wtf got to study the Laserdisc as part of college courses

[Mondain]

Wow, I was dying of laughter when realizing that. So in this course, there's a chapter dedicated to the impact of the new technological means of communications on everyday life and business... only that the book has been written in 1988, so the new advances in technology of that time are rather pitiful and dated today. Something like three or four pages are dedicated to the Laserdisc. In that time the author didn't knew what the Internet was, but still recognized the importance of the advent of e-mail.

Can't believe that this is a matter to study, I know Laserdisc pretty well but nonetheless, why the hell am I bothered with learning more about a failed technological piece of shit that never got in consumers' hands and never went anywhere some twenty years later? There was some optional homework that I stopped midway since the questions consisted of inanely stupid memorization and it just looked like busy work. But in two weeks there'll be an exam where among all the questions, there risks being some stupid memorization that will be needed about the technicalities of Laserdisc.

[Van Cruncheon]

in ten years, this'll be the fate of blu-ray/hd-dvd

[TVC15]

Can't believe that this is a matter to study, I know Laserdisc pretty well but nonetheless, why the hell am I bothered with learning more about a failed technological piece of shit that never got in consumers' hands and never went anywhere some twenty years later?

The Laserdisc situation is an interesting part of media history.  It was an improvement over what was on the market, but neither a big enough improvement nor an improvement economical enough to sway anyone but the fringes of the elite.  It's importance from a historical perspective is still very evident today, as people claim that HD-DVD/Blu-ray are the "next laserdisc."

So yeah, depending on what you are studying, it is somewhat important.  However, your remark about your texts leads me to believe this is just a shitty course.

[demi]

Are you questioning homework? WTF, just do it and shut your trap.

[Mondain]

in ten years, this'll be the fate of blu-ray/hd-dvd

Only that there are more Blu-Ray players that have been sold in a year than there have been LD players sold in the format's twenty years-long history. And that Blu-Ray's actual growth rate is bigger than that of the DVD in 1997.

Plus how could a format with vinyl-sized shiny discs that cost 80 bucks a pop succeed?

[TVC15]

in ten years, this'll be the fate of blu-ray/hd-dvd

Only that there are more Blu-Ray players that have been sold in a year than there have been LD players sold in the format's twenty years-long history. And that Blu-Ray's actual growth rate is bigger than that of the DVD in 1997.

Shockingly, due to the dawn of the net making it easier to become knowledgeable, there are more videophiles today than there were in the past.  Also, the attachment of BD to the PS3 has something to do with the numbers.  I'm still not ready to say it is going to be a successful format.  Blu-ray, like laserdisc, is only attractive to the philes.

[Ichirou]

Alex Cox (director of Repo Man, Three Businessmen, Walker, El Patrullero, and Revengers Tragedy) has written a diatribe against HD-DVD and Blu-Ray on his website, saying that DVD is perfectly fine and nobody needs to upgrade and that it's a ripoff on the part of electronics manufacturers.  

I dunno, I think the difference is really noticeable and I'd love to upgrade, but electronics manufacturers have really fucked up in making HD simple. 780p, 1080i, 1080p, HDMI, upscaling, etc., etc.  Most consumers don't understand this stuff.

[Mondain]

Seriously, I remember going to some music store in Montreal, which was the only store that I knew which sold Laserdiscs in the whole town in the mid-nineties. And seeing all those huge vinyl-sized CDs that were flaunted when consumers already got addicted to something called the compact disc.

And seeing Disney releasing special editions of Toy Story and The Lion King for 120$ CDN.

Yeah, in these conditions, it's proof that consumers absolutely don't want of a new technology that offers superior picture quality over the established format.

[TVC15]

Alex Cox (director of Repo Man, Three Businessmen, Walker, El Patrullero, and Revengers Tragedy) has written a diatribe against HD-DVD and Blu-Ray on his website, saying that DVD is perfectly fine and nobody needs to upgrade and that it's a ripoff on the part of electronics manufacturers.  

I dunno, I think the difference is really noticeable and I'd love to upgrade, but electronics manufacturers have really fucked up in making HD simple. 780p, 1080i, 1080p, HDMI, upscaling, etc., etc.  Most consumers don't understand this stuff.

I'm fine with the way things are.  Both new formats are questionable, and high quality DVDs still look largely fine upscaled.  In the face of the quality of upscaled DVDs, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are both nonimpressive upgrades.  Yes, they look nicer, but not "next gen" nicer.

In addition, considering how much disk space it is taking to make movies look marginally nicer, I think engineers should stop with the gigabyte war and start on the war to create better compression formats.

[Error Macro]

I have Jackie Chan's Supercop on Laserdisc.  That's kind of bizarre now that I think about it.  Of course, Criterion had some badass LDs back in the day.  Shame that so many of them can't be ported over to DVD because of licensing issues.

[TVC15]

I have Jackie Chan's Supercop on Laserdisc.  That's kind of bizarre now that I think about it.  Of course, Criterion had some badass LDs back in the day.  Shame that so many of them can't be ported over to DVD because of licensing issues.

Well, at least we are finally getting a good disc of Blade Runner. 

[Mondain]

Alex Cox (director of Repo Man, Three Businessmen, Walker, El Patrullero, and Revengers Tragedy) has written a diatribe against HD-DVD and Blu-Ray on his website, saying that DVD is perfectly fine and nobody needs to upgrade and that it's a ripoff on the part of electronics manufacturers. 

I dunno, I think the difference is really noticeable and I'd love to upgrade, but electronics manufacturers have really fucked up in making HD simple. 780p, 1080i, 1080p, HDMI, upscaling, etc., etc.  Most consumers don't understand this stuff.

I'm fine with the way things are.  Both new formats are questionable, and high quality DVDs still look largely fine upscaled.  In the face of the quality of upscaled DVDs, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are both nonimpressive upgrades.  Yes, they look nicer, but not "next gen" nicer.

In addition, considering how much disk space it is taking to make movies look marginally nicer, I think engineers should stop with the gigabyte war and start ont he war to create better compression formats.

What sort of TV do you have?

DVDs upscaled to an HDTV look totally hideos, it's impossible to bear all the macroblocking and the lack of colors at times, especially when you've seen that something better exists. Can't wait until Blockbusters offers Blu-Ray discs to all their locations like they've recently announced.

[Ichirou]

OH GOD BLADE RUNNER...I cannot wait for that DVD.

[TVC15]

Alex Cox (director of Repo Man, Three Businessmen, Walker, El Patrullero, and Revengers Tragedy) has written a diatribe against HD-DVD and Blu-Ray on his website, saying that DVD is perfectly fine and nobody needs to upgrade and that it's a ripoff on the part of electronics manufacturers. 

I dunno, I think the difference is really noticeable and I'd love to upgrade, but electronics manufacturers have really fucked up in making HD simple. 780p, 1080i, 1080p, HDMI, upscaling, etc., etc.  Most consumers don't understand this stuff.

I'm fine with the way things are.  Both new formats are questionable, and high quality DVDs still look largely fine upscaled.  In the face of the quality of upscaled DVDs, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are both nonimpressive upgrades.  Yes, they look nicer, but not "next gen" nicer.

In addition, considering how much disk space it is taking to make movies look marginally nicer, I think engineers should stop with the gigabyte war and start ont he war to create better compression formats.

What sort of TV do you have?

I've watched Blu-Ray and upscaled DVD content on HDTVs.  I have not made the HDTV leap myself because, well, I am waiting for 1080p sets to drop a bit more.  If I am going to get a new TV, it is going to be the best, and I am not happy with prices just yet.

DVDs upscaled to an HDTV look totally hideos, it's impossible to bear all the macroblocking and the lack of colors at times, especially when you've seen that something better exists.

Maybe older DVDs, or ones with crappy transfers, and yeah, I have seen DVDs that look crappy upscaled.  Most high profile, modern ones I have seen don't look bad.  Again, yes, Blu-ray (and I assume HD-DVD) look better, but not enough to justify the price, and both formats are shakey enough that I wouldn't risk my dollars and time on a format that has an uncertain future.

[Ichirou]

How much does a decent 1080p set cost nowadays?

[Error Macro]

Well, at least we are finally getting a good disc of Blade Runner. 

I can finally retire the Criterion LD of that.  The DVD set is a BR nerd's wet dream come true.  I wonder how they finally resolved the issues with that crotchety old man who held things up for years.  The lame thing was he did it out of spite towards Ridley or De Laurentiis, I don't remember exactly.

[TVC15]

How much does a decent 1080p set cost nowadays?

My money has been tied up in different things over the past couple of months, but I recall hearing someone mention a deal on a (I think) Panasonic 1080p set for 1600 a week or so back.  No idea on size or port ino or what not, though.  Like I said, at the moment, my money is targeting other things. . .

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-12-8-Digital-Camera-24-105mm/dp/B000NPIP1I/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-1818629-9607805?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1182752966&sr=8-2

[Ichirou]

$1600 is too much for a TV, no matter how nice.  I'll wait till the price drops at least to under $1000 before splurging on anything.

Error Macro, that guy was featured on the British Blade Runner documentary and he had serious hate for Ridley Scott for going over budget, so I bet that was it.

[Mondain]

will the prices of big-ass 1080p screens drop that much? it's obvious that LCD prices are always dwindling at blazing speeds, but a huge HDTV is supposed to be an object of desire for consumers, and they will probably be priced as such for a long time

there's no higher option left to offer for CE manufacturers now

and at OA we were discussing a 40 inches 1080p Sony Bravia a while ago for 1500$

and also, why is it "risking money" when you already own a Blu-Ray player, and when Netflix works so well? if you only get loads of Blu-Ray discs from Netflix you invest in nothing

[TVC15]

will the prices of big-ass 1080p screens drop that much? it's obvious that LCD prices are always dwindling at blazing speeds, but a huge HDTV is supposed to be an object of desire for consumers, and they will probably be priced as such for a long time

Them dropping to 1600 from what they were at a few months ago (2000+) is a pretty big drop, and I only expect them to drop further. Prices ar edropping just about as fast as I expected. 

and also, why is it "risking money" when you already own a Blu-Ray player, and when Netflix works so well? if you only get loads of Blu-Ray discs from Netflix you invest in nothing

I'd like to think my collection has a certain degree of future-proofing to it.  DVD players are ubiquitous.  If I buy a Blu-ray disk. . .who knows if there will be Blu-ray players in 5 years.