To Blu-ray or not to Blu-ray

[Enkidu Warrior]

Do you think it's now worth investing in a Blu-ray drive when buying a new desktop? I'm putting together a new system and although they're expensive I could quite reasonably add in a Blu-ray drive, but I'm just wondering if it's worth it.

I'm going to be using a 24" monitor so I'm sure I'd appreciate the resolution on HD movies to at least some extent, but there aren't exactly a ton of Blu-ray movies out there yet.

I am quite attracted by the ability to back-up 50GB at a time, but it's hard to justify spending so much just for that.

The biggest bonus would be the future proofing angle I guess.

What do you think?

 

[GenMarshall]

If it has backwards capability for non-Blu-ray DVDs and CDs then it would be worth it.

 

[taper]

Depends if you think you'll use it now. Drives are pretty easy to add in later, so if you don't need it now, wait until you do, and it'll be cheaper.

 

[Speedo]

It'll be at least several more years (I'd bet 3-5+) before Bluray is actually used for programs on PCs. So, the "future proofing" argument is laughable tbh - by the time you actually *need* them, BR drives will be as cheap as DVD drives are today, and odds are you'll have upgraded your comp at least once by then.

So the real questions are:
How much are you into HD movies?
How much money do you have to blow?

If the answers are "freakin' hardcore" and "a lot", then by all means go for one.

 

[Aramazd]

If you plan on watching a lot of HD Movies, get it, otherwise don't bother.

 

[Zelig]

I have a Blu-Ray drive for my PC (on loan), I probably wouldn't spend the $150 they cost. If I could get the 50" TV I wanted, there'd be no question about needing Blu-ray, but 720p content tends to be fine for a 24" monitor.

 

[azzaman333]

Not worth it until Blu-Ray becomes standard in people's homes.

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

Get it, for blue ray to become standard people have to buy blue ray compadible machines. The more people who buy the faster the improvment will come. A lot of movies are made in blueray format.

 

[StarWorms]

Get it when it's cheaper. There's no real need for a blu-ray drive yet. The only thing on blu-ray so far are films. It'll just be an expensive add on that you probably won't use for years.

 

[warpus]

Get it later, when the blank media is cheaper.

 

[Abaddon]

not until the price drops

 

[Zelig]

Wow, didn't think it would be so one sided here.

Do you all realize how pathetic standard DVDs look compared to Blu-ray?

I'm sure you can guess which is which.

edit: sorry, needed the webspace, no more links.

 

[cFccFc]

Maybe you should pick another movie on DVD ? Try the constant gardener, my version on DVD is so clear I really cant see any possibility for improvement on my 32 HD tv.

And it really is easy to guess when you write whats what.

 

[Zelig]

Maybe you should pick another movie on DVD ? Try the constant gardener, my version on DVD is so clear I really cant see any possibility for improvement on my 32 HD tv.

Something isn't right then. Doesn't matter how good the original source is, when played on proper setups, DVDs just have too little space to hold video of quality comparable to Blu-ray.

 

[Abaddon]

You still get the same level of entertainment IMO.

I don't see the worth of the excessive cost currently, considering if you wait just a year or so you will save a LOT, when the tech isn't mainstream yet.

 

[Souron]

Not unless you plan on using it. HD video does look much better than standard, but it's hard to put a price tag on how much, especially since the enjoyment of movies depends more on content than on picture quality.

 

[MarineCorps]

Wow, didn't think it would be so one sided here.

Do you all realize how pathetic standard DVDs look compared to Blu-ray?

Hi-def

Standard DVD

I'm sure you can guess which is which.

In order to enjoy blue ray I would have to buy a new Tv, a small one is about $500, then a Blu-ray player, $400. SO I would be paying almost $1000 for just a better picture. Not worth it IMO.


Its kinda cheap to compare the picture quality of a 1981 movie against a 2003 movie.

 

[Zelig]

In order to enjoy blue ray I would have to buy a new Tv, a small one is about $500, then a Blu-ray player, $400. SO I would be paying almost $1000 for just a better picture. Not worth it IMO.


Its kinda cheap to compare the picture quality of a 1981 movie against a 2003 movie.

In order to enjoy blue ray I would have to buy a new Tv, a small one is about $500, then a Blu-ray player, $400. SO I would be paying almost $1000 for just a better picture. Not worth it IMO.


Its kinda cheap to compare the picture quality of a 1981 movie against a 2003 movie.

A 24" computer monitor is $350, and a blu-ray drive is $150, that totals to $500, along with the greatly increased desktop usability from the bigger monitor.

edit: sorry, needed the webspace, no more links.

 

[Speedo]

A 24" computer monitor...

Realize that large, high resolution monitors will force graphics card upgrades faster. There's no dropping the resolution (without significant quality sacrifice) to improve performance when new games come out in a year or two.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Wow, didn't think it would be so one sided here.

Do you all realize how pathetic standard DVDs look compared to Blu-ray?

-snip-
-snip-

I'm sure you can guess which is which.

Wow, i didnt think it would be so bad of an example. You're comparing a 1981 movie with a 2001 movie. Guess which one will look better on any medium?

And frankly, that 'Hi-Def' shot of the Matrix looks no different than the SD DVD on my monitor. So no, I can't guess which is which.

And some older movies in hi-def:
-snip-
-snip-

New movie in lo-def.
-snip-

Again, The first two shots look like SD DVD's, and the Iron Man shot you chose looks like its from youtube or something. Meaning that is most definitely not representative of dvd quality

A 24" computer monitor is $350, and a blu-ray drive is $150, that totals to $500, along with the greatly increased desktop usability from the bigger monitor.

As well as a new gfx card, new processor if your movies stutter, possibly new mobo and memory, then a new PSU to power all that new stuff. All for what, so you can get maybe a 10% increase in picture quality? ( Im not talking about resolution change, Im talking about what most people will percieve the difference to be)