Blu-ray Disc vs. HD-DVD... Who Cares?

[Audioholics]

<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><FONT size=2>The DVD Insider has&nbsp;actually been keeping score on which Hollywood studio and which content owner "signed up" for the HD- (HD-DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD) camps. He actually wondered which wanted to limit their creativity with 15GB (HD) or expand their horizons with 25GB (single layer) and 50GB (double layer) capacity for their fantastic next generation video content and extras. As he slowly stepped back from his hours of research and stared at the papers strewn across the floor he had an epiphany!!! Those folks not only <STRONG>don't care</STRONG> which blue write-once and rewritable technology the industry delivers... <EM>they don't want either one!</EM></FONT></FONT></P><P><FONT face=Arial size=2>[Read the Editorial]</FONT></P>

 

[Jaycan]

I care. A whole lot. There is no comparison between 480i/p and HD. I can't wait for the new format to arrive. And I recently read that both camps are now seriously negotiating a compromise to produce one common format. Sweet!

 

[Audioholics]

Actually, see this thread:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11209

 

[dropbear]

Holographic Drive Technology

Just to throw a spanner in the works....

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=77817#post77817

 

[Jaycan]

That, Dropbear, is precisely why I think both camps are negotiating a compromise. With Bluray and HD-DVD already obsolete, they want to make as much money as quickly as possible before Holographic technology becomes viable. It's all about the bling!

 

[Rob Babcock]

If we wait for the next, more advanced technology then we'll never have one. Because by the time holographic data crystals a la Babylon 5 are ready to sell, someone will have created something better and it's back to the drawing board again.

The public overwhelmingly loves DVD- it's the most successful format in human history. Those bringing us the next version would be complete fools not to trade on the love and goodwill DVD has earned. I'm normally loath to make predictions, given the whimsical nature of the industry and public, but I think Blu-Ray will be a resounding success, burying HD-DVD in fairly short order. The supposed cost penalty is a red herring and will matter not one whit- does anyone really believe the manufacturers would have continued to use the current manufacturing equipment for the rest of time? Sure, they'd have loved to save a buck or two, but in the end they'll throw their weight behind the format that will make them the most money.

 

[8118]

EVD and FVD

by the time of war between HD DVD and BD, Chinese company (with support from Chinese Goverment) had lauched the EVD last year... mayb we can consider this alternative for high defination.... 720P and 1080i, still using the red laser, but with much lesser capacity compares to HDDVD and BD.....

cheaper of course ....

FVD is another HD format from taiwan...

 

[furrycute]

I think the future lies with holographic storage media. That's a truly revolutionary storage technology. The days of 2D storage technology are numbered.

But for the foreseeable future, the DVD storage media will probably still rule for a while. I truly hate CD/DVD format. Scrathes, fingerprints, smudges, inconvenience. Those are the reasons why we have EAC, why DVD movies skips on scratched discs, unrecoverable read errors, etc.

 

[HookedOnSound]

doing it backwards

The question I have is:

Which next-generation DVD format will have enough storage capacity to support 1080p HD resolution?

Blu-Ray seems nice but shouldn't the entertainment sector be defining what it expects for future requirements (storage) for media content distribution? This is a big issue that requires extensive collaboration on various levels and I am quite skeptical it will not be resolved soon. I am of the old school of identifying the problem first then looking for a solution. I really don't care if the next DVD format supports 200GB if they only expect to offer 720p resolution for DVD movies.

It's just my opinion but I honestly think they are going about it the wrong way.

 

[furrycute]

Higher resolution files means larger file size, which in turn demands larger disc storage capacity.

What is wrong with this logic?

If anything, Blu-ray discs with their high capacities can hold video files of longer length or of higher resolution.

 

[HookedOnSound]

Higher resolution files means larger file size, which in turn demands larger disc storage capacity.

What is wrong with this logic?

If anything, Blu-ray discs with their high capacities can hold video files of longer length or of higher resolution.

I guess my point was misunderstood, more storage is always good but at the same time there is a real need/want to distribute higher quality video (movies). I personally think this storage frenzy is more hype than anything else, it is only one aspect of a multi-faceted issue. Blu-ray discs and the like is a technology platform to satisfy many different needs (storage). But again, it's a means to an end, well where is that end? The next technology to uproot the ubiquitous DVD will probably have double the life span so if they make the leap, it should be a well thought out and planned upgrade/migration.

Until then, I am still wtg to hear the phrase: "Coming to a store near you!"

Any guess when?

 

[furrycute]

A VCD movie is about 600mb, it has crappy resolution.

A DVD movie is about 5gb, it has decent resolution.

An HD movie is much larger. If the file size is only 15gb, then it has good resolution.

An HD movie with a file size of 25gb, then it has super good resolution.


That extra 10gb of storage capacity means you can have much higher resolution movie file on a Blu-ray disc.

 

[agarwalro]

Make place for both in your rack

Sony has said that PS3 will have Blue-Ray disc support. Microsoft on the other hand has said that it will support HD-DVD in future XBox 360 generations. So I believe there will be no murging of the two formats. There is also the issue where movie compaines are divided on which format they support. In the end who suffers, the customer. Make place for a Blue-Ray disc player AND a HD-DVD player in your rack or you will be sorry.

 

[8118]

Take note,

HD stands for high density (more capacity..like storage) and high resolution (image)...

 

[mwh27]

The real problem is..... that MPEG2 takes up way too much space compared to MPEG4, in which space becomes less of an issue.

 

[furrycute]

Storage space is always an issue no matter what compression scheme you are using.

A 5gb 2 hour MPEG4 video file has significantly better resolution compared to a 3gb 2 hour MPEG4 video file.


A 25gb 2 hour HD video file has significantly better resolution compared to a 10gb 2 hour HD viedo file.

 

[REWJR]

HVD / HDTV PVR will motor on by

With all this struggle and delay to bring forth next gen HD DVD there is technology in the wings ready to motor on by ...

http://news.designtechnica.com/article7006.html

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000447030408/

 

[BMXTRIX]

I agree - I don't care who wins the battle. But, since I will buy a PS3 and I won't even consider a X-Box until it includes HD-DVD, I am currently in the BD camp.

Most people really aren't aware of the standards being written into HD disc technologies for video playback.

MPEG2? Well of course...

But, there are about a dozen different formats that will be available and will be required on HD players. This includes multiple audio streams and formats as well as different CODECs including MPEG4 and possibly ASF.

Finally, different resolutions are going to be acceptable including 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and the soon to be heavily sought after: 1080p/24

Will HVD blow them away? That, of course, depends on marketing. We NEED HD technologies to have HD discs of the highest possible quality available. But, HVD, while it may provide more storage, may not have any content in the video world that would use a full disc. So, if 50GB is enough for a HD movie and full playback with killer audio, then having 200GB available, but only using 50GB would likely not be enough to cause the industry to shift from HD discs to holographic discs.

I have said it before and I think it is the key that will guarantee BD success: PS3 will include Blu-Ray out of the box. A million units will be sold in the first 24 hours almost guaranteed.

Do reading on how long it took DVD to penetrate 1 million homes.

HD-DVD will likely be far ahead of Blu-Ray in sales up to that day PS3 hits the streets. The next day, Blu-Ray will have ten times as many units in homes as HD-DVD.

Am I 100% positive about this? Nah... But, if I were a betting man, that would be where my money would go.

 

[Spiffyfast]

I have to disagree, not about whether bue ray or HD will win, but that the PS3 will be the deciding factor. I think the PS3 will be extremely over priced, and be way out of the budget of most ppl to even get it. After the Xbox comes out this fall most ppl will have already bought a $400 dollar game system and wont want to shell out even more money for a 2nd. More and more games are being released on all consoles so there isn't as much of a need to have everysingle one. Do I wish the Xbox had a HD-DVD player heck yeah, can I buy an Neoneu HD DVD player, yep

 

[BMXTRIX]

If PS3 is under $500 it will sell. I would be willing to take bets that it will be unavailable the day of release at that price which will make it the fastest new technology to 1M homes. Am I 100% positive? No, but while X-Box will do very well, it won't stop the PS3 from doing very well also.