I looked at all the general discussion threads, and didn't find any discussion on this issue, so I thought I'd ask.

There are many reasons people buy DVDs. I buy those I like having, that I think are good movies that I feel like watching once in a while. I mean, I don't buy a DVD cause it's rare, or cause it would complete a set (for instance, I ain't never buying Rocky V).

I currently don't have a high-def TV, but I plan to get me a plasma or LCD 42 incher in august (when I get to the US). The point is, I have never watched a movie in high-def (besides the cinema). And to me, DVDs on big plasma TVs look great right now, and I don't think "oh, this sucks, I wish I had high def movies".

I'll also probably get a Playstation 3 console in October (when they release GTAIV), which will give me a blue-ray player to go along my high-def tv.

So, should I hold out buying DVD titles for those movies available in blue-ray?

Also, wouldn't it be logical to say that eventually, high-def will replace DVD, in either blue-ray, HD-DVD, or another format? And that this "eventually" is around the corner?

If so, why spend a lot of money on a lesser format, even if it will "always" be playable? If I buy most of the 70 titles on DVD, that's over a thousand dollars, maybe way over.

What are your thoughts?

thanks

I have an HD A1 HD DVD player and it upconverts the regular DVDs to 1080i.  I barely can tell the difference between an upconverted DVD and an actual HD DVD.  I also have a PS3, but it will not upscale a regular DVD past 480P.  Having said this, if you get a Blu-ray player or and HD DVD player that upconverts regular DVDs to 1080i or 1080P, regular DVDs will look VERY good being played on these players and an HD TV that will display at 1080i or 1080P. 

If there is a movie that you really want in HD format, buy it in that format, but if it really doesn't matter, buy it in DVD format if you are going to buy a player that upconverts.  But if your only player is going to be the PS3, you may want to buy the movie in HD since the PS3 will not upconvert a regular DVD.

Yeah, I'm not rich, so I don't have HD stuff at all. And I don't plan on getting into it, unless I win the lottery. And even then, probably not.

Until the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD war gets settled, the two factions are just shooting themselves in their feet. The vast majority of the public isn't going to waste their hard-earned bucks on what might not be the "winning" format. And also, because said vast majority of consumers don't/can't see a big difference between DVD and HD, they won't waste their money. I think.

Heck, I've still got a working 8-Track player.
(In the hopes of an 8-TrackProfiler someday )

For me I don't have anything hi-def...though I have been looking at some TV's so that may change at some point in the not too distant future.
I have too many standard dvds to make wholesale changes when and if I make the switch.  At that point I'll probably buy hd-dvds when that's available but I don't anticipate making large changes to the hi-def format.  Plus I'm kind of hooked on getting movies for $5-7 from Columbia House.  I don't know if I could go back to paying $25-$30 (or more) for my movies. 

interesting... I did a search, and it seems the PS3's next firmware will allow it to upconvert DVDs to 1080p.

and if an upconverted DVD looks indeed as good to the normal person's naked eye as true high def, it may be safer to stick to dvds until the format war is over and movies start being released only in high def.
(I can't see blue-ray losing, mainly cause of the PS3. Worst case (for blu-ray) is a compromise format that'll still play blu-ray)

I'm also not about to replace any title of my collection any time soon. Not until DVDs are as arcaic as.. vhs.

About a non-mechanical format:
My view is that first they gotta sort out the current DRM issues. It's gotta die. It's kinda inevitable. I'd have spent hundreds of dollars at least, on itunes, if the tracks were DRM-free. Instead, I bought 1 track. and 1 movie, just to see what it was like. (I should have bought it on DVD... darn).
And then, they have to come up with a format that'll be collector-friendly. That, like DVDs now, we'll want to buy despite the easy availability of pirated copies.

HD will definitely pick up, probably not as fast as the manufacturers wish, but it eventually will. If DVDs will be obsolete is another question... if they do not figure out another way to drop costs of producing Blu-Ray or HDDVD discs anytime soon, DVDs might stick around for a while.
I for my part love watching movies in HD now.  Bought a 52" Sony RP about 4 years ago, way before its time.  When we checked out different models and brands in numerous stores this seemed to be the one! (mention that it does not have HDMI and only up to 1080i)
Once bought and nicely setup at home I was rather disappointed with the picture quality of TV channels! Having a digital cable box at the time, but only very few stations broadcasting digital (only 8 in HD at that time).  However the DVD playback quality was awesome, 1000 times better than on our previous CRT.
After some research to see where broadcasting was going in the next couple of years (that being more digital and hd stations) we decided to keep it (watching more DVDs than tv anyways).
Now that since last year we have a PS3 and 360 (which both were bought for gaming in the first place) and thus the capability to playback full HD (well up to 1080i via component), I am hooked at the quality.
It brings so much more depth to the picture.  The quality of the colors is just amazing.  Watched Planet Earth this past weekend which was only a rental, but I'll definitely purchase that sometime soon.
Sure, not all movies do look perfect, some transfers are quite bad (Full Metal Jacket, Fifth Element ie)

There are very few titles on my list that I already own on DVD and would like to switch out for either HD format.  And I only do buy those HD titles that are really worth it.  I dont care watching a slow 2 hour drama in HD when I can get the DVD for half the price.  It will only be worth it if you have 42" or up TV (HDMI and 1080P) to get the full experience and actually see a big difference.
Now some upcoming movies to look out for are definitely Apocalypto, Pirates, Matrix and hopefully LOTR and Star Wars down the line
The movies that I experienced as some of the best looking and sounding ones: Black Hawk Down, Casino Royale, Corpse Bride, Crank, Kingdom Of Heaven,  Prestige, Underworld

Just my 2 cents.....

Quoting Boykin:

Quote:
My PS3 and Blu-ray Eragon came in on Monday.  My Blue-ray PS3 remote should be in today.  Now I can watch Eragon in HD.  It was spectacular  on regular DVD upscaled on my HD A1 to 1080i.  I am hoping the HD version will be even better.  When my HD A1 gets back from the shop, I will do a comparison of an upscaled version verses an HD version. 

I have a 55" Phillips rear projection tv with a maximum resolution of 1080i.

That's really cool.. Gotta love the smell of new electronic toys in the morning. 

Please let us know your impressions from the comparison, mentioning the size of the screen you used.. thanks!!

That's not bad advice John.  But I'd point out that the Toshiba line of HD DVD players are believed by many to be as good, if not better, than any Oppo player on the market.  And as a nice bonus, it plays HD DVDs as well.  Beginning this Sunday and lasting for a month, Toshiba is starting a $100 instant rebate on the HD-A2 and the final week of the sale they're expanding it to also include the HD-A20 and HD-XA2.  Best Buy and Circuit City will be offering the HD-A2 for $299 beginning on Sunday.

It's up to everyone to decide when or if they want to jump into things, but this is my breaking point.  I'm planning to pick one up on Tuesday (Best Buy will let you pick any two HD DVDs for free if you purchase The Matrix trilogy).  That's only $100 more than an upconverting player alone.  $100 is worth it to me to also get the ability to play HD DVD.