Yeah I saw this, this morning and was like... why would I spend over $1000 to convert $25-$30 HD-DVDs? Stupidest story I've seen, WIred just keeps getting worse.

This seems pretty silly. I mean, if you already have a HD-DVD player and movies, why bother converting? it's not like anyone's going to pay a lot for your used player now, so just keep it and use it to play your HD-DVD movies...

I am assuming that HD players will play regualr DvD's? Since I never bought into that new fangled Blue ray HD anyhow all my dvd's are regular. Suits me fine. I am not going to upgrade and pay 30 bucks for a "Better" quality dvd, dvds are already overpriced as it is.

Step 1) You got me once, shame on you.

Step 2) F@#$ it, just download HD rips from the internet.

Well, it made SENSE to bet on HD-DVD. Sony has *never* won a format war. Heck, they may still lose this one, just not to HD-DVD...

wait till solid state comes along and all things are on little computer chips. Or what about crystals, now that would be just like Stargate SG1

@shadow735: They already tried that...and were shocked at the cost...

@SWFL_Dan: That was exactly what I was thinking...anyone like some old Betamax tapes? :)

@sarusa: Now THERE's an idea! Wish the dang things compressed a little better...then they wouldn't take over a month to download on BitTorrent :)

Now, if they somehow figured out how to convert your Toshiba HD-DVD player into a Blu-Ray player, then that would be something worth reading for the early-adopters. I stopped reading at "You need a Blu-Ray burner." The cost of that alone makes this whole exercise prohibitive to the ordinary consumer. Seriously, someone couldn't have invested THAT much money in HD-DVD that would make this even seem somewhat financially feasible, did they?

@sarusa: Yeah, I can't help but think people who invested in either format wasted their money. Besides cinephiles and techy types, where is the market for HD discs once online HD rentals are easier/cheaper? For casual viewers this isn't an upgrade from conventional DVDs the way DVDs were from VHS.

@SWFL_Dan: Never? I think CDs were popular enough long enough to say they won their format war with cassettes. Sony owns a considerable amount of CD related IP.

@SWFL_Dan: Actually it is well-documented that the establishment and glory of DVD came into place through the launch and high adoption of the PS2. Pre-PS2, dvd players were about as common as laser disc players.

I bet on blu-ray from day 1 when I learned it would be part of the PS3. I didn't bet on it because it was sony, better format, etc. I bet on it because Microsoft left the ball at home by only supporting HD-DVD through an external device. IF HD-DVD had been built into Xbox360, we would be singing a different tune right now. However, because MS wanted to keep their profit margins high, and Sony wanted to keep their profit margins low, Sony won.

I'm still just going to wait for the sub $100 player before I bother upgrading. Even then I doubt I'll ever buy another copy of a movie, I just don't go back and watch anything frequently enough to justify the expense. Between NetFlix and whatever happens to be on HBO/Cinemax I'm pretty well covered for movies.

I like the last line of the article.

"Also, consider just buying the movie new: a blank Blu-Ray disc is from $15-$25 for write-once media."

Heck, with UVerse On Demand...I cancelled my Netflix account and don't plan on going back...therefor...well, even DVDs don't mean much to me now...

@Crymson_77: yes but as time goes along cost decrease. All it takes is popularity. Who knows what the trend of the future 30 years will be.

@shadow735: All too true...just would suck having to spend $3,000 per movie right now...(they would have to be written in space as gravity currently makes for error prone writing)...

@shadow735: "Who knows what the trend of the future 30 years will be."

You haven't really watched Blade Runner until you've watched it in holograph via a chip inserted into your contact lens.

@Phildawg: The HD DVD spec wasn't finished at the time the 360 launched. I guess they could have made an HD DVD Elite, though.

While the article gives advice that is way expensive to follow at present, if you clip and save it (or, yaknow, bookmark it) for a few years, chances are the burner and discs will be much cheaper in the future than they are now. That happens sometimes with techie schtuff....

Step 1: Rip your HD-DVD's.
Step 2: Toss 'em.
Step 3: Buy Bluray stuff.
Step 4: ???
Step 5: PROFIT!

@stevegoz: The proper wording there is..."all the time with techie stuff" :)

1080p Blu-Ray is already outdated. I'm saving my cash for Super Ultra-High Definition TV and video. Until then my black and white TV with aluminum foil wrapped rabbit ears and a beta-max player will do just fine.