Bulman’s Prism

How to obtain High-Definition (HD) content and what is the best way to do so? 

Generally, higher quality equipment, connections, content and viewing environment contribute to a higher quality HD experience.  How much more quality is obtained for additional dollars spent is a rather subjective decision and is left out of this discussion.  

The scores below mean 1 – good, 2 – better, and 3- best.  In other words, there is really no way to go wrong with any of the available options (except for HD-DVD physical disk format, which will likely be left with existing content only).

Currently and roughly, the three main ways to obtain HD content are:

1.  Cable/Satelite provider both through video on demand on a rental basis and through the provider subscription for included at no additional cost movies and content.  (Note:  It is also possible to watch local stations in HD vie an HD-antenna.  This method is probably the least popular and not discussed due to the limited content and movies available, however, it may still be a viable option for users who watch primarily news and other local programming)

2.  Blue Ray or HD DVD player and purchasing or renting disks

3.  AppleTV renting content

When setting up an HD system, the five important factors to consider are whether:

1. The system going to be HD only or also used for viewing SD content.

If the system is going to include SD content watching, including standard DVD upconversion, then a “smaller” screen size would be preferable perhaps no larger than 40-42″.  Generally, as screen size increases upscaled content and particularly standard TV signal begins to degrade in quality.  If the system is HD only, then the screen size is “unlimited” and content could be viewed/projected without degradation of quality regardless of size, at least in theory.

HD Score: 3

HD+SD Score: 2

2.  Availability of content for the chosen system.  This includes both the availability of cable or satelite or internet connectivity at the location of the system as well as HD content available through the chosen medium whether downloadable or purchased/rented on physical disks.

Cable providers vary in the HD availability and quality.  Verizon FIOS for example currently has roughly about 100 movies available in certain areas with projected plans to offer up to 1000 HD movies by end of 2008.  If this plan materialized, this is significantly more content compared to AppleTV for example.  However, AppleTV will likely increase availability also.  Presently, they have about the same number of HD titles available but the future for Verizon FIOS is more predictable due to the company outlining its plans.

Cable/Apple TV Score: 1 for now but if Verizon plans materialize Score: 2 (better than AppleTV but not full 3 as physical disks for the near future would outnumber downloadable content and will be available sooner!

Physical dicks of course offer the most/all content and soonest after release.  

Physical disks Score: 3

3.  Ease of access to content for the chosen system

Physical DVDs are available for purchase either through retailers or online.  They require more physical effort to obtain and/or return. 

Score: 1

Movies rented through Netflix or Blockbuster delivery are a bit easier to obtain and return compared to purchasing physical disks from the store.  However, if purchased online movies are no more difficult to obtain.  Thus, there is a virtual draw and no distinction between Netflix, Blockbuster, BestBuy, etc.  The deciding factor would be budget per movie – whether rental or purchase is preferred.

Cable and AppleTV, etc. win for ease of access.  Just a few clicks of a button is all that is required.

Score: 3

4.  Cost of set up and continued use of the system.  This includes existing equipment and additional equipment as needed.  Upgradability options are not discussed as the cost/benefits are rather subjective.

Cable requires monthly subscription and costs of renting an HD box.  Additionally, there is a cost to rent each movie.  Usually over a $100 but more closely to $200 per month.  That’s over $2,000 a year!  While Cable is the most expensive, it also provides access to a virtually unlimited content of free/subsription content including premium movie channels for no additional cost!  Thus cable offers virtually 24/7 of HD content.  This is significantly more than any of the physical or downloaded content for the same price.  The only way to determine whether this is “worth” it is to decide how many available viewer hours per year one would spend and try to calculate the cost of renting to fill those hours as opposed to the $200/month with cable.  

Cable Score: 1 if infrequent watching HD, 2 if costs is approximately equivalent to renting physical or downloadable media but ease of access is preferred, 3 if majority of time spent watching HD

Physical media requires a HD capable player – at least $300+ and more closely to $400 on the average cost.  Then each movie costs around $25-$30 or could be rented via Netflix or Blockbuster.  With NextFlix there is an ongoing monthly expense.  With Blockbuster or AppleTV there is not.  It could come close to $1,000 depending on number of rentals. 

Score 1  if buying, 2 if renting

AppleTV costs between $229-$329 with no ongoing monthly expense except for cost of renting content.

Score 2

5.  Quality – quality could be very subjective and depending on equipment and signal used may vary significantly enough to where tech specs alone could not explain the difference.  However, on tech specs alone:

1080p on 1080p screen Score 3 (Blue Ray only for now)

1080i and 720p on 1080p screens Score 2.5 (all non Blue Ray content)

1080i and 720p on 720 screen Score 2 (all non Blue Ray content)

Finally, more than one or all combinations above may be chosen.  Likely, combination a combination of there are going to be the preferred choice.  Generally, if cable is available (particularly FIOS) that might be all that is needed except for the much higher cost.  If Verizon FIOS is not available, the a combination of the remaining choices may be preferred.  The ratings above can be used to determine what factors and costs are important to individual decisions in building the HD system/s of choice.

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For a comparison of picture quality between the different sources see the related article at the link below.  Please note the article seems biased towards AppleTV, while the discussion above may seem biased toward Verizon FIOS.  Still, the ratings above should provide some more clarity as to advantages and disadvantages of each.  Also, note that any of the formats including Blue Ray typically leave black bars on top and bottom of screen for aspect ration sake and, therefore, NONE of the formats give FULL HD on any monitor/TV.  There are some very expensive ways to compensate for that via anamorphic wide lenses attached to projectors but for the sake of keeping things simple this is left up to the most dedicated videophiles.  Currently, ONLY cable TV can fill out an entire wide screen but while this method utilizes the FULL resolution of the screen, the resolution of the content is actually cropped from the sides.

http://ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/apple-tv-20-vs-blu-ray-dvd-hd-cable-the-comparison/