Ask yourself, do you have a DVD
burner on your PC. If the answer is no, don't buy it. Why? Because
save the money for the next generation...
Blu-ray v.s HD-DVD
While CDs offer 700MB of storage and DVD offers a 4700MB for single
and 8500MB for Dual Layers, this can no longer satisfy the
consumers.
So we ask, arn't there be more powerful storage discs? Of course
there is
Blu-ray
Blu-ray disc is developed and supported by Sony, Dell, Apple, HP,
LG, Samsung, BenQ, Pioneer, Panasonic, Philips, Fujifilm, JVC,
Maxell, Memorex, TDK, Verbatim, Sharp, Mitsubishi, Yamaha
etc.
It is also supported by Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, New
Line Cinema, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney and Warner
Bros.
Blu-ray disc can hit 60GB ( 60 000MB ) in storage. The basic
storage will be 25GB. Also, 27GB, 50GB and 54 GB are
available.
Lab testing successful on a 8-layered disc with a capacity
of 400GB ( 400 000MB )
Disadventage - A Blu-ray disc player or PC drive will cost around
US$1000.
The cost of a Blu-ray disc will be slightly more than the current
DVD+Rs.
Adventage ----- Since so many big player are supporting this
format, it means Blu-ray is
widely accepted and used in the market, thus Blu-ray users will
have
greater flexibility.
Release Date --- 3rd or 4th quarters of 2006
HD-DVD -High Definition DVD
HD-DVD disc is developed and supported by Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo,
Intel, Microsoft and HP ( HP supports both, but mainly Blu-ray
)
These companies also agreed to make movies available on HD-DVD.
They are Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner
Bros.
HD-DVD discs are available in 15GB, 20GB, and 40GB
Lab testing successful on a 8-layered disc with a capacity
of 400GB ( 400 000MB )
Disadventage - Less storage than Blu-ray. With limited supporters,
users will face
problems in terms if flexibility as well as feel very
limited.
Adventage --- Since its a built-on from DVD, its only 10% more
expensive. Around S$5
Player cost around US$500.
Release Date --- 1st quarters of 2006
Overview
Copyrights Protection - The new format has only 3 region codes
instead of 7. Singapore was grouped with U.S this time, meaning
that all games and movies showed in the U.S will be able to be view
in Singapore, even if the local government banned them.
Cheers!!!
- However, more powerful protection is added. All BLu-ray and
HD-DVD disc can record watermarks (happen when files from 1 place
is transfered to another). Their respective players will stop
reading the disc immediately if these marks are detected on a disc.
This feature makes piracy impossible. Meaning there will be no more
downloads from online, priated DVD even if the movie is recorded
from the cinema.
- Also, Sony's Blu-ray player can even scan the disc to check if
the disc is legal and if the test failed, Sony can remotely lock
down your player as a penalty.
Improvements - Both formats provides superior picture quality,
graphic so good that it matches those in the digital cinema, all in
the comfort of your home. However, a HD-TV is a must for these
improvements to be seen. Normal TVs are just not powerful enough.
Though HD-TV and these new Blu-ray and HD-DVD equitments can cost a
fortune, all developers are confident that the market will be
enormous.
- Technology is improving. Face it, whether you like it or not.
Remember what's like when DVD first came out. Most consumers are
against it, saying its expensive and does not worth the money to
change all the equitments to suit its need. But now DVDs are so
widely accepted that CDs are losing the market instead.
HD-DVD and Blu-ray are the future, and though you might say "i'm
never going to pay a thousand bucks on that!" 2 years is all it
takes for you to change your mind.
www.hearrighthere.blogspot.com
Disclaimer - All information and comments
appeared in the above post are entirely the personal research
effort of the blogger. These informations may not be 100% accurate.
The purpose of this post is for private reference and does not
represent any cooperations or groups. Comments on this post are
personal views of the blogger and inaccuracy exists. Information
correct on Nov 2005
