Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD
For the non-techie folk in the f-list, there are goinging to be brand spanking new dvd players hitting the market this year, but in two different formats, Blu-ray and HD DVD. I found this comparision through wikipedia http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/ of the two new formats. Both are hitting up the growing market of HD tvs (going to be standard by 2009 in the States), and companies are taking sides.
From the Cnet comparison Here
Who's on each side?
Toshiba leads the HD DVD consortium, which also includes consumer electronics manufacturers Sanyo and NEC. Entertainment companies on board are HBO, New Line Cinema, Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video.
Blu-ray's consumer electronics list is longer, with Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Pioneer and LG Electronics. PC makers that support it are Dell, HP and Apple Computer. Also on board are video game maker Electronic Arts and entertainment companies Twentieth Century Fox, Vivendi Universal and Walt Disney.
And while the computer makers suppoert one side, the makers of the various components of computer parts and products, such as Intel and Microsoft, have joined the opposition
Here's a comparison of the two, from http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/186/2
The big points,
- Blu-Ray hold more data on the disk
- blu-ray are thinner, because there protective coating is only .1mm versus the .6mm on Current DVDs and HD DVDs; but the Blu-ray is supposed to be a hard coating versus a soft one. What this means is they're more expensive. And what's pointed out in the first linked article, while both claim to be backward compliant (dvds will play in them, and new dvd formats in old players) there's the possibility that the BluRays might not be recognized in the old players (although they're supposed to be the same thickness total, see the last linked article).
My thoughts at this time, is go HD-DVD. The quality studios are going to use it, with the exception of Disney. And the big thing is that protective coating.....only .1mm of plastic protect the recorded layer. Being the obsessive neat freak with using my cases for my dvds, and still getting some scratches on them makes me think WTF do I want to spend a crapload of money on a movie that according to the thickness level, is more susceptible to getting scratched? Plus, Blu-Ray is almost completely new technology. Even though they say they're taking their time to "perfect their product", It is likely going to be plagued with troubles in the first few years
From the Cnet comparison Here
Who's on each side?
Toshiba leads the HD DVD consortium, which also includes consumer electronics manufacturers Sanyo and NEC. Entertainment companies on board are HBO, New Line Cinema, Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video.
Blu-ray's consumer electronics list is longer, with Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Pioneer and LG Electronics. PC makers that support it are Dell, HP and Apple Computer. Also on board are video game maker Electronic Arts and entertainment companies Twentieth Century Fox, Vivendi Universal and Walt Disney.
And while the computer makers suppoert one side, the makers of the various components of computer parts and products, such as Intel and Microsoft, have joined the opposition
Here's a comparison of the two, from http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/186/2
The big points,
- Blu-Ray hold more data on the disk
- blu-ray are thinner, because there protective coating is only .1mm versus the .6mm on Current DVDs and HD DVDs; but the Blu-ray is supposed to be a hard coating versus a soft one. What this means is they're more expensive. And what's pointed out in the first linked article, while both claim to be backward compliant (dvds will play in them, and new dvd formats in old players) there's the possibility that the BluRays might not be recognized in the old players (although they're supposed to be the same thickness total, see the last linked article).
My thoughts at this time, is go HD-DVD. The quality studios are going to use it, with the exception of Disney. And the big thing is that protective coating.....only .1mm of plastic protect the recorded layer. Being the obsessive neat freak with using my cases for my dvds, and still getting some scratches on them makes me think WTF do I want to spend a crapload of money on a movie that according to the thickness level, is more susceptible to getting scratched? Plus, Blu-Ray is almost completely new technology. Even though they say they're taking their time to "perfect their product", It is likely going to be plagued with troubles in the first few years