Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-Ray Disc Player
don't make me laugh...BLUFF-RAY...  THE NEXT BETAMAX...
I tested both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray (for business purposes) and I'm afraid my expectations were true: the Blu-Ray is a faillure.<br /><br />Can you believe most of the movies that were released are in Enhanced definition (and not High Definition)????? I checked it and it is true. I got very disappointed. All HD-DVD titles are true Hi-Def. Period.<br /><br />One reviewer said this Samsung BR debut model is a mediocre DVD player. I did not find it mediocre... but i also must say that, as a DVD player, this model is no better than any $80 player around. I was expecting more from a $1000 player.<br /><br />My impression was this: the Blu-ray backers are so eager to push their format against HD-DVD (the natural Hi-Def evolution from DVDs - made by the same creators) that they are putting on the market a technology that is not nearly as ready as HD-DVD. It still has many glitches. It promisses a lot... but by the time it comes... HD-DVD will already have surpassed it.<br /><br />The Toshiba HD-DVD model I bought even has an ethernet connection - so it can be upgraded.<br /><br />This Samsung Blu-Ray model is just an ordinary player with an $80-DVD-player quality. It can read Blu-Ray discs... but the discs are yet to come (at least as they promissed they would). In fact very few blu-ray titles now available are true Hi-def.<br /><br />I'm very disappointed.<br /><br />I hope this format wars won't last long. I'm afraid Blu-ray will be Sony's next Betamax (or Philips CD-I in the 90's). I'm comparing Blu-ray to Betamax (whose apparent and debatable superiority do VHS wasn't enough to make it win the format battle in the 70's) just as a representation of the relatively lousy deal you're getting when you choose Blu-ray.<br /><br />The menus on this Samsung model are ok. The remote is ok. I did all the connections the right way. The sound is very good. But it is not worth the cost I paid for this machine.<br /><br />If you are a Blu-ray fan... my advice is wait a year or two. Or buy the PS3 (and I suspect that when it comes to movies, it will also disappoint).<br /><br />But if you want true, simple and uncompromised Hi-Def now and forever. Go HD-DVD.<br /><br />As I see it, the laser technology on which both formats are based is very similar. The real difference is on the discs. That's where all Blu-ray problems seem to be. That explain this stupid issue with the Enhanced Definition discs. For me it is frightning to see that no matter what Blu-ray player I buy... the problem is with the discs. This the mother of all glitches... and HD-DVD has none of this.<br /><br />Sounds crazy? It isn't. I saw all that before with Betamax.<br /><br />--------------<br /><br />PS: for those who did not get my analogy between VHS(HD-DVD) Vs. Betamax(Blu-ray) let me say this: Betamax was slightly superior to VHS alright (which is not the case with HD formats since they both achieve the same image quality by different means). But as VHS proceeded to dominate the market, it's technology did surpass Betamax. This is WHY I'm not moved by Blu-ray's promises. As I see it, Blu-ray knows its technology is still too complicated and not ready (then the focus on promises). On the other side, HD-DVD is focused on delivering (because it can... because it benefits from a technology that is far more stable). And as far as technology goes, there are no limits to anything... it is all a matter of early adoption. And without parading, HD-DVD will do it faster, cheaper and always fully compatible with current DVDs (I bought all my favorite movies a few years ago and I want to keep them for a while - don't i have this right?).<br /><br />Blu-ray was born out of greed. That's what this format wars is all about. The DVD always had on its horizon a compatible Hi-def format to where to go: HD-DVD. That's why I feel that my current DVD collection will always be playable on any HD-DVD player. Why wouldn't it? The blu-ray backers, on the other hand, had to go such a long and complicated way in order to avoid paying royalties for the patents that make DVDs and HD-DVDs. That's why they're having a hard time on the disc production side. They overcomplicate something that today is already simple and doable.<br /><br />BLU-RAYS ARE MADE TO COST: they won't be DVD-compatible for long (if they win) because this compatibility costs them. And they will (in the future) try to restrain some of our freedom... like NOT letting us watch our movies on any machine we want... like enforcing No-region-free policies... like trying to restrain our fredom to do what we want with movies we pay for, etc. These are some of the Blu-ray dark sides nobody knows, because everybody seems to be in awe before its smoke promises of 200Gb discs by the year 2039. - Wow!!!<br /><br />Unlike Toshiba, Sony is heavily into the contents industry (producing movies, albums and controling film/music libraries). so, if they can FORCE consumers to buy more (thru technological means), believe me, they will. They're not here to give you better definition... they are here just to get your money, and collect more royalties, and make you buy again what you already have, and make you pay additional bucks for everytime you wanna do something to which they say \\"no no\\".<br /><br />Think about it. DVDs (and its future installments) should make our lives easier. Not the opposite.<br /><br />This format war is a very serious thing and it will have a big impact on the way we consume entertainment in the future.<br /><br />That's why I'll go HD-DVD.to go such a long and complicated way in order to avoid paying royalties for the patents that make DVDs and HD-DVDs. That's why they're having a hard time on the disc production side. They overcomplicate something that today is already simple and doable. <br /> <br />BLU-RAYS ARE MADE TO COST: they won't be DVD-compatible for long (if they win) because this compatibility costs them. And they will (in the future) try to restrain some of our freedom... like NOT letting us watch our movies on any machine we want... like enforcing No-region-free policies... like trying to restrain our fredom to do what we want with movies we pay for, etc. These are some of the Blu-ray dark sides nobody knows, because everybody seems to be in awe before its smoke promises of 200Gb discs by the year 2039. - Wow!!! <br /> <br />Unlike Toshiba, Sony is heavily into the contents industry (producing movies, albums and controling film/music libraries). so, if they can FORCE consumers to buy more (thru technological means), believe me, they will. They're not here to give you better definition... they are here just to get your money, and collect more royalties, and make you buy again what you already have, and make you pay additional bucks for everytime you wanna do something to which they say \\"no no\\". <br /> <br /> <br />Think about it. DVDs (and its future installments) should make our lives easier. Not the opposite. <br /> <br />This format war is a very serious thing and it will have a big impact on the way we consume entertainment in the future. <br /> <br />That's why I'll go HD-DVD.  <br />