Why is Microsoft preventing itself from making HD revolution?
 

"R Sweeney" wrote

I think you folks are missing it.
The WMV codec is the HD-DVD codec.
EXACTLY THE SAME

So there are no Codec advantages, only the degree of compression.

So the compression ratio and thus the quality of a given codec's output MUST be
better in the 27 GB 2 hour video HD-DVD than the 1/3 the size 9 GB 2 hour DVD-9
version.

Ain't no such thing as a free lunch or an image that gets better as bits are
removed.

I have watched 8Mb/sec WMV videos on my 1080 HDTV using an XBOX360 / Windows
Media Center server and I have watched 30mb/sec using WMV-coded HD-DVD on the
same set-up.

The 8Mb/sec looks nice, but the 30Mb/sec looks better.

As for "certified HD", there is no HD certification for image quality that I am
aware of.
HD carriers mess with the bit rate all the time.

The cable guys routinely dial down HD bit rates and the image quality suffers
noticeably, still 1920x1080, but not truly all the image quality it started
with before re-coding.

Well of course a stream at 30Mbps is going to be better than at 8Mbps (when
created from the same original source). I think the point is that 8Mbps HD can
still look darn good. Is it as good as 30? no. Is it good enough that you can
enjoy a movie without being annoying by compression artifacts...absolutely. I
think that is the only thing Lyrik is trying to point out.

(*

Why is Microsoft preventing itself from making HD revolution?
 

"Lyrik" wrote in message
...
Den 15.02.2007 kl. 01:03 skrev R Sweeney :



I have watched 8Mb/sec WMV videos on my 1080 HDTV using an XBOX360 /
Windows
Media Center server and I have watched 30mb/sec using WMV-coded HD-DVD on
the same set-up.

The 8Mb/sec looks nice, but the 30Mb/sec looks better.
++++++++++
To me it is a bit like:"Well a 100 horse power car is nice, but a 500
horse power car is better!";-)
Maybe better, but when it comes to fuel consumption, then the 100 horse
power car is better.-

And i think that you guy is missing a point too.
Microsoft sold me a HD wmv "nice" (you said it) movie and then they force
me to only wiev it on a windows Mediaplayer. Why not on my TV? No reason
what so ever.
I have bought a 100 horse powered car from them, and they only allow me to
drive it around the barn.
If they would let us out in the open roads, then we would have a brand new
Microsoft-Volkswagen adventure.


Greets
jens

If you have an XBOX 360 connected to your HDTV and networked to an XP Media
Center PC, the nice HD (as well as the incredible full bitrate versions)
will play on the HDTV too. Not too bad a deal with the HD-DVD drive
attached.

However, regardless of the functionality of the 360 with HD, Microsoft has
swallowed the poisonous DRM line from Hollywood (as has Sony).

In a bizarre overturn of marketing and business thinking, MS's customer is
now their enemy, someone to be contained.