshiba negativity showing. Another big coup for Blu is PS3, which has beautifully integrated (and relatively inexpensive) player functionality, where-as XBox 360 has a kloogy HD-DVD peripheral (reminds me of Sega CD, and we all know what happened there).
As for the question at the crux of all this, whether higher definition than DVD is necessary, I was in the cynical camp until I saw Ratatouille on BD (with an HD display and 5.1 surround sound) and it was absolutely stunning, like watching a different movie. Also, while HD-DVD/BD hybrid devices are still in a development phase (LG has one, but I’m not big on its complexity) BD at least (and I think HD-DVD) offers, not only DVD compatibility, but upscaling as well, so even your existing DVD collection will look better.
Widespread acceptance of either format will need the same thing as DVD needed, a lower price of entry, but given the FCC analog shutdown in 2009, I expect to see many more HDTVs in use (making HD format video worthwhile) thus expanding player sales…lowering prices…etc.
That said, I too oppose the Disney strong arm tactic of no longer offering 2 disc special editions like those that were available for TI, TS, Nemo…, but I can understand why they’re doing it.
I just got a PS3 and it plays blu-rays. So when I poped one in, I was impressed of the quality. I can’t wait for more.
Was just chatting with a friend about this and how the format war is over with Toshiba stepping down from HD-DVD, and Universal moving to Blu-Ray, and Wal-Mart backing blu-ray only. The topic of Digital Downloads came up.
I’m not so sure we will see Digital downloads of movies until at least 5 years. Downloads and quota’s are nowhere where they need to be. Videophiles will want their 1080p video and uncompressed lossless audio.
The topic of an Apple style distribution came up and I mentioned this.
If Apple were to encode it in H.264 (like their HD movie trailers) and use Apple Lossless audio, you’d still have a sizeable download, but the H.264 would make the file smaller than uncompressed video. But people still want special features. I suppose you could charge for special features, or buy the lot (movie included) and it’d cost the same as a Blu-Ray disc, if they were in HD. But then you could not just wrap the movie in .mp4/.avi wrapper, but have a new format that is like a disc image basically. And if you have an Apple TV, or an iPod or iPhone or a computer, you open it up and it brings it up pretty much what you’d expect on a DVD or a Blu-Ray Disc, menu’s. And this would work the same on the AppleTV and your iPod/iPhone. I think Apple could make this killer.
Thoughts?
Agreed that it’s still far off. Current offerings are spotty with respect to selection and quality, and personally, I appreciate the other things that come with a physical format (quick loading, extra features, long-term usability, quality.) One could put smart money on Apple being behind a killer ap for D/L movies, given their consumer conscious design savvy, but It’s still far off, and I am predicting a Blu future, at least in the next 5-10 years.
Bluray just won the war!
Maybe I should see what it’s like some time…
Well, thank goodness for that. I knew forking over a couple hundred extra bucks for a PS3 over a 360 was going to be worth it in the end! 
And at least it’s sort of been decided now, so people can go out and buy something that they know won’t be obselete in less than a year or something.
What do you mean they…they… 
I think this Blu-Ray thing will be short term. I think very soon media (Audio & video) will be so readily downloadable that discs in general will be a thing of the pass. I mean honeslty who buys CDs anymore? Music is just downloaded into an iPod or mp3 player. I strongly think Video will follow suit very shortly most likely in high definition too.
So far, I only have one Bluray movie (Spiderman 3) anyone want to suggest some other movie to me?
No, I suggest you keep watching DVDs, TSS. 
I would suggest a big war battle movie. I can’t wait for LOTR in HD.
Oh I still do. BUt I will have to watch another bluray movie sometime soon.
Why? If TSS has a Blu-ray player and a HD TV, why shouldn’t he make the most out of that sort of quality and watch Blu-ray? That’s what I’d do, at least, though I guess I wouldn’t buy too many Blu-ray films since they’re a fair bit more expensive than usual DVDs. But I’m sure the prices will drop eventually, like they did with DVDs.
Well, only if he’s a millionaire or something, in which case, oh, ever mind.
Just please don’t get sucked into Disney’s evil plan, okay, TSS?
Well, I’ll try to keep that in mind. SO far, the only Pixar Blu-ray I know I want to get (if it ever comes out) is TI, but I’ll wait to see what comes by.
Yes on Blu.
I have a good friend who strongly believes that home movies will go the way of download (ie. appleTV, etc…). And I agree. However, even though downloading is currently available, I feel that there are still a few issues that will hinder the download takeover.
- The HD quality that Blu-Ray offers exceeds current downloadable HD content.
- While music is relatively easy/quick to buy online, movie downloads take a substantial amount of time.
- Storage. Where do you store all this movie data? Or do you? (do you keep streaming/dowloading via a permant license?)
answer = just pop in the disc!
All the points I make above will eventually become irrelevant, because technology changes so fast, yada yada yada. However, I think Blu-Ray will see a solid 5 years of dominance, plus 3 falloff years. Which gives it my vote.
My two cents