Audioholics bias towards HD DVD?

[evilkat]

The only bias I've seen on this site is against CRAP and snake oil (that and the fact that most reviews feature only the high end gear, and not nearly enough mid-range gear, but I think this is changing slowly. S-L-O-W-L-Y)

I don't think there's any bias towards one camp or another here...which can make things complicated because half of us still have no clue which way to go with HD Players

 

[Gasman]

I think I have to agree with what Matt said, about the OP.
"making a mountain out of a moll hill."

Specially on this topic, and of one editorial (that laughingly, I have not even read yet)

Any other issues you see in the forums, is not generally from the staff.
And even if it was in the forum, each does have their own opinion.

I have both formats, personally I think if it were not for the PS3, BD would have already failed.

Good thing we ALL can be opinionated. Or we all would have nothing to talk about.

EX:
Hey Joe, did you see the new best AVR in the world for 50.00
(Joe) Yeah, it is great, certainly the whole world will get it.
Topic done.


EDIT:
Just read it, funny, but for what I see = It is pretty much spot on.
Specially the kids (9 ~ 15) to see Cars on a new player.
But it is nothing new, as this is marketing 101.

 

[mike c]

i agree. lighten up, i personally don't give a rats a$s who favors what format.

for example, I currently have BD ... do I get mad because someone posted an editorial saying BD got spanked? why the hell should I care? it does not change in any way what BD movies I watch and when.

 

[highfihoney]

I personally have zero interest in either format,they both suck because they are going to leave a whole bunch of consumers on the wrong side of the fence once its all over,usual marketing BS that leaves consumers hi & dry.

With that being said i cant even begin to imagine how anybody would think the staff favors one format over another,i knew nothing about either format before i came to this site,what ive learned about both formats has came from the writings of the staff & membership of this site,with all the supposed propaganda being spewed forth in favor of HD i should have bought one,instead i bought a PS-3

You seriously need to chill out,take a deep breath,relax..................Feel better now ?

 

[emorphien]

The article, I think, stems from the Sony CEO yet again making an idiotic speech. This one however is only idiotic because of the others he's made in the past year preceeding this. The guy has pounded his chest prematurely at least three times in victory, now he is backpedaling. It makes him and Sony look like a bunch of morons.

Pat

It's not hard to be sick of Sony these days

 

[Davemcc]

The articles sound more like a fanboy rant than good journalism.

The editorial looks like a valid comment on Sony's business strategy to me.

 

[InTheIndustry]

Too many blind testing and/or discussion will make you go blind

My grandmother once told me that it's actually something else that makes you go blind.

In response to the OP's post: It's becoming incredibly obvious to those "Intheindustry" (another shameless plug) that BluRay is struggling to get out of its own way primarily only because of Sony's choices in the infant stages of development. Period. They started the game with a stacked deck (major studios jumping ship TO BluRay FROM HDDVD @ the last minute), holding the most chips (Vendor Partners & PS3 launch)... and now they are about to fold. Not to mention, they stole several technologies (and are being sued for it) to make bluray & PS3 even work.

When it leaked (last winter/spring ?) that Walmart was inquiring about bringing 2-5 MILLION HDDVD players into its stores for the 07' Christmas Season at a reduced price, I considered BluRay to be a dead format walking. Early adopters NEVER EVER dectate technology trends. Their purchases just pay for R&D. It's the second tier/wave market that companies are after. Ultimately & in the eyes of movie studios, the upcoming Walmart sales will tip the scales for HDDVD beyond with what BluRay can compete. All of the studios will suddenly be supporting HDDVD because it gives them a larger customer base to sell into. When that happens you'll see Samsung, Pioneer, & Hitachi, etc. be scrambling around to produce HDDVD players so that they can support the movies.

Regardless if there IS or ISN'T bias Audioholics is allowed to, and should, have an educated opinion as to which format is doing better or worse rather than painting a picture with the grass being green on both sides, because it isn't. If there's a bias towards a format and there is an editorial or informative piece written explaining why, why get so upset? I appreciate info like what was in the article and take it as Audioholics trying to inform it's readers as to what's happening as to date so that they make an informed purchase.

 

[solomr2]

I'm not sure it is coming from the editorial staff, but I sense a bias towards HD DVD from several of the members that post here. And that's okay, people can post their opinions on the subject and say whatever they feel.

The thing that is misleading is the comparisons are often apples to oranges comparisons. For example, the common myth is that HD DVD players are cheaper than BD players, but those that claim this miss the fact that these low-priced HD DVD players are only capable of 1080i output, while the BD is full 1080p.

If you compare the prices of two different items, they should be equally capable. In this case, they are not. You would need to compare the price of the HD XA2, to the BD players, and then you realize the prices are much more competitive. I think a lot of people don't realize there is a difference, and when they see HD DVD they assume it is the equal of blu-ray, so they will put low priced Toshiba HD-A2 or HD-A3 or the HD-A30 in the same league with several BD players, but overlook the fact that none of these low priced HD models are capable of 1080 progressive scan output (they only do 1080 interlaced). Other common omissions include multi-channel and bitstream audio output, etc. And now the 3rd gen toshibas have gone away from using the Silicon Optix Reon-QV chip.

Going by Amazon.com pricing, the HD-A2 is $243, the HD-A20 is $349, HD-A30 is $289, the HD-A35 is $405 and the HD-XA2 is $479.

Again from Amazon, the Sony BDP-S300 is $419, the Sharp Aquos BDHP20U is $414, Samsung BD-P1400 is $385, Philips BDP-9000 is $375. Then you of course have the PS3, which can be had under $400.

Any comparisons between BD and anything but the HD-A35 or the HD-XA2 are really not adequate comparisons, they are not equal to most of the BD players. But then again, Betamax was technically superior to VHS and we know the outcome of that format war.

 

[MDS]

The funny thing is, the comparisons are often apples to oranges comparisons. For example, they will note that HD DVD players are cheaper than BD players, but completely ignore the fact that the low-priced HD DVD players are only capable of 1080i output, while the BD is full 1080p.

That's hardly a valid reason to prefer BD over HDDVD. You do realize that they are both 1920 x 1080 and it is a trivial matter to deinterlace 1080i to 1080p?

I don't particularly care about either format but it wouldn't be hard a decision for the average guy to choose to pay $100 vs $400 when their TV (and any number of other devices) can deinterlace the 1080i.

 

[solomr2]

That's hardly a valid reason to prefer BD over HDDVD. You do realize that they are both 1920 x 1080 and it is a trivial matter to deinterlace 1080i to 1080p?

I don't particularly care about either format but it wouldn't be hard a decision for the average guy to choose to pay $100 vs $400 when their TV (and any number of other devices) can deinterlace the 1080i.

I think CNET stated it best when they said it depends on how well your TV does deinterlacing and whether the extra performance is important to you. Some TVs can do it pretty well, but others do it poorly. Even a pretty high-end TV like the Samsung 4665F had problems deinterlacing the 1080i signal from the HD-A2. Check CNET for the HD-A2 review and you'll see what I mean.

There is a very good reason why Toshiba still calls their HD-XA2 their flagship HDDVD player, and why they are still nearly $500. The question of value is always subjective, and to those that want the best they will pay for it, others will not.

 

[pzaur]

Just to state:
All technologies eventually "fail". They're replaced by something newer/better (Not necessarily both).

Think of how fast TVs have progressed in the HD format. 480p -> 720p-> 1080i -> 1080p -> ?

How long until this takes off and renders everything considered HD to be SD? (You're gonna need a bigger screening room...)

Stop whining about bias and pick your poison - beta or vhs?

-pat

 

[Haoleb]

Some of us will be sticking to standard-def and couldn't care less about either format.

Thank you first of all for the fact that its pretty pointless to spend any amount of money on something that only plays some of the dvds you want to watch. Plus I think movies on regular dvd look just fine. HD would be better yeah, But well you get the idea.

And secondly, Thank you very much for actually using the "couldnt care less" correctly. I think there must only be about 10 people that can speak english that think about what they are saying and can say it correctly. Its not "could care less"

 

[MDS]

And secondly, Thank you very much for actually using the "couldnt care less" correctly. I think there must only be about 10 people that can speak english that think about what they are saying and can say it correctly. Its not "could care less"

Let's not sidetrack this thread with yet another discussion of English.

Saying 'I could care less' is not exactly correct for the intent expressed but it is correct in some instances - it is saying 'I could care less than I do but I do care to a certain degree' whereas 'I couldn't care less' implies that your level of caring is at rock bottom and it is not possible to be even less enthused than you currently are.

How about 'continuously' vs 'continually'...nah let's not go there.

 

[Sheep]

I could care less about the discussion of proper English.

SheepStar

 

[MDS]

I could care less about the discussion of proper English.

SheepStar

Of course not...you are one who uses 'loose' when you mean 'lose'. At least two members here often type 'quiet' when they mean 'quite'.

I don't understand how many people think it is cool to be illiterate (allowing for the occasional typo of course).

 

[Davemcc]

I don't understand how many people think it is cool to be illiterate (allowing for the occasional typo of course).

I agree. I couldn't believe my son's Facebook page when I saw it. It was awful, but I guess that's what's cool today. He's in his twenties and lives 3,000 km away. I can't force him to use proper words or sentences anymore (like I ever could).

 

[Seth=L]

I agree. I couldn't believe my son's Facebook page when I saw it. It was awful, but I guess that's what's cool today. He's in his twenties and lives 3,000 km away. I can't force him to use proper words or sentences anymore (like I ever could).

lol, wut? wus goin on heir?

1337 TIEM!

 

[Davemcc]

lol, wut? wus goin on heir?

1337 TIEM!

More like the use of words and phrases that I would hesitate to use working in a factory, never mind on a public website with my name attached. The spelling issue is trivial in comparison.

 

[fmw]

I'm sure it's not only me who's noticed the obvious push for HD DVD here. The articles sound more like a fanboy rant than good journalism. I own a PS3 and A30 player. I see the benefits and weaknesses of both formats. There are plenty of good news surrounding both Blu-ray and HD DVD - yet it seems there's an agenda on this site by the staff to promote all the positives of HD DVD, and blast Blu-ray in the process.

Tom Andry talks about the "spanking" that Blu-ray received. Where is the mention of the spanking HD DVD has received all year in movie sales? Where is the news about the Spiderman 3 disc outselling Transformers on HD DVD last week? I don't see this balance

Please try to remember that the format war is not over and that there are new people entering it daily. A site as influencial as audioholics should heed with caution in how it handles the new formats. If Audioholics has an obvious bias towards HD DVD, they should let it be known publically, as Bill Hunt of Digital Bits has done on his site concerning Blu-ray. That way, it puts the articles in perspective for the reader.

I find it curious that something as trivial as a digital disc format can cause such passion and excitement. But so it seems to be. The people who write here, whether they are forum members or staff, have opinions just like anybody else. They state them just like anybody else. At least on the forum you can debate the issues and state your own opinion. That's pretty hard to do with print media. Consider it valuable that you can post on the forum and start this whole issue off.

There is bias in the media at every turn. That is because the media is made up of people and people have biases. If you sense bias toward HD-DVD here then there are others who will sense bias toward Blu-Ray elsewhere. If the bias bothers you, then I believe there are other places to go where the bias goes in the other direction. Instead you might view the bias you sense as educational and interesting. Wouldn't writing be boring without the passions of bias?

Personally, I own and use both formats and don't have an axe to grind. I haven't noticed a meaningful bias here other than from fans of the two formats. Perhaps I'm insensitive to it since I don't care about the formats themselves. Perhaps the bias is subtle enough that I don't sense it. Most likely it is that I just don't care.

 

[Audioholics]

I'll take passion over apathy anyday, so I don't typically mind the controversy when it pops up... The next time we mash HD DVD for doing something stupid all the HD DVD supporters will accuse us (again) of being pro Blu-ray. You have to read all of the articles (which isn't practical or expected) to get the full picture and notice we're pretty much just critical.

Of late, Sony and Blu-ray have offered more ammunition.