PSA: HD to Blu-Ray

[unixronin]

Wired has a how-to on converting your HD-DVDs to Blu-Ray.  You'll need a fast Windows machine, a HD-DVD drive, a Blu-Ray burner, 30-40GB of available disk space, a whole bunch of software, and a whole lot of patience.  But check your costs first; you may be able to just buy a Blu-Ray copy of the movie cheaper than you can buy a blank Blu-Ray disc ($15-$25 per blank for single-layer write-once media; dual-layer writeable Blu-Ray discs aren't available yet).

Comments

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

problem: TV is also full spec 1080p HDTV... it wouldn't suck to have Discovery, Animal Planet, PBS, and SciFi... but not for an extra $60-80 month.

Yeah, that. I think cable TV pricing has climbed to the level where a lot of people are choking on it and walking away. I think in order to survive long-term, the cable companies and other pay-for-service TV carriers are going to have to change their entire pricing structure and way of selling service. But I suspect they'll prove themselves unable to adapt.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

The only reason I have even basic cable is because it's cheaper for me to buy basic cable and add on internet, than internet alone. ($30 + $10 vs: $60)

I have no idea why they do that (maybe to have more cable subscribers on the books?) but I'm not going to fight them on it.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sometimes those bundling prices work in your favor. Nice when it works out that way.
"Here, let us take $20 off your Internet bill and give you free cable TV as well!"
"Uh .... OK. Sure. Don't let me stop you."