A moral dilemma

grim reaper · 07-17-2007, 12:19 PM

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

This drive is due to be released within the next week or two. As shocking as it may seem I am actually quite tempted by it. At the moment there simply isn't an alternative HD-DVD drive for the same price. In fact, I cant think of any HD-DVD drives available for PC asides from the XB360 drive which isn't a particularly elegant solution.

So the dilemma I am faced with is buying a drive with Sony technology in or waiting a while until an alternative becomes available. As right now I am fed up of HD content off bittorrent and downloading 50gb for one movie isn't tempting me.

grim buying Sony tech, it might just happen.

hsimah · 07-17-2007, 12:26 PM

I don't think anyone here gives a fuck, but thats just me. I could be wrong.

Why not just download the DVD stuff. Its only like 4GB and would be plenty high enough quality for that screen of yours. Or are you wanting it for an HDTV?

grim reaper · 07-17-2007, 12:46 PM

Hamish, my screen runs at 1920x1200. Which the higher than the best currently available HD content. 1080P runs at 1920x1080 which leaves a small black border at the top and bottom but gives stunning image quality. DVD for comparison is only 720×576.

Amraam · 07-17-2007, 07:08 PM

I just wish I was as rich as grim!

Random Ping · 07-17-2007, 10:51 PM

When did Sony buy out Pioneer? I must be behind in the times.

Considering that you disdain Sony in such a way, I think would still purchase it for the time being. As you said it is one of the only players out there, so I guess it depends how long you are willing to wait. I'm personally not a big fan of Walmart, but last year I had to shop there a few times because it was the only store in my area that had what I needed. Sometimes you have to make due with a current situation until the an improvement comes along.

Regarding the HD-DVD content for dl's, I thought most were about 4-6 GB's max. That is all the ones I have seen. Are the 4GB files not true HD or something? An additional question is, what kind of LCD do you use for a good picture on 1900x1200 resolution?

grim reaper · 07-17-2007, 11:09 PM

At the moment there are two competing high definition optical formats. Bluray which Sony invented and HD-DVD. Due to my dislike of Sony I never considered buying into the Bluray format.

Technically there isn't much in it, Bluray wins slightly as it can store more data (50gb compared to 30gb) allowing for higher bit rates or more content. The real USP is the movies available and the price of the players. Bluray seems to have more studio support but the price of stand alone players is ridiculous. HD-DVD has cheaper stand alone players. However I am not interested in a stand alone player. This new drive is the first drive in any format for the PC that I would class as affordable. Up to now they have all been over £400 which is ridiculous.

Any HD rips you see on Bit torrent under about 15gb will have lower bit rates that the original. Consider that a normal DVD is 4.7gb and these are typically available as 700mb rips. As HD starts out at 20gb minimum the compressed rips will be correspondingly bigger. They will be the same resolution as the disks you buy but the quality will be lower as they will be compressed.

Downloading over 20gb (50gb for some of the newer movies) over bit torrent is not an attractive prospect. Seeding back up to 1:1 and storing them is even less so. This gives me a compelling reason to buy a player and actual disks.

My monitor is a Dell 2407wfp that runs at 1920x1200 natively. As 1080 content has a resolution of 1920x1080 this monitor is ideal for displaying it in it's original resolution with no scaling.

NavalLord · 07-18-2007, 03:25 AM

How about you either:
a) shut up and buy it
or
b) just shut up

Either way, you shut up, and we win.

mrhahn · 07-18-2007, 10:38 AM

Fanboyism for the lose.

Rambo_Medic · 07-19-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NavalLord

How about you either:
a) shut up and buy it
or
b) just shut up

Either way, you shut up, and we win.

Agreed. Brand loyalty/animosity is pointless. Capitalism wins when you buy the best bargain. Suck it up, it's how 1st world countries work.

Random Ping · 07-20-2007, 01:03 AM

Quote:

it's how 1st world countries work.

I love how no one uses the phrase "1st world country" anymore. It's 3rd world country, underdeveloped nation, then developed nation. It's rather similar to the term "gruntled." We have "disgruntled" (angry) postal workers but never "gruntled" (happy?) postal workers

Grim, I'd say go for it. You can always feel ethically torn and contemplate life without Sony, as you watch your new movies in the crystal sharp clarity of 1080p; instead of having regrets while you watch movies at 1280X1024 with blurriness. Since you seem to have a consistent cash flow (whose origins will remain nameless...drug dealing

), you can always get a non-Sony product when they come out in 6-8 months.

hsimah · 07-20-2007, 12:32 PM

You arent meant to use 3rd World either.

Its Less Economically Developed Country and More Economically Developed Country.

Amraam · 07-20-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsimah

You arent meant to use 3rd World either.

Its Less Economically Developed Country and More Economically Developed Country.

Wow trip back in memory lane to GCSE/A Level Geography!!

LEDCs and MEDCs, haven't heard those terms in a while!!

hsimah · 07-20-2007, 12:59 PM

Yeah dude, geography for the win

grim reaper · 07-20-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amraam

Wow trip back in memory lane to GCSE/A Level Geography!!

LEDCs and MEDCs, haven't heard those terms in a while!!

Interestingly enough I didn't do GCSE geography as the teacher was a complete bitch. This led to me taking Sociology which I am going to start doing at degree level in October. So, it worked out pretty well.

What's even more brilliant is I have found a program that lets you circumvent HDCP. It was annoying me because I have a HDCP monitor but my graphics card doesn't support it. A nice program called AnyDVD HD gets rid of it.

hsimah · 07-20-2007, 01:07 PM

HDCP?

Does my monitor have that?

grim reaper · 07-20-2007, 01:16 PM

Which monitor do you have: the 2005 or 2007?

07-17-2007, 12:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,256	A moral dilemma Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK This drive is due to be released within the next week or two. As shocking as it may seem I am actually quite tempted by it. At the moment there simply isn't an alternative HD-DVD drive for the same price. In fact, I cant think of any HD-DVD drives available for PC asides from the XB360 drive which isn't a particularly elegant solution. So the dilemma I am faced with is buying a drive with Sony technology in or waiting a while until an alternative becomes available. As right now I am fed up of HD content off bittorrent and downloading 50gb for one movie isn't tempting me. grim buying Sony tech, it might just happen.

07-17-2007, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,256	Re: A moral dilemma Hamish, my screen runs at 1920x1200. Which the higher than the best currently available HD content. 1080P runs at 1920x1080 which leaves a small black border at the top and bottom but gives stunning image quality. DVD for comparison is only 720×576.

07-17-2007, 07:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Amraam First Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 1,631	Re: A moral dilemma I just wish I was as rich as grim! __________________ My BF2 Stats The cake is a lie!

07-17-2007, 10:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
Random Ping Master Warrant Officer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Evergreen State (at least on the West coast) Posts: 1,293	Re: A moral dilemma When did Sony buy out Pioneer? I must be behind in the times. Considering that you disdain Sony in such a way, I think would still purchase it for the time being. As you said it is one of the only players out there, so I guess it depends how long you are willing to wait. I'm personally not a big fan of Walmart, but last year I had to shop there a few times because it was the only store in my area that had what I needed. Sometimes you have to make due with a current situation until the an improvement comes along. Regarding the HD-DVD content for dl's, I thought most were about 4-6 GB's max. That is all the ones I have seen. Are the 4GB files not true HD or something? An additional question is, what kind of LCD do you use for a good picture on 1900x1200 resolution? __________________ It is not important that the glass is half-full or half-empty, but rather how the glass got that way.

07-17-2007, 11:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,256	Re: A moral dilemma At the moment there are two competing high definition optical formats. Bluray which Sony invented and HD-DVD. Due to my dislike of Sony I never considered buying into the Bluray format. Technically there isn't much in it, Bluray wins slightly as it can store more data (50gb compared to 30gb) allowing for higher bit rates or more content. The real USP is the movies available and the price of the players. Bluray seems to have more studio support but the price of stand alone players is ridiculous. HD-DVD has cheaper stand alone players. However I am not interested in a stand alone player. This new drive is the first drive in any format for the PC that I would class as affordable. Up to now they have all been over £400 which is ridiculous. Any HD rips you see on Bit torrent under about 15gb will have lower bit rates that the original. Consider that a normal DVD is 4.7gb and these are typically available as 700mb rips. As HD starts out at 20gb minimum the compressed rips will be correspondingly bigger. They will be the same resolution as the disks you buy but the quality will be lower as they will be compressed. Downloading over 20gb (50gb for some of the newer movies) over bit torrent is not an attractive prospect. Seeding back up to 1:1 and storing them is even less so. This gives me a compelling reason to buy a player and actual disks. My monitor is a Dell 2407wfp that runs at 1920x1200 natively. As 1080 content has a resolution of 1920x1080 this monitor is ideal for displaying it in it's original resolution with no scaling.

07-18-2007, 03:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
NavalLord Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 6,103	Re: A moral dilemma How about you either: a) shut up and buy it or b) just shut up Either way, you shut up, and we win.

07-18-2007, 10:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
mrhahn General Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,966	Re: A moral dilemma Fanboyism for the lose. __________________ Donate to help keep BFN running.

07-20-2007, 01:16 PM	#16 (permalink)
grim reaper Forum Moderator Brigadier General Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: England Posts: 7,256	Re: A moral dilemma Which monitor do you have: the 2005 or 2007?