Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player
REASONS TO BUY HD-DVD and not Blu-ray.
First: both formats are great advances from the basic DVD we all know and love. From this point of view, they are both winners.<br /><br />Second: I doubt that Blu-ray is the future while saying (like Sony does) HD-DVD is just another form of DVD. Frankly, the future can come from both ways. It is all a matter of adoption. The financial investment (who will pay for the continuing research and advances) will pour into the format that wins the battle - and it is us, consumers, who choose the winning format (not Sony or Panasonic, or Toshiba or their marketing department and opinion makers)). Therefore I am not impressed by announcements that future Blu-rays will be able to do this or that. Its all a matter of investing. It is all a matter or researching.<br /><br />Third: The DVD market is roughly 10 years old. Think about that. VHS was king for almost 25 years until DVDs came. Now, 10 years after DVD, the format has revolutionized the way we do home entertainment. With that in mind, should we simply throw our long DVD collections (who cost us thousands of dollars) into the trash bin? If I continue to buy new titles in one of those new formats, how long will it take for me to buy (again) the titles I already own on DVD? 20 years?<br /><br />Like many people, I don't recall anybody saying to me back in 2000 \\"look, buy these dvds but keep in mind that they're just a transtition format between lousy VHS and the HD formats of the future\\" - which means, when I first started spending money on my DVDs, I never thought I was going to have to buy them all over again in another format in 10 or 15 year-time.<br /><br />That's what is gonna happen with Blu-ray and DVDs since they're not compatible.<br /><br />May I remind you that compact discs (whatever format can be fitted in this category) should last a life time?<br /><br />So...<br /><br />Fourth: If I have to choose the format for the future, It'll be the most compatible with the hundreds of DVDs I already have. Because I am planning to keep them for a long time. It took me ten years to build my DVD collection. It will take me at least 20 years to buy everything again - PLUS: in that period, I don't want my DVDs to become junk just like my old VHS tapes.<br /><br />I am NOT saying technology should stand frozen on DVDs just because consumers already use it. But if new formats should emerge, they MUST respect the fact that consumers already spent a lot of money in a format that is very good - therefore, COMPATIBILITY issues are key. As I pointed before, VHS ruled for 25 years. It was more than fair when a new format (DVD) came and replaced the fragile VHS for a more robust lifetime lasting compact-disc-like digital format.<br /><br />But we are only 10 years into DVDs and Sony says we must jump into something alse? what if they invent a new format 10 years from now - the lasercard (it's a joke)? should we throw out our Blu-rays too?<br /><br />I just don't find it funny that technology uses content (music and films) to make us spend more money on things we don't really need (exemple: those ridiculous PSP discs with movies).<br /><br />But if we DO NEED hi-def formats (and indeed I think we do), we should have one that is fully compatible with the existing format - compatibility is possible if not mandatory: we are not talking about disc versus tape. We are not talking about rotating heads versus laser.<br /><br />Fifth: Sony is a nice brand. But they show no respect for consumers. Their first Blu-ray machines are compatible with DVDs alright... but for how long?<br /><br />Can anybody answer me that?<br /><br />Once they have the market in their hands, why keep paying royalties to maintain compatibility with DVD? Or CD?<br /><br />They did not seem too interested in creating a format compatible with current technology because compatibility costs money on royalties and patents.<br /><br />So, what makes you think the Blu-ray creators will keep their machines compatible with DVD?<br /><br />We consumers spend a lot of money in music and movies. And I feel angry when someone (in this case, Sony) tells me they invented the ultimate format and that my current collection is gonna be worthless and unplayable in their machines within 5 years... or 10. The simple fact that you have to check for compatibility when you buy a Blu-ray player is frightening enough.<br /><br />CONCLUSION<br />For me, HD-DVD is the way. Fully compatible. I can take 30 years to (on my own pace) replace my DVDs because they both (DVD and HD-DVD) belong to the same creators - meaning they will always be compatible for at least 25 years.<br /><br />I am tired of hearing the pro-Blu-ray people blackmail us consumers saying \\"we will be sorry\\" if we chose HD-DVD. That is nonsense. The same thing was said when CDs replaced LPs.<br /><br />Has everybody forgotten what happened to Laserdiscs? Who of you got stuck with 100 Lasediscs the minute the \\"future\\" pointed the DVD way? Luckily I was too young to buy Laserdiscs (I never had any).<br /><br />Like millions, I pay for the future. I buy DVDs and I want to be sure I can use them for 20 more years until my current collection has been fully replaced. That is not ask too much.<br /><br />That's why I don't care if Blu-ray can take mankind to Mars. HD-DVD will be able to do the same if we support it. And PLUS: it will be always compatible with DVD (they belong to the same creators).<br /><br />The DVD format is a great thing. Think this: We'll have HD-DVD for movies (who'll always play back our current DVDs) and DVD-Audio for high quality multichanel music (who'll still be compatible with CDs for decades to come).<br /><br />Now look a Sony: Blu-ray (compatible with nothing - and only compatible with DVDs while Sony needs to \\"friendly\\" push the format) and SACD (a format which is not even compatible with its own Blu-ray).<br /><br />The people behind HD-DVD show make a lot more sense: first DVD, then DVD-audio, then HD-DVD. Their technology evolves without forgetting past formats.<br /><br />Why should I support Sony, who's trying to push a format that will make me loose thousands of dollars worth of DVDs that will simply be deleted from compatibility the minute their format wins the battle?<br /><br />Manufacturers like Hitachi and Pioneer will probably have models that can play both HD-DVDs, DVDs, DVD-Audios and CDs.<br /><br />Why adopt the Blu-ray, then? Just because people say it is better? Wasn't Betamax better than VHS? Sure. Thus, you can't compare Blu-ray and HD-DVD on the same way. There is no better: they are just different. And they are very similar in what they can do for the average consumer.<br /><br />And... one word about Fox and Disney. In the end, they will adopt whatever format consumers choose. Do you think they're stupid? Of course not. Positions and policies change.<br /><br />And Sony will change if it wins. And within a year or two, we will be stuck with our worthless DVD collections.<br /><br />Go HD-DVD. Technology goes wherever consumers go. Why should I buy the White Album again and again and again? My DVD of Casablanca is just fine, thank you. And I want to buy players that will be able to play it.<br /><br />Because I respect my money, I will choose HD-DVD. Because I know both formats (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) can do miracles, I will choose the format that respects me the most.<br /><br />AGAIN, I am NOT saying I want technology to freeze. All I'm saying is that I demand full compatibility. Blu-ray does not offer that. Sony does not offer that. HD-DVD does. And it too can take us to Mars if we adopt it.e ultimate format and that my current collection is gonna be worthless and unplayable in their machines within 5 years... or 10. The simple fact that you have to check for compatibility when you buy a Blu-ray player is frightening enough.    CONCLUSION  For me, HD-DVD is the way. Fully compatible. I can take 30 years to (on my own pace) replace my DVDs because they both (DVD and HD-DVD) belong to the same creators - meaning they will always be compatible for at least 25 years.    I am tired of hearing the pro-Blu-ray people blackmail us consumers saying \\"we will be sorry\\" if we chose HD-DVD. That is nonsense. The same thing was said when CDs replaced LPs.    Has everybody forgotten what happened to Laserdiscs? Who of you got stuck with 100 Lasediscs the minute the \\"future\\" pointed the DVD way? Luckily I was too young to buy Laserdiscs (I never had any).    Like millions, I pay for the future. I buy DVDs and I want to be sure I can use them for 20 more years until my current collection has been fully replaced. That is not ask too much.    That's why I don't care if Blu-ray can take mankind to Mars. HD-DVD will be able to do the same if we support it. And PLUS: it will be always compatible with DVD (they belong to the same creators).    The DVD format is a great thing. Think this: We'll have HD-DVD for movies (who'll always play back our current DVDs) and DVD-Audio for high quality multichanel music (who'll still be compatible with CDs for decades to come).    Now look a Sony: Blu-ray (compatible with nothing - and only compatible with DVDs while Sony needs to \\"friendly\\" push the format) and SACD (a format which is not even compatible with its own Blu-ray).    The people behind HD-DVD show make a lot more sense: first DVD, then DVD-audio, then HD-DVD. Their technology evolves without forgetting past formats.    Why should I support Sony, who's trying to push a format that will make me loose thousands of dollars worth of DVDs that will simply be deleted from compatibility the minute their format wins the battle?    Manufacturers like Hitachi and Pioneer will probably have models that can play both HD-DVDs, DVDs, DVD-Audios and CDs.    Why adopt the Blu-ray, then? Just because people say it is better? Wasn't Betamax better than VHS? Sure. Thus, you can't compare Blu-ray and HD-DVD on the same way. There is no better: they are just different. And they are very similar in what they can do for the average consumer.    And... one word about Fox and Disney. In the end, they will adopt whatever format consumers choose. Do you think they're stupid? Of course not. Positions and policies change.    And Sony will change if it wins. And within a year or two, we will be stuck with our worthless DVD collections.    Go HD-DVD. Technology goes wherever consumers go. Why should I buy the White Album again and again and again? My DVD of Casablanca is just fine, thank you. And I want to buy players that will be able to play it.    Because I respect my money, I will choose HD-DVD. Because I know both formats (HD-DVD and Blu-ray) can do miracles, I will choose the format that respects me the most.    AGAIN, I am NOT saying I want technology to freeze. All I'm saying is that I demand full compatibility. Blu-ray does not offer that. Sony does not offer that. HD-DVD does. And it too can take us to Mars if we adopt it.