Cyprus-Forum.com

[devil]

Yes, but even if dual-compatible players come out, one of the two technologies is almost sure to fall by the wayside and the disks already on sale will become as useful as 8-track today. And what about all the different cam outputs which each require specific capturing/editing software? The situation is chaotic and I see that every day on various video forums where early buyers are S-O-O-O frustrated because they are not getting the results they hope for. Many are holding back, waiting for the dust to settle, and this is what I advise, as well.

[Crivens]

Dual compatible players sound good but I wouldn't get one. For starters apparently the player mentioned costs more in the US than buying a BR and HD-DVD player together. Secondly as devil said one technology is sure to fail, and even if you have a dual player what happens if you get a single player for the bedroom (and dual players cease to exist), or if your dual compatible player breaks? Lots of useless disks in one format basically.

Personally I would do what Devil said and not touch either tech until one of them dies. BR looks like where I would put my money, but why gamble? By the time it is over (probably about a year to 2 years) prices will be dirt cheap and the tech will have got better (look at BR players and how the 1st gen can't use some of the capabilities of the 2nd gen disks). Even now you can get a HD-DVD player in the US for about £125GBP. Which means that we and the UK should be seeing prices under £400 by 2010!

Although I reckon overall BR or HD-DVD may both have a limited life. Whichever wins IMHO will only reign for a few years. Basically online content is growing every day. Even now the BBC and ITV are bringing channels online, with Microsoft, Apple, and the big US networks looking to get in on the action. It's pretty rubbish at the minute, but give it another couple of years, and if Cytanet release their stranglehold and bring us into the 21st century for bandwidth (I say if, but surely when as 3rd world countries will soon be laughing at us at this rate...) and even we could be benefitting. Even now I have ripped a lot of my DVDs to media streamers to use on my TVs (Tvix and Buffalo units). Brilliant stuff and getting better all the time. Why have annoying physical media?

Oh, and a rather basic early attempt at online TV just came out with Joost (same people who made Skype). It's free but in beta at the minute and you can only try it if you are invited by a beta user. I have a few invites left, so if anyone wants one feel free to post your email here and I'll set it up.

Cheers

[bigOz]

Yes, but even if dual-compatible players come out, one of the two technologies is almost sure to fall by the wayside and the disks already on sale will become as useful as 8-track today. And what about all the different cam outputs which each require specific capturing/editing software? The situation is chaotic and I see that every day on various video forums where early buyers are S-O-O-O frustrated because they are not getting the results they hope for. Many are holding back, waiting for the dust to settle, and this is what I advise, as well.

About a year ago LG were planning to drop their plans for a dual-disc player. Apparently they also waited for the dust to settle down before deciding to go ehead with production.

I agree it is far too expensive, the market is too chaotic, and there is no telling which way the wind will blow in a year from now - as I said before, these guys are in the market for producing and selling more. The only way they can do that is by continually developing and changing improved output quality, to make products more attractive than the current one.

I also agree it is very annoying from customer's point of view, but it seems this will continue forever! Because the electronics market is not commandeered by demand leading production/supply, but production/supplies inducing the demand. Alas, it is even easier for the producers to operate in this way now, using the improved communications and marketing means available on the internet.

[halil]

İCEMAN ASKED:
Not sure about it but i dont think the local terrestrial stations have switched over to digital transmissions in Cyprus yet...I know that they will all switch over by 2012...So your UK HD ready TV with inbuilt digital tuner will not be much use on terrestrial channels...

İf u have set-top box u can get LTV and ALFA TV on ch 26 and 34 from nicosia area.to get clear picture u should have decorder as well.from nicosia i am geting their test transmission.i called test transmission becasue i didn't herd official explainment from them. it is adigital singan i can monitor it by my spectrum analizor.try it.