As a child during the 1960's I can remember the excitement as show after show announced that they were now broadcast "In Color". During the late 70's and early 80's as a young adult I had a bit of that same excitement as various television shows and films were released on video cassette, and laser disc. I also remember that during the 70's and 80's there was a battle for supremacy between the various formats of video cassettes and laser discs. Now in the 21st Century we are in The Age of High Definition, and I am experiencing the same excitement once again as show after show converts to HDTV.
Anyone who has viewed a nature show in HD will quickly realize just how great HDTV really is. However, when it comes to collecting DVDs in High Definition, we face yet another battle over which format will become the standard. Will Sony's Blu-ray become the standard for High Definition DVDs or will HD-DVD take that prize? Price wise, Toshiba's HD-DVD player line may have already decided that outcome. Maybe these 2 Hi-Def standards can coexist, as LG seems to believe, with the introduction of their Super Blu player which plays both Blu-ray and HD-DVDs, as well as Standard Definition DVDs.
At this point no one really knows which technology is going to win this contest, and the point of this article is not to pass judgment on which is one is the best. The point of this article is to suggest a strategy for the serious DVD collector during the transition from Standard Definition DVDs to High Definition DVDs.
Unlike the transition from video cassettes to DVDs, your older DVDs will play in both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players without a need for conversion. Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players will improve the picture of your older Standard Definition DVDs. Presently many stores and companies are selling Standard Definition DVDs for very low prices, as they release these titles in the two High Definition formats. The serious DVD collector may want to wait until the HD Standard is decided before they go out and purchase West Side Story in either Blu-ray or HD-DVD, as quite a few people still bare the scars of Beta max and Laser disc collections. Yet, if a DVD collector plays their cash right they can really get some deals during the Standard Definition sell off.
Why would I you want to buy Standard Definition DVDs with High Definition DVDs waiting in the wings for release? Some shows and movies of interest to the die-hard DVD collector will never come out in true High Definition. Why wouldn't they? This is because they were not filmed in a way that would allow them to ever be released as such. If they were released in HD it would be redundant. Now is the best time to pick up all of those old television shows and movies that you always wanted in your DVD collection. That is what I am doing and what I suggest for every serious DVD collector until the Hi-Def Standard is worked out.
Recently at Wal-Mart, I was able to pick up Lost in Space Season 2 Vol. 1 and 2 in a 2 for $35 deal. The Lost in Space television series will most likely never be released in HD, but the DVDs will play in the new Hi-Def DVD players for years to come. I have also seen such shows as The Jefferson's, Archie's Place, The Partridge Family, and The Time Tunnel offered for low prices at Walmart. On
eBay I was able to get Season 1 of The 1960's The Outer Limits for a very good price after having snapped up a copy of Season 2 for under $20 at Walmart. With Television Series Box Sets sometimes you can get a good sale price and sometimes the Box Sets are still at the original price. With Made for TV Movies they seem to always be on sale.
Last year I found a copy of The Day After for under $10 at Best Buy. Most of these Made for TV Movies have no possibility for ever being released in any type of HD format so buying them in Standard Definition at the current low prices just makes sense for the DVD collector. These Standard Definition DVDs will provide years of enjoyment playing in the Hi-Def player of your choice.
Always remember to check out the details of the particular TV Series or Made for TV Movie to see if it has the possibility of being released in a Hi-Def format as some newer TV shows or TV movies may. I best places I have found to find good prices on DVDs are Best Buy, Walmart, and HMV if you live in Canada. In The United States, Border's Outlet Stores are a good place to find rarer DVDs. Also, checkout second hand stores, garage sales, and on-line auction sites.
The above prices are in Canadian Dollars. Prices may have changed since my purchases.
