Automotivehistorian

My daughter wants to buy some Blu Ray versions of films. These will clearly not play on a PC without a special player....is there a USB or built-in Blu Ray device that she could purchase to enable her to play the discs on her machine please? Also, would the fact that they are N American zone prevent then being played on a PC player over here? One disc she is after won't be out until end March 2008 in the UK so she would have to import.

Modular

Rather than buy a Blu-Ray device for a PC (which won't do much unless you have a true HD screen, a fast PC and the software to decode the discs), go for a Sony PS3. Even if your daughter never plays a single game, it's still about the best Blu-Ray device you can buy at the mo.

Automotivehistorian

Thanks but she needs a Blu-Ray player to play discs such as the CARS one as they have extra details.

Modular

The PS3 will do that...

You'll forgive me for asking, but I assume your daughter does realise you can't just 'bung in' (or connect) a Blu-Ray drive to your PC and 'Bob's your uncle'? Upgrading to HD hardware isn't quite as simple as that I'm afraid.

rskershaw

Is HD DVD goinig to take over then? Are we all going to have to start our film collections again on this format? From VHS to DVD to HD DVD, and then in the next 10/15 years there will be another format. The marketing men and the Studios must be rubbing their hands in glee.

Modular

While HD media isn't quite my area of expertise, you can be certain SD DVDs won't be 'disappearing' from the marketplace for some considerable time (years) to come, so don't worry about it.

Steve Crook

Nor will videos totally disappear. Certainly not in my house. i have far too many to even begin to think about converting them to any other format.

But then I do also still have laser discs as well

Steve

Modular

It's surprising how many people still have plenty of VHS tapes in 'storage'.

The whole issue of home recorded DVD longevity is still open to debate, while magnetic tape durability (correctly stored) is a well known quantity.

As for Laserdiscs...

Steve Crook

And despite what some people would have you believe, converting a video to a DVD does NOT improve the quality of the picture. In fact it'll probably degrade it and I'm still not convinced that a DVD will record more accurately than a video.

A lot of the ones I've seen do a lot of frame skipping, noticeable when you single step through a sequence. A DVD will jump a lot more than a video from one "frame" to the next

Laserdiscs may be physically clunky but they have a superb image

Steve

Modular

Yes, they do. And indeed there's still a collector's market for them out there.

I wonder if people out there realise the whole idea of extras on DVDs originated on Laserdisc...

Wolfgang

When I move on to HD-DVD (or Blu-Ray) I will just update my favourites, since HD players are supposed to play normal DVDs. Don't HD-DVD disks include their standard DVD versions too that will work in ordinary players? It may be worth buying those and then you have your HD version ready and waiting for when you want to upgrade.

cletus awreetus

Just like the CD will kill vinyl debate.

batman

I was thinking of getting an HD player next year but was concerend about having to replace most of my dvds. So do I not have to replace them unless I want to?

Bats.

I wish I had claws.

Windthrop

Nope the machines will play them and should 'upscale' to some extent. To me the whole business of HD vs Blu-Ray is a joke anyway cos downloading and hard drives are the way ahead as I see it and the new disc systems could well become the DVD equivalent of the mini disc and that didn't last long. I'm going to sit on my hands for while.

Winner of'There Is Nothing Like A Dame' Quiz revealed

batman

Cheers Windy.

Bats.

I wish I had claws.