Is blu ray worth the price?
- Thread starter xcaliber
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Well, before you run out to get a PS3 just to play Blue-ray DVDs or a Blue-Ray DVD player you need a high definition TV. You don't need one but, if you want to see the quality of it then you need a HD TV. Other than that it's a waste of money, and pointless.
It's not really worth it unless your a TV junkie or just to show off.
It's not really worth it unless your a TV junkie or just to show off.
Sephiroth Crescent
Greatest Villian Ever
Is blu-ray worth the price? It depends what price you put on your personal leisure(yes I can use big words too ^^), very soon hi-def drives will be a thing of the past, as such, you should wait a while, and buy one while their hot. As Cerridwen said you won't fully enjoy blu-ray without a nice T.V to compliment it, I have a PS3, and a 44 Inch TV which I'm still making payments for =/. But its very nice. I say it depends on who you ask, and how long are you willing to wait
.- Kuja
Toxic Variations
. . .
Well now, it depends on how much cash you want to fork out, friend. You gotta also take in account how expensive most blu-ray movies are. From what I've seen most are close to the thirty buck range. Not my cup of tea, personally. Of course, you could always rent. The picture is gorgeous, I must say. However, being on a budget, and not having the money to purchase an HD TV, a Blu-Ray player, or those expensive movies - I'd have to say no. I'm just fine and dandy with my regular dvds. If you're the type that has to have the most up to date, best of the best, etc - go for it. But if you do, you'll be paying out of the arse. As for me, I'm going to be patient and just wait. 
Okay to start with, if you want a blu-ray player then get a PS3, even if you have no interest in playing games it can be cheaper. All being said, blu-ray players have dropped in price though I'm not sure what the prices are in America etc.
You'll need a HDTV as well, like Cerri has pointed out although you don't need one not having one with blu-ray is pointless and a waste of money as well as that you won't see a quality difference.
The films...personally speaking, I think the price of blu-ray films really depends on what film you are getting. I'll compare 'I am Legend' with 'The Golden Compass' (mainly due to the fact I have them both). With I am Legend, the picture to me is sharper and clearer but when it comes to it that is all I noticed but with The Golden Compass, due to it having a lot of special effects the quality difference between a normal dvd and blu-ray is seriously noticeable (again, personally speaking)...and I'd say it was like that mainly because of all the special effects in it.
So really, I'd say the price depends on what film it is.
You'll need a HDTV as well, like Cerri has pointed out although you don't need one not having one with blu-ray is pointless and a waste of money as well as that you won't see a quality difference.
The films...personally speaking, I think the price of blu-ray films really depends on what film you are getting. I'll compare 'I am Legend' with 'The Golden Compass' (mainly due to the fact I have them both). With I am Legend, the picture to me is sharper and clearer but when it comes to it that is all I noticed but with The Golden Compass, due to it having a lot of special effects the quality difference between a normal dvd and blu-ray is seriously noticeable (again, personally speaking)...and I'd say it was like that mainly because of all the special effects in it.
So really, I'd say the price depends on what film it is.
Actually in America they run around the same price as the PS3, so saving money is no longer an excuse to buy a PS3...unless of course you ARE interested in its minimal library of exclusive titles and extensive library of non-exclusives. And like people have mentioned, you'll need a high def TV (preferably LCD, better quality, less glare, small risk of burn-outs). They're really not that expensive, you can get a decent one for $400 or less...but that will still bump the cost up to nearly $1000 once you factor in tax (unless you buy it at a military base, no tax ftw).
Now is it worth it? It depends on how much of a graphics whore you are. If you want the movies you watch at home to be the same quality as when you watched them in theatres, then yes, it is worth it. Personally I don't find the difference extraordinary enough to spend $30-$40 on when I could get a normal DVD for $10-$20.
I should also point out that normal DVDs are usually going to look better on a high def TV as opposed to an SD anyway, so you may just want to invest in a small LCD and put off getting a blu-ray for a while.
The price of Blu-Ray discs isn;t that much different than DVD when that format was new, and once more people convert, its sure to slowly drop over time, just the way DVDs have. The price of the players used to be a big issue, so much so that the cheapest player was, in fact, a PS3... thats not the case anymore.
There are cheaper Blu-Ray players out there now, but they are still about the same price as DVD players were when they first came out in the mid/late 90's. The upgrade from DVD to Blu-Ray is, in many respects, the same as the upgrade from VHS to DVD. Better picture, better sound, more capacity, and all around better presentation... but there's also an added bit here that wasn't there during the last format switch.
Blu-Ray presents a hi-def video... and this will require an HDTV to utilize. If you have an HDTV, or a Projector with HDcapability, then yes... Blu-Ray is not only worth it, but almost essential... but if you don't have an HDTV or a Projector with HDcapability, then you will notice such little difference in picture that its simply NOT worth it.
As for the sound... many Blu-Rays run on the same 5.1 systems that most DVDs do, but the best Blu-Rays offer the new, ultra awesome 7.1 surround sound... sadly, this, like the HD video, is lost on the consumer unless they have, or plan to upgrade their system (I have heard a 7.1 track on a Blu-Ray at my friends house while utilizing my HDcapatable Projector... and it was a godly experience).
So over all, the answer is yes... it is worth it... however... if you don't have an HDTV and/or a 7.1 capatable sound system... you would need to pay more than just the $300+ for the player and the $15-40 for the movies... you would need to pay $1000+ for an HDTV, and $500+ for a 7.1 sound system... thus the upgrade would be far too expensive for most people, and as such I would recommend waiting for your current TV to die before upgrading, and then just buying a Blu-Ray player the same day you buy your new TV.
There are cheaper Blu-Ray players out there now, but they are still about the same price as DVD players were when they first came out in the mid/late 90's. The upgrade from DVD to Blu-Ray is, in many respects, the same as the upgrade from VHS to DVD. Better picture, better sound, more capacity, and all around better presentation... but there's also an added bit here that wasn't there during the last format switch.
Blu-Ray presents a hi-def video... and this will require an HDTV to utilize. If you have an HDTV, or a Projector with HDcapability, then yes... Blu-Ray is not only worth it, but almost essential... but if you don't have an HDTV or a Projector with HDcapability, then you will notice such little difference in picture that its simply NOT worth it.
As for the sound... many Blu-Rays run on the same 5.1 systems that most DVDs do, but the best Blu-Rays offer the new, ultra awesome 7.1 surround sound... sadly, this, like the HD video, is lost on the consumer unless they have, or plan to upgrade their system (I have heard a 7.1 track on a Blu-Ray at my friends house while utilizing my HDcapatable Projector... and it was a godly experience).
So over all, the answer is yes... it is worth it... however... if you don't have an HDTV and/or a 7.1 capatable sound system... you would need to pay more than just the $300+ for the player and the $15-40 for the movies... you would need to pay $1000+ for an HDTV, and $500+ for a 7.1 sound system... thus the upgrade would be far too expensive for most people, and as such I would recommend waiting for your current TV to die before upgrading, and then just buying a Blu-Ray player the same day you buy your new TV.
Skipping the topic about price, cause I think we can all agree that its a bit pricey, I'll say how I felt after getting mine.
I CANNOT go back to normal movie viewing after I've gotten my Blue Ray player. I find it to be very much worth every penny. The viewing experience is enhanced greatly, I had to go out and pay for HD television shows just because the Blue Ray player distorted my perception on everything I watched. Normal T.V just doesn't cut it for me anymore after owning a Blue Ray player.
I CANNOT go back to normal movie viewing after I've gotten my Blue Ray player. I find it to be very much worth every penny. The viewing experience is enhanced greatly, I had to go out and pay for HD television shows just because the Blue Ray player distorted my perception on everything I watched. Normal T.V just doesn't cut it for me anymore after owning a Blue Ray player.