Nero

One thing we did get a good chance to see at the show was a number of live Blu-ray and HD-DVD demonstrations with real high-definition content, and honestly, we weren't all that impressed. Don't get us wrong, it looked good, just not breathtaking or anything like that

http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/...px?i=2666&p=13

redford

This is what many of us have been wondering all along: will the perceived image quality be that great? If the perceived PQ isn't all that great on 46" HDTVs than that is a hard sell to the general public.

Nimbus

I realize that a picture of a picture isn't really a great indicator, but it does support the notion that the perceived PQ increase from DVD to BR/HD-DVD will not be as great of an increase as from VHS to DVD. If you put a VHS vs. DVD picture up like those, you'd certainly be able to tell the difference. As it is, you couldn't pick which of those was upscaled DVD vs. Blu-Ray unless they had labled them.

Augustes

Not only is it not a great indicator, but its usefulness dwindles further with as small as the comparison shots are. VHS and DVD can look nearly identical if you size them down far enough too. A big part of the advantage is resolution -- a comparison that saps away all of the resolution isn't meaningful.

I don't think their argument is ridiculous -- I see HD as being a more incremental improvement too than VHS/DVD, although I appreciate it much more than they seem to -- but anyone who sees those comparison images shouldn't let that alone turn them away from buying into HD. Do the comparison first-hand and make the assessment yourself.

Nero

I'll give you an open invitation to come to my house and compare an HD movie with its DVD equivalent. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD should look better than what I'm getting over cable too

redford

Exactly. I thought this guy's opinion was interesting simply because he was there covering mostly computer gear and I saw him as an "average guy" in the av area. I suspect this is going to be the reaction of most "average guys" and HD will be a much tougher sell that some believe... especially if the purchase of expensive equipment is involved.

Nimbus

Those pics are about as good an indicator as you are going to get without seeing it firsthand. you need to look close at both pics and can spot some differences.

The one that jumps right out is that the building seems to have a reddish-pink tint to it on the dvd side.

Augustes

Here are some more images...
Someone at HTF posted the link.
http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/

Nimbus

I think I just filled the cup!

Nero

While I agree that Anandtech writers aren't indicative of the crowd who does their electronics shopping at Wal-Mart, I get the impression from that article that these guys have never seen (or at least paid much attention) to anything in high-definition before.