HD-DVD vs Blue-Ray HD disc format.

[Smokey]

Hitting stores' shelves late next year will be two different kinds of high-definition DVD players. Each supports a different format; one is called Blu-Ray, the other dubbed HD-DVD, and their image quality is equivalent. Those encoded in the Blu-Ray format won't be compatible with HD-DVD machines and vice versa.

It's impossible to say which format will be the dominate one. Blue-Ray discs have more storage capacity--50 gigabytes, or enough for a high-definition feature film and plenty of extras. But, to manufacture them will involve the costly proposition of building the infrastructure from the ground up, with all new facilities and equipment.

HD-DVDs' 25 gigabytes of storage can also hold an HD feature film, but that's about it. They can, however, be made in the same plants that are now being used to make standard definition discs--a much cheaper alternative. "That means that they'll be cheaper for consumers, which will give HD-DVD the chance to get a lot of volume in the market more quickly," says GartnerG2 analyst Paul O'Donovan.

Companies that support HD-DVD are:

Toshiba, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios, Time Warner studios, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.

Companies that support Blue-ray format are:

The Walt Disney, Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Phillips Electronics and Samsung.

As of now, whether HD-DVD or Blue-Ray will win out the other format is any body's guess. But HD discs will hit the store shelves by holidays 2005

[Ryanm]

Only 1 question, are either of the 2 formats backward compatible with current dvd technology? I would assume blue ray is since all it is, is a blue laser instead of a red, hence making the beam smaller, similar to the way dvd was to cd, i.e. a cd can be played in a dvd player but a dvd can't be played in a cd player.

[Smokey]

From what I have gathered (isn't Google awesome ), Blue ray will not be backward compatible since it is entirely different technology-and as you said, it uses blue laser instead of red which current DVD player use.

But HD-DVD will be backward compatible: you won't be able to play HD discs on your existing DVD player, but you will be able to play your DVDs on your new HD-DVD player.

From the look of it, HD-DVD might win the first battle of this HD format war. It is cheaper to make, and backward compatible.
But blue ray format have an ace in hole with its larger storage capability (up to 200 GB).

[Ryanm]

I dunno, I'm not ready to just drop my current collection of DVD's some of which I've gotten for the sole purpose of showing off my surround sound system.

[Smokey]

I dunno, I'm not ready to just drop my current collection of DVD's

If you think about it, you may eventually have to once HD DVD discs hit the market. Does what happened to VHS tapes ring any bells

[Geoffcin]

If you think about it, you may eventually have to once HD DVD discs hit the market. Does what happened to VHS tapes ring any bells

SACD to regular CD. It looks like SACD is not going to replace CD anytime soon, and my money is on DVD sticking around for a good decade or more with little chance of change.


The fact of the matter is that DVD's 480p is good enough for most people, as is CD. Guys like me will probably get HD-DVD as soon as the price breaks a bit, but I'm not your average Joe-video guy. Only if and when most people have big screens capable of 1080i, and are used to mostly HD broadcast will the HD-DVD take off, IMHO.

[Mr Peabody]

I was doing some reading on the two HD formats and learned that Blu-ray will not be in a cartridge. TDK came up with some type of coating that would protect the disc so a cartridge will not be necessary. The cartridge was to protect the disc because the blue ray will not read through finger prints and scratches as well as the red ray. Hoping this new protectant would be used across the board but corporate greed being what it is I have my doubts. Also they didn't say how but Blu-ray is going to be backward compatible with current DVD. It looks to me like most of the movie, computer and consumer electronics companies are behind Blu-ray. Some movie companies are refusing to be bound by either and keeping options open to do both. HD-DVD will definitely hit the market first.

The reviews I have read of the Toshiba SD-5970 HDMI DVD player are not good. If they want HD-DVD to get a jump start in the market they will have to tighten up quality control. A run of bad players would be enough to scare off would be buyers and give Blu-ray time to catch up.