Next-Gen DVD Standards Comparison: Blu-ray & HD DVD
Sony has announced that they will be releasing the Blu-ray player in America in July, at a price for $1,000 USD, which Toshiba, the competitor who backs the HD DVD will be selling their player at $499.99 and $799.99 USD in March. The duel is about break out in this year’s market for sure.
About the two standards:
What’s different for the Next-Gen DVD?
Within the same size of the physical disc, the recordable volume has been largely improved. For HD, it will be 3 times, and for BD, it will be 5 times larger than the current DVD. It is capable of carrying more data and video, and will be protected from piracy by more technologies.
Why can the volume be enhanced?
It’s because of the use of the laser with a shorter wavelength. The wavelength is like the thickness of the lead in a pencil. On the same note paper, a pencil with a thinner lead can write more contents on it for sure.
What’s the difference between HD and BD?
The place for storing the data is different. HD stores the data on a layer which is 0.6 millimeter from the surface, while BD does that on a layer which is 0.1 millimeter from the surface. An HD player will not be able to play a Blu-ray disc, vice versa. *Note by Jeff: I remember reported a news that LG is making a player that will be compatible for both standards.
This sounds quite inconvenient. Which one is better?
On the record volume side, one layer can hold 15 Gigabytes (Digital Hi Vision Video for 1.5 – 2 hours) for HD, but 25 Gigabytes (Same 2 – 3 hours) for BD. HD is holding the idea that they can hold the same volume as the BD do with adding more layers, while BD insists on “better for massive production and manufacture technologies”.
About the sales war between the two standards
On the HD DVD side, Toshiba will be releasing the player in March, and the recorder in June. Laptops powered by HD DVD will also be released in this Spring In US. While on the BD side, the Next-Gen game console “PlayStation 3” which will be able to play Blu-ray discs are postponed to November. Recorders/Players will also be released in this year.
Which side will have more movie supplies?
According to the current share stats, BD takes up 74%, while HD takes up 46%. It is hard to predict the situation now.
Is the name “HDD Recorder” a wrong name?
HDD is the short form for “Hard Disk Drive”. The “HD” from “HD DVD” means “Hi Definition”. They are totally different. The max capacity of the current HDD recorders is up to 1 Terabyte. It will be able to store 128 hours of Hi Vision video. But, if you want to carry the video you recorded, you will still need to burn it onto a DVD. This is the down side of HDD recorders. But anyway, there may be some consumers who finally choose the HDD recorder before the war between the Next-Gen DVD standard ends.
Sony has announced that they will be releasing the Blu-ray player in America in July, at a price for $1,000 USD, which Toshiba, the competitor who backs the HD DVD will be selling their player at $499.99 and $799.99 USD in March. The duel is about break out in this year’s market for sure.
About the two standards:
What’s different for the Next-Gen DVD?
Within the same size of the physical disc, the recordable volume has been largely improved. For HD, it will be 3 times, and for BD, it will be 5 times larger than the current DVD. It is capable of carrying more data and video, and will be protected from piracy by more technologies.
Why can the volume be enhanced?
It’s because of the use of the laser with a shorter wavelength. The wavelength is like the thickness of the lead in a pencil. On the same note paper, a pencil with a thinner lead can write more contents on it for sure.
What’s the difference between HD and BD?
The place for storing the data is different. HD stores the data on a layer which is 0.6 millimeter from the surface, while BD does that on a layer which is 0.1 millimeter from the surface. An HD player will not be able to play a Blu-ray disc, vice versa. *Note by Jeff: I remember reported a news that LG is making a player that will be compatible for both standards.
This sounds quite inconvenient. Which one is better?
On the record volume side, one layer can hold 15 Gigabytes (Digital Hi Vision Video for 1.5 – 2 hours) for HD, but 25 Gigabytes (Same 2 – 3 hours) for BD. HD is holding the idea that they can hold the same volume as the BD do with adding more layers, while BD insists on “better for massive production and manufacture technologies”.
About the sales war between the two standards
On the HD DVD side, Toshiba will be releasing the player in March, and the recorder in June. Laptops powered by HD DVD will also be released in this Spring In US. While on the BD side, the Next-Gen game console “PlayStation 3” which will be able to play Blu-ray discs are postponed to November. Recorders/Players will also be released in this year.
Which side will have more movie supplies?
According to the current share stats, BD takes up 74%, while HD takes up 46%. It is hard to predict the situation now.