Quote:
|
Originally Posted by XPSM140Guy
One of the main good things about HD DVD is that it uses the same laser as current DVD tech which in turn allows easy convertibility of current production lines. Blu-Ray is completely new...thus more expensive.
|
Thats actually an incorrect statement. Both Blu Ray and HD-DVD use a blue laser, dvds use a red one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc
Quote:
| The name Blu-ray is derived from the blue-violet laser it uses to read and write to the disc. A Blu-ray disc will be able to store substantially more data than a DVD, because of the shorter wavelength (405 nm) of the read-laser (DVDs use a 650-nm-wavelength red laser and CD's 780 nm). |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-DVD
Quote:
| HD DVD (High Density Digital Versatile Disc or High Definition Digital Video Disc) is a digital optical media format which is being developed as one standard for high-definition DVD. HD DVD is similar to the competing Blu-ray Disc, which also uses the same CD-size (120 mm diameter) optical data storage media and 405 nm wavelength blue laser. |
The reason HD-DVD is cheaper to produce than Blu-Ray is because HD-DVD uses some of the same manufacturing processes as normal DVDs, while blu ray does not.
The different laser for both formats does not mean that you cannot produce players which play DVDs, burn dvds, play blu ray and burn blu ray, all in one, as that already exists (for a mere 900$ in a computer, its in the above linked article).
Both devices have experienced delays. HD-DVD was supposed to be fully released in december of 05, and blu-ray in 2006. Well, its almost mid 2006, and there are precious few movies available in hd-dvd.
The "garbled" ness discussed above was probably a reference to HDCP support, which at the moment is a problem, but will likely be remedied in the near future. (I have a very hard time swallowing the idea that sony would release blu-ray without support on any monitor or video card older than 1 month).
Another cool note: Blu-Ray discs require the java runtime environment on their players, allowing for truly interactive menus and such (perhaps even games or stuff, who knows) in your "dvd" experience. They also have a special coating on the discs, making them highly impervious to scratches and day-to-day handling.
I personally think blu-ray will win this one, partially due to the PS3. But, time will tell.
(and thats one of the reasons its so blasted expensive)
