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I just finished an article in Variety Magazine about the DVD market topping out in 2005, rather then 2007 as was predicted. In was mentioned that a form of consumer market would have to formed and the answer was HD DVD's.

If these new HD DVD's are sharper image than a movie shown in a theatre would that mean getting upgraded equipment? If so, that would result in higher ticket prices and higher concession prices.

How many people would then purchase the new HD DVD's and stay away from the theatres?

Will it ever end?

Yep, it's getting kinda like the computer market: the equipment is already obsolete before it's sold... But as with computers, beyond a certain point the average user doesn't really need many of the later model bells and whistles... And as usual, regardless of the hype, the buyers will spend their money on what they choose... Doesn't look like an end is in sight!...

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, helvetica">quote:</font><HR>poppajoe wrote, in part:
If these new HD DVD's are sharper image than a movie shown in a theatre would that mean getting upgraded equipment?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Consumer HD DVD's are not higher in resolution than a movie shown in a theatre. They're not as high resolution as the experimental digital feature distribution being tested in a few theatres today. Their resolution matches today's high definition TV sets.

Today's consumer DVD's of theatrical motion pictures actually qualify as "enhanced definition" and have a resolution of 720h X 480v pixels at 24 frames/second; whereas, consumer high def DVD movies will be 1280h X 720v pixels at 24 FPS.

Digital cinema projectors being tested for digitally released features today have a resolution of at least 2048h X 1080v at 24 FPS.

Oh, HD DVD's will indeed require a new DVD player for your home theater. The new players will also play the old disks. There's some talk of the possibility that early HD product may be double sided with the old format on one side and HD on the other so that retailers will only need to stock one item per title.

[This message has been edited by Alan_G (edited August 02, 2005).]