Games & Gizmos - Best of High-Def

Jun 19, 07:08 AM

Current Headlines: By Nigel Burton

Could it finally be the moment to ditch your trusty DVD player and replace it with one of the new breed of high definition disc spinners? Or should you sit back and wait for a winner in the format war? Here are the contendersNOW Sky and the Beeb have finally got their respective acts together, high definition television broadcasts are everywhere.A quick stroll around your local electrical goods emporium will reveal scores of sexy flat screen televisions all marked "HD ready" in recognition of their ability to display high-def content.Despite the best efforts of the broadcasters, however, the best way to show off a flashy new telly is to buy an equally impressive high-def disc player to go with it. High-def video on a Blu-Ray or HD DVD disc benefits from the best encoding techniques and lowest compression settings, so it looks absolutely terrific.Until now, buyers have been wary of the new HD discs. The biggest fear has to be the "Betamax factor".Because Toshiba and Sony couldn't agree on a common format we have two competing HD disc types, the aforementioned Blu-Ray and HD DVD standards.Both claim to be the ultimate in picture quality but, so far, neither one has been able to establish a definitive lead. This has made even early adopters wary of buying into one system over the other lest they be left with an obsolete piece of worthless junk in a couple of years.Ifnothing else, this format war has succeeded in totally confusing customers and ensuring both types got off to a rocky start.But the facts are undeniable: DVD can hold a maximum of 8.5GB of content;blue laser players can cram tens of gigabytes onto a similar sized disc. If you want high-def then one of the new formats is the way to go.Ironically, Blu-Ray and HD DVD have more in common than their backers would have us believe. They both support an identical list of video codecs and both output the same high resolution.Initially, at least, HD DVD players supported more features because the standard spec said that all of them should be capable of downloading internet content, using flash memory and outputting a picture-in-picture image. Blu-Ray players now coming to the market have the same specifications. Collectors may be swayed by Blu-Ray's discs which have a protective layer to make them virtually indestructible. HD DVD have the same old scratchable polycarbonate layer that has screwed up many a CD.The first machines to reach these shores were hideously expensive, but prices are tumbling fast. So what's around? Take a look at these beauties:TOSHIBA HD-XA2: Toshiba is a major supporter of HD DVD and this beauty is its top- ofthe-range machine. It's smaller and lighter than its predecessor but no less accomplished. The XA2 offers full 1080p for HD DVD titles and even upscales normal DVDs into something approaching high definition.Only sluggish response mars an otherwise impressive performance. ([pounds]454 amazon. co. uk) SAMSUNG BD-P1000: The first BluRay player to reach the market, ahead even of format inventor Sony. Supports 1080p output and can display DVD movies but doesn't have an upscale facility like the Toshiba. Integrated flash card slots are handy, but fast motion sometimes causes the picture to stutter.([pounds]454 amazon. co. uk) LG SUPER BLU: Could this impressive machine be the answer to our prayers?Not content with Blu- Ray support this behemoth can also spin HD DVDs as well as normal DVDs, so it has every base covered. Sadly it lacks some functionality (such as picture-in-picture) that makes the new HD discs so exciting. Nor can it output proper 1080p pictures. As a way of hedging your bets, this player makes sense, but the hobbled feature set is sure to be addressed when its replacement arrives next year. ([pounds]500 hifitrader. com) SONY PLAYSTATION 3: One reason why the PS3 is so expensive is the built in Blu-Ray support. The quality is pretty good (better than the PS2's hobbled DVD playback, that's for sure), but you need to be a gamer to get the best from this machine. ([pounds]425 amazon. co. uk) Top games 1Forza Motorsport 2 - XBOX 360 2Tomb Raider: Anniversary - PS2 3Mario Strikers Charged Football - Wii 4Red Steel - Wii 5Fight Night Round 3 - PS3 6Bust A Move - Wii 7Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops - PSP 8Sims 2: H&M Stuff - PCR 9Top Spin 2 - DS 10Driving Test Success All Tests 2006/07 - PCR Supplied by CHIPS video games chain: www. chipsworld. co. uk

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