DVD or BluRay Disc?

NOTE: Click on the images to enlarge them before voting.

When you watch a movie and have the choice of watching it on DVD or BluRay Disc, which one do you choose? Does it matter to you? It matters to me a lot. For example, someone here at GameSpot recommended a movie called Hard Candy. So, I decided to place it on my Netflix queue. However, it wasn't until today that I noticed that it's only available on DVD. I then contemplated whether I should remove it from my queue or not. Afterwards, I decided to keep it since they're aren't any other films that I really want to see at the moment. When given the chance, I always rent my movies on BluRay Disc. It looks so much better than DVD. It's sharper, has better color production and better sound. Even the disc navigation interface is better since it's dynamic and can be accessed as the movie is playing. Perhaps I may sound like I'm placing the technical aspects of the film over the more important aspects such as the story and characters, but it's just not asenjoyable for me when it's on DVD. So, does anyone else prefer one over the other?

Can you tell the difference in the quality of the following comparisons? The left side of each image is from one format and the other side is from another format.

Left side is BD.

Left side is BD.

Alter_Echo

Why didn't you vote?

The ones on the left are much brighter. The top left also makes it look like Dunst was shopped in, the background looks fake to me, she really pops out

The ones on the left are much brighter. The top left also makes it look like Dunst was shopped in, the background looks fake to me, she really pops out

Colin1192

Can you perceive a difference in sharpness?

Blu-Ray if I have the choice. It's also the only format of movie I buy anymore.LZ71

It's nice to see that you prefer me over DVD. :p

No contest.

[QUOTE="Alter_Echo"]

Left side is BD.

BluRayHiDef

Why didn't you vote?

Hard to tell with little pictures on my computer screen. I only really notice a difference when it's in motion on my big screen HDTV. Then I can tell a huge difference, not so much with those pictures.

Hard to tell with little pictures on my computer screen. I only really notice a difference when it's in motion on my big screen HDTV. Then I can tell a huge difference, not so much with those pictures.

LovePotionNo9

Click on the images to enlarge them.

Folks are still using physical media? HD streaming ftw. cybrcatter

Good luck streaming 30 MB/s. That's the typical bit rate you'd get from a BD. It can even go up to 48 MB/s.

Ok, clicked to enlarge. The image on the left is much sharper than the one on the right; in fact the one on the right looks kind of blurry.

Left is BD and right is DVD. Without zooming in, you can see the difference in sharpness. Her face has sharper lines and his jacket ugliness emphasized more. I'd choose BD if both format are available.

DVD if it's a comedy or something like that, while most action and some drama films are made a better experience with blu-ray

I will add. Here are screenshots from Alfred Hitchock's Psycho. One is from the upcoming Blu-Ray that comes out in October and the other is from the 2-Disc DVD special edition. Which is Blu-Ray and which is DVD?

This thread reminded me of how depressing it is to have to wait till late 2011 or early 2012 for the SW trilogy BD release.

This thread reminded me of how depressing it is to have to wait till late 2011 or early 2012 for the SW trilogy BD release.

Alter_Echo

SW as in Star Wars? I really hope that you're talking about Star Wars. I really want to see Episode III in HiDef. It's my favorite of the entire saga.

The left is Blu-ray. When possible I get Blu-rays.

I don't have a Hi-Def TV or a Blu-ray player so my option is fairly limited. The difference is there but for most modern movies and media, the difference is negligible.

I bought my dad a blu-ray for christmas for his Hi-def TV. I watched Batman Begins and TDK on it. They looked better, but not so much that I wanted to drop 1k on the tech to watch it on. Not to mention the fact that 3D TV's are going to eventually phase out HD TV's anyway...

I'll wait until I can get a good 1080 3D TV for under a grand before I shell out the money for them.

[QUOTE="Alter_Echo"]

This thread reminded me of how depressing it is to have to wait till late 2011 or early 2012 for the SW trilogy BD release.

BluRayHiDef

SW as in Star Wars? I really hope that you're talking about Star Wars. I really want to see Episode III in HiDef. It's my favorite of the entire saga.

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

[QUOTE="Alter_Echo"]

This thread reminded me of how depressing it is to have to wait till late 2011 or early 2012 for the SW trilogy BD release.

Alter_Echo

SW as in Star Wars? I really hope that you're talking about Star Wars. I really want to see Episode III in HiDef. It's my favorite of the entire saga.

Where did you hear about this?

i buy both. sometimes blue ray sometimes DVD.

The quality difference in this picture is quite noticable. The DVD version is blury whily the BluRay version is crisp and clear.

BluRay looks better, easily. But it's far from a deal breaker. Not watching a movie because it isn't available on BluRay is simply ridiculous.

Bluray disc here.....left side is clearly better quality.

[QUOTE="cybrcatter"]Folks are still using physical media? HD streaming ftw. BluRayHiDef

Good luck streaming 30 MB/s. That's the typical bit rate you'd get from a BD. It can even go up to 48 MB/s.

Don't need to.

x264 is capable of compressing 1080p & 720p video streams to a fraction of that bitrate with no perceived degradation. Problem is that you need a pretty good processor to decode (watch) it at full speed. GPU-accelerated decoding is possible (via DXVA/XvMC) but it requires a modern video card, and an OS+Media Player that supports it.