Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD
Is it VHS vs. Beta all over Again?
Both Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs enable HDTV reproduction because of their massive storage capacities. Using dual-layer techniques, HD DVD can store as much as 30 gigabytes of data while a Blu-Ray disc can pack in a whopping 50 gigabytes. Both camps are already are working on several-layered discs that could allow more than 100 gigabytes of storage on one disc. That's enough for more than 100 hours of standard-definition quality programming on one disc.
Blu-Ray and HD-DVD both use blue lasers, which operate at lower wavelengths (405 nanometers) than current red lasers (650 nanometers). Longer wavelengths suffer more diffraction, which limits their ability to focus tightly on a surface. But a blue laser's shorter wavelength allows it to read and write data over a much tighter surface area, which in turn allows storage of far more data on a disc that's the same diameter of current DVDs. The benefits for backward compatibility are clear: New players will be able to handle both old and new DVD formats in the same machine a major consumer benefit that manufacturers hope will drive unit sales.
But while consumers won't have to worry about obsolescence when it comes to their old DVD collections, the format war brewing between new Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs does present an possible problem that evokes the VHS vs. Betamax debacle of the 1980s. The HD DVD formatted players—like the VHS format that won out over Betamax—could become far more widely available to consumers sooner and at a lower price than Blu-Ray discs players. That's because the HD-DVD format utilizes manufacturing techniques very similar to those used for the current generation of DVDs as it was developed by the 230-strong membership DVD Forum that defines current DVD formats. That means that duplication houses for major studios and software makers won't have to retool their factories significantly to make HD DVD discs. That means that HD DVD discs and players will likely be the first available to consumers by at several months, probably by the end of 2005.
Blu-Ray discs require an entirely new manufacturing process with transition costs borne largely by duplicators. That, along with other issues, is expected to delay the introduction of Blu-Ray discs until sometime in 2006, which could hand a major advantage to the HD DVD format
To further confuse matters Samsung announced it will “introduce a DVD player capable of handling both the Blu-Ray and HD DVD formats if rivals Sony and Toshiba fail to agree on a unified format. " Samsung's head of consumer electronics, Choi Gee-sung, told the Financial Times Deutschland: "We would welcome a unified standard but if this doesn't come, which looks likely, we'll bring a unified solution to market."
Each side wants to convince consumers that they should avoid the other side's format. HD DVD developers are planning a marketing strategy where major content providers, most of the major studios, Microsoft and Intel, provide content far before you can get anything with Blu-Ray saying “it’s here now why wait”, whereas the Blu-Ray camp largely plans to adopt a "we won't be first, but we'll be better" campaign designed to warn consumers away from HD DVD.
So what's the breakdown of forces on each side?
On the Blu-Ray side is a large group of CE manufacturers, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, Hitachi, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic (Matsushita Electric), Pioneer, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson. Some content providers also are onboard. In addition to obvious backing from Sony-affiliated movie studios, the Walt Disney Company and its home-video division Buena Vista Entertainment offered its non-exclusive endorsement of Blu-Ray in December 2004 but have also said that if HD DVD is the prevalent format that consumers adopt they will also offer what the market demands. In addition, video gaming powerhouse Electronic Arts, along with Vivendi Universal Games, both came out for Blu-Ray at the 2005 International CES in January.
The main backer of the HD-DVD format is Toshiba, which by itself has more market dominance than several CE backers on the Blu-Ray side combined, along with smaller players NEC and Sanyo. Microsoft and Intel just announced that they will be backing HD-DVD. There is some speculation in the market that Microsofts will come out with an version of the XBOX 360 with HD DVD built in. Toshiba plans to launch its first HD-DVD players in late 2005. In December, even Thomson—which is actually a Blu-Ray disc backer—announced that it also would sell HD-DVD players by late 2005. And an impressive list of entertainment content companies has thrown their weight behind HD-DVD, including Paramount, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. All of these studios have already announced a significant amount of titles on HD-DVD to be available at the time HD-DVD players are introduced.
Toshiba is dedicated to the HD-DVD format and executives staunchly believe they will win the marketing battle for consumers even before Blu-Ray gets its format off the ground in mid 2006. "The key part of this is going to be driven by content," says Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing in Toshiba's storage device division. He added "They're going to be marketing technology, and we're going to be marketing products," he says. "It's hard to sell technology to consumers."
"Our rich heritage in the development of DVD technology means that we are well equipped for the market transition from DVD to HD-DVD," added Sally, who also serves as Vice-President for the Digital Entertainment Group. "With proven backwards compatibility and real software titles available at launch, we are certain that we can deliver the very best solution in HD DVD technology for both consumers as well as the content providers."
The Specs:
|
Blu-ray |
HD DVD |
Disc type |
Blu-ray
(Read-Only) |
HD DVD-ROM
(Read-Only) |
HD DVD-R
(Recordable) |
HD DVD-Rewritable
(Recordable) |
Disc diameter |
120mm |
120mm |
120mm |
120mm |
Disc structure |
0.85mm
x 2 substrates |
0.6mm
x 2 substrates |
0.6mm
x 2 substrates |
0.6mm
x 2 substrates |
Capacity
(Single-sided,
single-layer)
(Single-sided,
dual-layer) |
25GB
50GB |
15GB
30GB |
15GB |
20GB
32GB(Under development) |
Playback time*
Recording time* |
25GB, HD resolution:
over 6 hours
50GB, HD resolution:
over 13 hours
| 15GB, HD resolution:
over 4 hours
30GB, HD resolution:
over 8 hours |
15GB, HD resolution:
over 4 hours |
20GB, HD resolution:
over 5.5 hours
32GB, HD resolution:
over 8.5 hours |
Laser Wavelength |
405nm
(blue laser) |
405nm
(blue laser) |
405nm
(blue laser) |
405nm
(blue laser) |
Compression
technology |
MPEG-4 AVC/
VC-1/MPEG-2 |
MPEG-4 AVC/
VC-1/MPEG-2 |
MPEG-4 AVC/
VC-1/MPEG-2 |
MPEG-4 AVC/
VC-1/MPEG-2 |
User bit rate |
36.55Mbps |
36.55Mbps |
36.55Mbps |
36.55Mbps |
The Pricing Strategy
In the vital area of picture quality, both formats also have a difficult time differentiating between one another. Either format can produce a very good image. It boils down to the price of the equipment and the availability of content. One would have to think that price is going to play a very large role and the other big question for Blu-Ray how much more real benefit could a consumer get out of the extra storage.
According to their supporters:
HD-DVD Players are anticipated to have around a $1200 SRP
Blu-Ray Players are anticipated to be around $2400 SRP
Players that play both are anticipated to cost around $3500 SRP
Who’s in the lead:
|
HD DVD |
Blu-Ray |
First to Market |
√ |
|
Lowest Priced |
√ |
|
Largest Storage |
|
√ |
Backing / support |
√ |
|
With being the first to market, with the lowest price, and the backing of Microsoft, Intel and major studios HD DVD is clearly the leader at this point.
Providing Exceptional Service Since 1997 - Call 404 352 0007
|
