How will Blu-Ray DVD compare...

[oxonce]

to HD-DVD feature/menu programming wise? We have all seen how the HD-DVD titles auto-play and the menus appear on-screen with that stupid "whoosh" sound.

The thing that bothers me is when you press the Subtitle button while the feature is playing, it will put that blue box in the middle of the screen with instructions. Why doesn't it also show which Subtitle track is selected in this dumb blue box? Would it be so hard to have for example "1/3 ENG, 2/3 FRE, 3/3 Comm." appear in the top corner of the screen? You don't know what you selected until the blue box disappears and the subtitles finally appear.

Is Blu-Ray going to be the same way as far as auto-play and on-screen feature menus? I hope not. If you could design the layout for a Blu-Ray disc, how would you have it? Would you want it to auto-play or go directly to a Main Menu so you can set it up before the feature actually starts?

I'm just looking for some comments...

OXonce

FYI...I know I posted this in a different forum, but I'm looking for more feedback.

[The Lizard King]

Is Blu-Ray going to be the same way as far as auto-play and on-screen feature menus?

Who knows? Are you asking those of us with a crystal ball? Until Blu-Ray players and some software are launched, there's no way of knowing how it will stack up with HD-DVD. As far as everything that I've read so far, though, both formats give the same pixel resolution, so that will be a wash.

I do know this, though -- HD-DVD has a really honest-to-goodness chance of becoming the HD standard optical disc (over Blu-Ray), because both the players and the software will be cheaper. America (and I suspect the rest of the world) always chooses the bottom line -- the cheapest thing sells best. Go ask an executive at Wal-Mart sometime, if you doubt this little economic lesson.

TLK

[Hogi Bear]

I guess Playstation 3 will sell by the bucket loads then.

But I think it's a little early to say which next generation optical disc will become the next standard. Although I think Blu-ray will, it could go either way. There are no constants to declare a winner, it's all variable. One thing is for sure, that this is different to Beta versus VHS, Sony and Philips versus Toshiba before they merged their design and the DivX Disc at the same time.

We'll see what happens in two years time.

Check out www.blu-ray.com for more info.

[oxonce]

OK Lizard King. I don't need the little "roll your eyes" icon. I seriously doubt you have a crystal ball, maybe a Magic 8 ball.

The main point of my post was "If you could design the layout for a Blu-Ray disc, how would you have it?" Would you want it to perform just like HD-DVD or not? Would you want it to perform like a SD-DVD? Sure, Blu-ray holds much more data, but costs more to replicate. The people of the world with their cheap Apex players can buy the cheaper HD-DVD players, but I would rather spend more and get my money's worth. Besides, this forum is Ultimate Disney, so I would think since Disney is on the Blu-ray side of the battle field, most people on here would be, also.

oxonce

[The Lizard King]

OK Lizard King. I don't need the little "roll your eyes" icon.

I only used it, because you were asking for information that is not available yet. I'm not clairvoyant, as I suspect most people on this board are not, either.

I seriously doubt you have a crystal ball, maybe a Magic 8 ball.

Now, THAT I have! One of the classics of all time...

The main point of my post was "If you could design the layout for a Blu-Ray disc, how would you have it?" Would you want it to perform just like HD-DVD or not?

I don't know. I'm not going to be an early adopter of any HD optical disc format. Regular ol' DVDs upscaled to 720p look excellent from where I'm sitting.

Would you want it to perform like a SD-DVD?

Not completely, because I cannot stand: 1. the stupid motion menus that take forever to reveal any real menu choices; 2. the stupid forced UOP commercials before you can get to the actual main menu. If the next HD optical disc format can eliminate these two things, I would be as happy as a clam.

Sure, Blu-ray holds much more data,

Initially, no. Single-layer BRD will hold 25 Gb; dual-layered HD-DVD currently holds 30 Gb. It will be some time before BRD gets to producing reliable multiple-layered discs... perhaps too late for the average consumer and thus will be Betamaxed into oblivion by then.

but costs more to replicate. The people of the world with their cheap Apex players can buy the cheaper HD-DVD players, but I would rather spend more and get my money's worth.

Both formats will produce nearly the same picture quality (within the limits of human eyesight), so spending more for essentially the same product is flushing your money down the drain IMO. Of course, that is your prerogative, but I'm willing to bet the farm that the vast majority of consumers would not want to go down that same money sink hole with you.

Besides, this forum is Ultimate Disney, so I would think since Disney is on the Blu-ray side of the battle field, most people on here would be, also.

Early adoption means very little to Disney -- they will eventually adopt the format that makes them the most money. Period. Last I saw, Disney produces thousands of DVDs every year -- despite being an early advocate for the now dead (thank Gawd!) Divx optical disc format:

http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/d/divx.htm

TLK