HD DVDs Vs Blu-Ray aka why you should NOT get Blu-Ray

[anysia]

People considering to invest in HD media: Please buy HD DVD instead of Blu-ray. HD DVD is much more consumer friendly (e.g., no region coding, AACS not mandatory, no BD+). Don't give your money to people who throw your fair-use rights out of the window.

Comments

(frozen)

[mexicanjewlizrd.livejournal.com]

eww, no. Blu-Ray all the way, only. (or a dual-format player, if you must)

* larger discs (30gb/layer vs 20gb, and scales better)
* cheaper discs (they have disposable discs made on rice paper)
* older, more established, better backing technology

I don't know anyone who has ever cared about region locking. Region encoding is an awesome idea, but is rarely used well.

(frozen) When dvd's are only available

[shadoutcarver.livejournal.com]

In a format I can't watch then oh my surprise, I actually do care. Imagine that. Who'd a thunk it.

(frozen) Re: When dvd's are only available

[mexicanjewlizrd.livejournal.com]

If format matters (not the topic), then I have a nice LG television which plays NTSC and PAL out of the box. And the DVD player which came with it? Region free. Lovely :)

That said, format becomes moot with Blu-ray. Once you move to digital, there is no more NTSC/PAL; that only applies to analog. (Unless you misused the word 'format', and meant region locked, in which case either you probably chose poorly when purchasing :-P
(see my other comment for links)

(frozen) Re: When dvd's are only available

[mexicanjewlizrd.livejournal.com]

to clarify:
tv: analog rear projection
also dual-format VCR from LG.

(frozen) Re: When dvd's are only available

[anysia.livejournal.com]

You have it wrong.

Region Coding, not Format.

Here, go forth and learn:

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=18

(frozen)

[anysia.livejournal.com]

I don't know anyone who has ever cared about region locking. Region encoding is an awesome idea, but is rarely used well.

Just about everyone I know does care about region locking. I removed a dvd player from a laptop and replaced it with another because it was firmware and hardwired to be one region only and no DeCSS program would work to fix this, and it coulnd't be flashed to be RPC1.

I would rather pay a bit more for discs I can freely use, even if I have bought them from a different country. As for disposable, when I get a DVD, I don't dispose of it.
You definitely missed the target.

(frozen)

[mexicanjewlizrd.livejournal.com]

Just about every stand-alone DVD player owned by people I know is not region locked. Thanks to being close to China, we have a near endless supply of cheap, unlocked players. Sure, there are no knock-off Blu-ray players here yet that I know off, but the Chinese do damn good work, and it won't be long.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/e7e48a137b144110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

As for computer-based drives, sounds like you've failed there.
http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm

I've been using this for years, works like a treat. *nix based OSes have their own, similar solutions. (these are based on intercepting the locking at a software level, and I've never seen it not work).

Looks like I've hit the target pretty darn well. But then, some of us are more savvy consumers than others ;-)

(frozen)

[anysia.livejournal.com]

No, you have missed by a MILE. There are several players out there that cannot be hacked or flashed to be RPC1. Arguing about it isn't going to make you right.

Same applies for dvd drives in computers. I should know, I had one.

[mexicanjewlizrd.livejournal.com]

"No, you have missed by a MILE. There are several players out there that cannot be hacked or flashed to be RPC1. Arguing about it isn't going to make you right."

As much as you may have wanted me to say it, I never once suggested that anyone hack or flash any player.
I said: don't buy region locked (stand-alone) players. Then disc locking becomes moot.

As for on computers, even the page you linked to me says "Michael, you are exactly correct. In the very first block of text, they link the same (and similar) software you did, and agree with everything you said". (or something very close to that :-P )