Blu Ray drive in new Sony...

catman4d2catman4d2
Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Link



Reads and writes blu ray!!! so how long are we going to have to wait for apple to get this feature? mac pro? well from the looks of things it doesnt seem so,as it appears the dual disk tray mac we have seen,Suggests apple has a "Yeah when they become standard people can put one in themselves,kind of attitude" then again apple and sony are freindly competitors maybe they will take the leap,with the next macbook pro redux?



thats what im hoping for when the new chips come out soon,bam! blu ray so i can watch all the glorious blu ray dvds on it.



your thoughts?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 14
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,437member
    Quote:

    watch all the glorious blu ray dvds on it



    Currently "glorious" isn't quite the term I'd use to describe the current BD-ROM discs



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/benchwarmers.html



    "Unfortunately, this is another spotty presentation from Sony, which has some nice moments but just doesn't the deliver the kind of wow factor I expect from great high-def."



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/punisher.html



    It is certainly the most consistent, delivering a picture that clearly looks like high-definition for most of its runtime. Hopefully, if Blu-ray supporting studios continue to deliver transfers of this quality, it may help counteract some of the early negative buzz that has plagued the format's launch.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/ultraviolet.html



    Unfortunately, the image has been so heavily tweaked that I did notice some unfortunate side-effects from all that digital plastic surgery. While all the blown-out whites are fine, there is too much edginess around sharply contrasted objects in some scenes, which gives the transfer an artificial, standard-DVD feel. I also noticed some pixelization and even banding of colors in select shots, which I'm not used to with high-def.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/basicinstinct2.html



    As expected for a recent release, the source material is in excellent shape. 'Basic Instinct 2' is a glossy, polished production, and some post-production trickery has been employed to give the image extra oomph. Most noticeable is the slightly pumped up contrast, which gives the transfer a more harsh, edgy look with blown out whites. However, it also detracts a bit from overall detail. Of course, this is the intended visual look of the film, but it does keep the transfer from being a bit less three-dimensional than the best Blu-ray and HD DVD have to offer.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/terminator2.html



    That said, I can say I was very impressed with this Blu-ray release from Lionsgate -- it is certainly up there with the best of the first Blu-ray titles I've yet seen from any studio.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/hous...ngdaggers.html



    Alas, as beautiful as 'House of Flying Daggers' may look on film, this high-def transfer just doesn't do it justice. This is my last review of Sony's initial crop of Blu-ray releases and I had hoped to finish them off on a high note, but the poor source material here torpedoes any hope I may have had.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/saw.html



    Alas, one final (major) problem to spoil the fun. While I didn't notice it at first on the previous two Lionsgate Blu-ray titles I've reviewed ('Crash' and 'Lord of War'), for the first time on 'Saw' I could see an odd "stutter" to the image during select shots with rapid movement. I had to rewind to really notice it, but it does appear that there is some sort of jumping between individual frames of the image.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/hitch.html



    Hitch' is a cute, inoffensive date movie, but also pretty unmemorable. Unfortunately, it is even more unmemorable on Blu-ray. The poor transfer is surprising, and though the soundtrack is fine, the weak package of extras seals the deal. I wish I didn't have to keep dogging all these first Blu-ray releases, but it is hard to come to any other conclusion when the value for money offered here is so disappointing.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/lordofwar.html



    Colors are vivid and largely (but not entirely) free of noise, which was also a problem on the previous DVD. Ultimately, of all the initial Sony and Lionsgate Blu-ray titles I've seen thus far, 'Lord of War' is amoung the best.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/terminator.html



    Well now, this really is a surprise. The anamorphic widescreen transfer on the previous DVD release of 'The Terminator' was quite good, especially considering the low-budget origins of the film. Yet it was still limited by the technologies of its time, with a somewhat dated appearance, plenty of film grain and many inconsistencies due to the film's antiquated effects techniques. Now we have this new Blu-ray release, and boy, was I not expecting how improved the video quality was going to look.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/crash.html



    Though this release still is a big disappointment for other reasons (see the supplements section below), at least it generally delivers in terms of video quality. However, I only say that because 'Crash' was never that great-looking of a film in the first place. Hampered a bit by its low budget (however impressive much of it is despite its limitations), it often varies significantly in quality, so this Blu-ray release is probably the best 'Crash' is ever going to look.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/unde...evolution.html



    the fourth time is the charm. Granted, the dark, almost monochromatic visual style of 'Underworld: Evolution' does come with some caveats, but at least this time I wasn't left frustrated and disappointed with the video quality of a Blu-ray disc.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/xxx.html



    Unfortunately, I can't really recommend this new Blu-ray release to even Diesel disciples. I feel the artifacts and lack of detail is just not acceptable for a high-def DVD release, and I don't get Sony's strategy when it comes to supplements on their Blu-ray titles. I sure hope there are some better apples in the next few Sony Blu-ray titles I get review, because 'xXx' is not really a good portent of things to come.



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/50firstdates.html



    in terms of a Blu-ray release, this is comparable to most of what has come out on HD DVD so far. Great picture, good sound, and a typical port of the DVD supplemental features (even if not everything made it over in the conversion). Of course, '50 First Dates' is not exactly the A-list title that will get mainstream consumers to jump onboard the Blu-ray love train



    http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/fifthelement.html



    'The Fifth Element' is a tough one to rate. Simply by virtue of it being one of the first Blu-ray titles, it had to look perfect or I would likely have been disappointed. And it does look good, no doubt -- it just is not the best HD I've seen. Also a problem is that this film has been released so many times before on standard DVD that maybe only some exclusive HD content here would have elevated it above being just a decent upgrade.



    A wee bit spotty on the quality front. Perhaps Apple should wait and see how both formats are doing in a year before committing the resources to such expensive technology. For Blu-Ray we're going to need to move away from MPEG2 or get 50GB DL movies.
  • Reply 2 of 14
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    Catman4d2, you ruined the thread formatting with the url you posted. Please use tinyurl to make a long url short or, better yet, the board tools.
  • Reply 3 of 14
    trendannoyertrendannoyer Posts: 776member
    while the formatting of the thread may have ruined it... i thought the second post has done more harm... from a poster that has pushed one myopic view on a seperate thread, and now seems intent on spreading it.



    dear murch please keep it on topic, and keep the negitive comment to the HD-DVD v Bluray thread.



    where it belongs
  • Reply 4 of 14
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,437member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Trendannoyer

    while the formatting of the thread may have ruined it... i thought the second post has done more harm... from a poster that has pushed one myopic view on a seperate thread, and now seems intent on spreading it.



    dear murch please keep it on topic, and keep the negitive comment to the HD-DVD v Bluray thread.



    where it belongs





    1. I haven't violated anything on the TOS



    2. If my view was so myopic then it would be easy to counter.



    I simply stated that currently we're not fully seeing what Blu-Ray can offer. If that is negative to some then that's based on their own value system. It's no as if I stated something false and then failed to provide links. There are good discs and there are bad and I've highlighed both. I didn't state HD DVD RULEZZZZ by that one!!!! In fact I didn't mention HD DVD once.



    Please don't start needless arguments. The OP asked for opinions I gave mine without malice. Thus I was on topic.
  • Reply 5 of 14
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Sony rep: "Uhhh... yeah, we've found the source of the problem... you must upgrade to a higher resolution screen that will display HDR images."



  • Reply 6 of 14
    vineavinea Posts: 5,585member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison



    I simply stated that currently we're not fully seeing what Blu-Ray can offer. If that is negative to some then that's based on their own value system. It's no as if I stated something false and then failed to provide links. There are good discs and there are bad and I've highlighed both. I didn't state HD DVD RULEZZZZ by that one!!!! In fact I didn't mention HD DVD once.



    Please don't start needless arguments. The OP asked for opinions I gave mine without malice. Thus I was on topic.



    Simply stated?



    Reviews about BR movies on the Samsung player with a known problem is on topic with respect to either the availablity of BR on Sony PCs or the desire to have them on Macs?



    Especially when the reviewers themselves note:



    Quote:

    In light of the continuing problems with the Samsung, and given the fact that it is currently the only Blu-ray player available on the consumer market, some readers may wish to reserve judgment on Blu-ray titles until picture quality can be reassessed.



    http://www.highdefdigest.com/gear.html



    You pissed all over the thread and you whine that you aren't a HD-DVD partisan when called on it? Yes it was malice, you gleefully pissed in his cheerios. Grow up.



    Vinea
  • Reply 7 of 14
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,437member
    Vinea



    I didn't mention HD DVD in ONE line. I stated that it's perhaps best to wait for VC-1 or 50GB DL discs which even the Sammy BD player owners are stating



    The problems are with the discs...the Sammy units problem is through the HDMI port and thus you can easily hook up with component connections to bypass the scaler. Guess what? The artifacts are still there.



    I'm not your GD Blu-Ray cheerleader nor am I hear to make you guys feel better about your opinions. I offer my opinion and you can offer yours as a rebuttal but reading more into my posts than what exists is where some of "you' need to grow up.



    My opinion is that Apple should wait before hopping into Blu-Ray. That an $.50 may buy you a cup of coffee.



    If that's pissing in cheerios then don't set your bowl next to the urinal. HM out
  • Reply 8 of 14
    vineavinea Posts: 5,585member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    Vinea



    I didn't mention HD DVD in ONE line. I stated that it's perhaps best to wait for VC-1 or 50GB DL discs which even the Sammy BD player owners are stating



    The problems are with the discs...the Sammy units problem is through the HDMI port and thus you can easily hook up with component connections to bypass the scaler. Guess what? The artifacts are still there.



    The problem has been with the player and the source material for the discs which has been clear to everyone that actually reads reviews and has a semi-open mind. There is nothing thus far that indicates that there is a problem with the format itself or with MPEG2 which is a stopgap.



    Quote:

    Now for the... well, troubling. I will say right up front that I think most of the problems I'm seeing with the video are related to the Samsung player itself, rather than anything indemic to the format. Upon much consideration, I believe that The Fifth Element Blu-ray Disc suffers from problems with the source material - at times it looks good, at times it looks pretty bad. Specifically, the print itself is of questionable quality, with obvious dust and dirt, grain issues and other problems. Again, it seems to vary from reel to reel. The opening credits and the shots in the desert are really awful looking - blotchy, lacking in detail. Later, it improves a great deal, but the image quality overall really suffers in comparision to the other titles I've now seen.



    http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa123.html#720



    We'll see in a couple weeks how things fare when the same titles are out on both formats. I expect them to be pretty much the same except for the differences between component and HDMI.



    Vinea



    "Last week, Sony released the first movies on Blu-ray, which will battle with Toshiba's HD-DVD to be the next-generation DVD format. All you need to know? The winner will be the one you DON'T buy."



    - Stephen Colbert - Colbert Report
  • Reply 9 of 14
    trendannoyertrendannoyer Posts: 776member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    1. I haven't violated anything on the TOS



    2. If my view was so myopic then it would be easy to counter.



    I simply stated that currently we're not fully seeing what Blu-Ray can offer. If that is negative to some then that's based on their own value system. It's no as if I stated something false and then failed to provide links. There are good discs and there are bad and I've highlighed both. I didn't state HD DVD RULEZZZZ by that one!!!! In fact I didn't mention HD DVD once.



    Please don't start needless arguments. The OP asked for opinions I gave mine without malice. Thus I was on topic.



    Murch,



    you have stated in the bluray v hddvd thread that you LIKE to argue... while thats fine and dandy on this ONE single topic its tiresome... but i guess thats MY problem.. although it seems to be other peoples as well.. anyway.



    in reply (and to counter, and to back up what i said)



    1. no it likely doesnt 'violate' anything on TOS, what ever TOS is... but, continually pushing the ONE topic "could" be seen as trolling. thus a pain in the backside.



    2.// If my view was so myopic then it would be easy to counter.// and //The OP asked for opinions I gave mine without malice. Thus I was on topic.//



    you MAY well have given them without malice, but thats not how it comes across.



    now... to my iritation



    catman asked the following questions





    so how long are we going to have to wait for apple to get this feature? mac pro?



    then again apple and sony are freindly competitors maybe they will take the leap,with the next macbook pro redux?



    which i believe are ONLY about hardware, specifically MAC hardware.



    yet your reply seemed to be based on pointing out the flaws in Blu-ray. and thats where *I* see you as being off topic.

    it would strage though it may seem, likely have sounded better had you pointed out flaws in both formats, and reasons why apple is likely holding off/IF they are holding off.



    I hope this explains my position.



    catman also said







    thats what im hoping for when the new chips come out soon,bam! blu ray so i can watch all the glorious blu ray dvds on it.



    your thoughts?



    i believe the comment was a personal view point, in that he is looking forward to blu-ray, but had nothing to do with the question that followed "your thoughts?"



    i believe THAT question related to the others in the post... namely MAC HARDWARE.



    ---



    personaly i dont care which format wins, except that bluray hs more potential for larger capacity, thats about it... for back up i think HD drives is the way to go for ME for archive id rather wait and see which format falls to bits in the next 5 years.



    ---



    there is no malice intended, i made a point, you took issue with it, i just wanted to explain my view point, which i believe you hinted that i should do {?} i did wonder if there was any point in replying at all..but i have

    hope i have been clear, i'll be away over the next few days, and ive been having internet connection issues.. so if i make no further reply, its not because i cant back anything up



    thank you for your time, sorry for further clogging of the thread



    love to all



    Rod
  • Reply 10 of 14
    trendannoyertrendannoyer Posts: 776member
    on topic,



    i think its hardly likely that we see either BD or HD-DVD in a mac till next year, unless its in a BTO option, but then the WWDC is just around the corner, where better to announce it being in a mac (even as BTO) to allow developers time to create software to take advantage for next year (if they havent already started!)



    it {one or the other} WILL be be in the Mac Pros and then filter to the MBPs most likely IMO in a case redesign of the MBP next year.



    i dont edit film (yet) so dont need the capacity, but i do have years of multi track audio data to archive, if health allows i'll get round to it SOME year and maybe in a year or 2 we will know if BD IS going in the macs.



    of course with steves cool aid the BLU has a certain appeal... however, the "everything works on a mac" mantra can't be ignored either!



    oh dear... does this mean i live in interesting times?
  • Reply 11 of 14
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,437member
    Trendannoyer...not a problem man. I'm softening my stance a bit on the whole battle thing. I don't know about when we could see a MBP with Blu-Ray standard or as an option but I think we're getting closer to that on the Mac Pro desktop side. If Sony is at $750 for the burner then I could see nextgen stuff being $499 or less. That would be perfect for a top model Mac Pro or BTO option on all units.



    There's nothing wrong with MPEG2 but it'll have much more "breathing room" with 50GB discs. I'm hearing the DL discs will ship this year so Sony seems to be on track.
  • Reply 12 of 14
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    This is a fucking Sony laptop. I bet you could scour the entirety of Sony's website and not find a single admission that HD-DVD exists, for god's sake. The format wars are far from over, but Sony's going to put Blu-Ray drives in their computers like they've already won. This creates no precedent for other manufacturers to do the same.



    Me, I don't want a drive that may or may not read and write to a standard relevant after the war is over.
  • Reply 13 of 14
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,437member
    Quote:

    Me, I don't want a drive that may or may not read and write to a standard relevant after the war is over.



    I know that's what sucks about format wars. Whoever wins I hope it's a speedy enough victory so we can get on with it. I guess Apple will tip its hat with the next Final Cut Studio major upgrade.
  • Reply 14 of 14
    19841984 Posts: 955member
    Well, Matsushita makes slot-loading Blu-Ray drive for laptops that can read and write that could certainly make its way to the MacBook Pro... providing Apple adds back the 0.3mm they took away from the PowerBooks when designing the MacBook Pro which made using even the existing Dual-Layer Superdrives impossible. Sometimes it really is form above function for Apple. It really depends on whether the MacBook Pro gets some sort of redesign to go with the new Merom chips.



    As for the Mac Pro towers I'm sure a Blu-Ray drive will be available as a BTO option at least. That's easy. Perhaps they will call it Superdrive Extreme. The top model might even have both that and a regular Superdrive for faster DVD writing speeds. I personally think Apple will support Blu-Ray both in terms of writing to the media and supplying the hardware while only supporting writing to HD-DVD media... That is they will offer BTO options for Blu-Ray but none for HD-DVD.



    We'll see in a couple weeks I guess...
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