Audio Video News

[THE FOLLOWING IS A REBUTTAL TO "POINT: BLU-RAY'S ALREADY OVER."]

Corey, you ignorant misguided slut.

Corey, you flannel-clad dilettante

Corey . . .

Dude,

I understand your pain. We've all been there.

You have, what mental health experts call, Post-Traumatic-DVD-Audio-Syndrome. You were dumped by a format you loved, and now you're a bitter hater, unable to love any other format again. And poor, pristine, never-hurt-a-soul (except for HD DVD) Blu-ray is the unfortunate object of your wrath (so sad that this should happen to one as young and vital as yourself).

Well, lookee here, Corey Greenberg (if that is in fact your real name), I'm here to slap you upside the head and rub the salve of truth into your gaping DVD-Audio wound (I'll wear sterile latex gloves, of course). I will help you out of your funk and show you why Blu-ray's here to stay (at least for a good long while).

First off, on what kind of TVs are you watching those HD downloads? Does it say, "Made in Kazakhstan" on them? That could be your problem right there. All I know is, I tried the download route - not Apple TV, but, rather, XBox Live. And believe me, I could see the poorer HD quality on those downloads instantly. The picture wasn't as bright or sharp. And I certainly wasn't watching on some high-falutin' Kuro! (My 50-inch Pioneer plasma is the previous year's model.)

As for those home theater "experts" who couldn't tell upconverted DVD from Blu-ray from four-feet? Are we talking about those avid TV watchers in the Old Folks With Cataracts Home? Because all our S&V guys here can tell the difference instantly.

Okay, I know lots of people out there do watch DVDs on their HD screens and are perfectly happy. But then many people out there are watching standard-def channels thinking they're watching HD! Plus, the ones who are actually watching HD channels are sometimes stuck with cable providers who compress the hell out of the signal. So no wonder DVDs look good to all these people!

Let's not forget that special time when DVDs first took off. Everyone definitely noticed how clear the picture was, compared to VHS. Believe me, the same will happen as more and more people start buying Blu-ray.

Meanwhile, once prices of BD players drop below a certain level, people will have no reason to opt for upconverting DVD machines when they can get so much more for a little bit more dough.

And let's not forget human nature: People are collectors. There will always be those who will want to own a movie in a physical format - a collection of which shows the world just who they really are. Plus, discs offer rewards that downloads don't: bonus features, and now, interactive abilities.

A this point, only one Blu-ray occurrence would change my mind: Were I ever to see a Blu-ray disc entitled, The Corey Greenberg Show, I would most certainly have to concede that Blu-ray, is indeed, "over."

Nah, never mind. Blu-ray's here to stay, baby. Deal with it. -Rob Medich

Rob Medich is Sound & Vision's online editor. He projects that by fall 2009, he and Corey Greenberg will be best buds.