Blu Ray - any good?

[Dopamine1979]

I ordered a Blu Ray rather than a DVD by mistake and rather than returning it I am considering upgrading to a Blu Ray player.

Are they any good? Are they significantly better than DVD or not worth the fuss/cost?

[*Bob*]

They look pretty darned good (and significantly better than DVD) but I think you need the right screen (ie big and high quality) to get the most of the format.

[Jeremy]

Noticably better than DVD, but not as significant as the leap from VHS to DVD.

Depends how big your TV is, how far away you sit, and how good your eyesight is.

[El Pibe]

worth it as long as your tv can do 1080p, otherwise probaly not worth it. But yes it does look amazing.

Biggest hurdle to overcome is that for a while everything looks less cinematic weirdly enough, more home video.

This passes with time.

[*Bob*]

El Pibe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Biggest hurdle to overcome is that for a while

> everything looks less cinematic weirdly enough,

> more home video.

On LED TVs especially. Plasma is much kinder..

[StraferJack]

I'd agree the jump isn't as dramatic as from VHS to DVD

right up until I start watching a DVD and go "urgh... it's bid muddy this."

Sound is better too

But you would need a TV of at least 40in to get the benefit of picture improvement

[El Pibe]

Many blu-ray players upscale the dvds, and though the effectiveness varies it can often be pretty good. especially on pixaresque stuff.

Also my TV has double the lines and some clever interpolation software that adds to it.

This can have crippling effects on older or poorly digitised DVDs.

I actually threw away my copy of bladerunner.

[Nigello]

I agree that Blu-ray is worth it but you need a decently-sized, HD TV set to go with a Blu-ray player. Also, some DVDs say that they are optimised when played on Blu-ray sets, but I am not sure if it is all DVDs or just some that have been 'tinkered with'. Anyone know more about that?

Samsung players also have all manner of smart TV technology, I think. Ask at John Lewis.

[StraferJack]

"I actually threw away my copy of bladerunner"

I bet the day you bought that DVD it was like holding some holy grail - "not just a crappy VHS, but pristine DVD! With extras! And a commentary!"

[StraferJack]

Generally I'm not a fan of TVs and players that have proprietary "Smart" technology - I always turn all that stuff off if I can. It can only operate to generic rules which, depending on the source video, can be awful

[El Pibe]

Don't worry, I got to have that feeling all over again 2 days later when I bought the directors directors directors cut on blu-ray!!!

[Dopamine1979]

Helpful comments. Thanks.

Any major disadvantages with Blu Ray? I've heard it's a hassle getting the film to resume where you left off if you stop it halfway through.

[StraferJack]

oh that is a good point Dopmine - either I haven't figured it out or it's a common thing, but I've not been able to restart any of my bluerays from where I stopped

And the load times are noticeably longer than DVDs, with all the menu and splash screens and trailers each time you switch back on. It IS a pain, but dangnabit, theyhave me and I won't go back

[*Bob*]

The main bugbears seem to how well they upscale DVDs, how well they deal with fast motion, how noisy the player is and how quickly the player reads the disc (some players take bloody ages to start playing a disc in the first place, let alone resume!).

Lots of variation from player to player. Just read the reviews and head for the Best Buys.