http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/ Engadget HD Comments for Engadget HD Podcast 057 - 11.07.2007 http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 7th 2007 11:16AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
You should add one more option to your upcoming poll regarding the users' stands on format war: "I support both versions equally". I got one of the $99 HD DVD players, but I'll jump on a $99 BluRay player just as quickly. "Sitting on the sidelines" to me sort of implies that you don't care either way and that you're just waiting for it to pan out. Or did I misunderstand what you meant by that?

I should make the "Stop the crusades" segment of my latest podcast, where I tell the extremists on both sides of the HD media issue to shut up, available as a separate download. This format war is a major pain in the ass and the extremism on both sides over a 12cm piece of plastic isn't helping anyone. :/

I also agree about extended warranties. We recently had to have our 55" projection TV repaired. It was the first and so far only repair after seven years. We called a very reputable, locally-owned shop. They came out, were done in about an hour, and it cost less than what the extended warranty would have cost (which wouldn't have been used in the first place).

And it was great having Chris in to add some HD DVD balance to you BluRay fanboys. ;)]]>Nov 7th 2007 2:17PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
Hate to beat a dead horse, but my problem with the $99 player being called "cheap, entry level" is that articles about 720p TV's aren't called cheap or entry level. If someone who isn't an enthusiast reads that they might think that there is actually something wrong with the player instead of the difference being mostly inside your head. Oh, and the PS3 does not come with a real remote FYI it's sold separately so it's not quite a complete player for 399.

And for the next podcast, any Black Friday predictions? Seems like everyone will have a deal on a Big Ass Flat Panel as we've already seen. Also, I'm sure somebody wants to sell a new player to all those folks as well.]]>Nov 7th 2007 2:54PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
I am format neutral but did buy an A2@ $99. I could really care less what format it is.

(I even have a Optoma HD80 1080P projecter but cant justify spending $250+ on any player to get 1080p/24 with the status of the HD disc market).

They both give the same quality picture. Could you explain why you think Blu-Ray is "better". Studios aside being they will really follow where the $$$ can be made.

All i see on BD side is 20GB extra storage but is that really needed? With all the encoding tricks its clear you can make a great picture & sound for a movie with 30GB.

But when you compare that to more expensive players, no mandatory online connection capabilities, no mandatory second decoder, possibility of added features that i wont be able to play with a $400 player that i buy today. Where is the benefit of BD?

So, why do you support BD more? Does Blu-Ray exclusive companies really support it only for the BD+ DRM or are there other reasons?

Feel free to discuss this next podcast or on the comments (would prefer comments so i don't have to wait till next week ;)

Thanks,
Mitchell]]>Nov 7th 2007 3:49PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/I never said I thought Blu-ray was better. I said I think they will win the format war. I think they will win because they have more studio and CE company support.]]>Nov 7th 2007 3:51PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
Although this may seem counter-intuitive, a super high end television should match up nicely with a cheaper player like the A2. It's the lower end sets which benefit most from higher end 1080p players. So, Ryan's comment that the A2 is for "the last-gen TV you phased out to your rumpus room" sounds a bit misguided.]]>Nov 7th 2007 3:24PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
Thanks for the response.

Mitchell]]>Nov 7th 2007 4:05PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
$99 dvd players, HD or otherwise, have a market. $399 DVDs players don't. Just ask your mom.

Marshall
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The Real HT Info Podcast]]>Nov 7th 2007 4:19PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
Ahh, ic. Why is that are the companies are on the BD side. Are they just on board because Sony does a better job at Lobbying? or do they just like the idea of more DRM?

Thanks for the response.

Mitchell]]>Nov 7th 2007 4:09PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/I'm pretty sure they are on board because they feel they can make more money selling Blu-ray than HD DVD. My understanding is that Toshiba gets most of the money from HD DVD.

Marshal,
I love my mom, but she's the last one I'd ask about HD anything.]]>Nov 7th 2007 4:22PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 7th 2007 9:12PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 8th 2007 12:18AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
Though I would still like BD player for the mac...ugh damn format wars! Someone just "win" already!]]>Nov 8th 2007 5:43PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 8th 2007 4:41PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Regarding the TIVO (any version of them) I have no idea what you mean by pressing the skip/tab button while in the TV GUIDE grid. Let me clarify what I wrote, but I think if you re-read it, it was already clear.

Bring up the TV GUIDE... then using the 4 arrow pad hold down the RIGHT arrow and tell me if the grid screen scrolls to the right for you, or do you have to press the RIGHT arrow down every single time to get the grid to scroll right? It also make you do this going left once you've gone right if you wanted to come back towards more current time. Now scroll down and hold the button... it worked didn't it? Now can someone please explain to me this anomaly that didn't exist at one time???

Now, go to LIVE TV and press and hold the channel up or down and tell me if your channels change while you're holding the button? Or did you have to press the up or down channel button each and every time to get the channel to change? Please show me ANY TV that makes you do that??? I've complained when it started to do this on the Series2 about 2 years ago and I complained when the Series3 started to do this crap earlier this year. OUT OF THE BOX when we got the Series3 in February ALL the buttons I just described above worked perfectly, then we got an update and now it's all AFU just like the Series2. I hate it!

I hope that clarifies what I was ranting about. BTW, thanks for the podcast shout out.
]]>Nov 9th 2007 3:16AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
I almost forgot to ask this again because quite frankly I don't get it... why does or should I care about MSRP? You've mentioned MSRP regarding the HD-A2 in the last few podcasts and I keep forgetting to ask you... WHY SHOULD I CARE?

The street price is all that I care about and what do I care what a manufacturer "suggests" I should pay for anything, it's what I actually have to pay Mr. Visa or Mr. Mastercard that only counts in the end.

Standing by to hear and read the answer to this question. Thanks.]]>Nov 9th 2007 3:24AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Allthough i live in Denmark, this format war is very interesting as it properbly will be a forecast of how things play out in Europe. I will however say that to the avarege consumer i EU, there is only blu-ray, i think pr-wise it's more 90/10.

I have a question about some of the reasoning in this podcast, how can your guestspeaker, ever think that if Warner would go Blu-ray exclusive that, that would prolong the format war?? i just don't get it. Wouldn't a blu-ray victory be a sure thing if the studio support is 70/30?? apparently it's enough for hd-dvd to have a somewhat 50/50 for a victory?. Let's face it Warner is not going to swing either way for at least 4-5 months. The real taleteller of this stupid format war, will be if the latest campaign from HD-DVD group will be enough to erode the Blu-ray lead. I really can't understand why they (BD-Group) are not playing this more agressive, it could actually make it more profitable for customers as well a very interesting 4th Q.
Although i lean towards Blu-ray, simply because of the amount of content. I really, as a consumer who hasnt bought either products yet, just want this stupid format war to go away now! Call me oldfashion, but the prospect of these two great formats killing eachother off really "¤%"#¤% me of, i don't wanna go straight to online content (forget it microsoft - you've ripped me off enough) i want my movies in gorguos HD and on a physical media.
No matter who wins i just wanna be able to play all movies in one machine. I mean is it really that hard for studioes to see what the customers want? Apprently for paramount cause that dicision was not consumer oriented at all.

Thanks for a great podcast, looking forward to the next one :)]]>Nov 12th 2007 4:08AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 9th 2007 10:53AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
Ben: (talking about J6P & PS3 remotes) "They probably don't even know what Infra-Red stands for." (Maybe that should be "what IR stands for?)

Am I the only one that laughed out loud at that one?
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Probably so. Oh well.

Keep up the good work.]]>Nov 9th 2007 3:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 11th 2007 2:52PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/Nov 14th 2007 1:51AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/11/07/engadget-hd-podcast-057-11-07-2007/
All this talk about TiVo's new features makes me laugh. I use MythTV for my HD PVR and it works great with all the features of TiVo/Cables DVR times two!

Mitchell]]>Nov 14th 2007 2:52PM