[Big Mac]

We know that Apple has started a big push toward HD and that it has chosen Blu-ray, so when will we see a Blu-ray burner in a Power Mac? WWDC '05? A special event afterward? MWSF '06? Beyond?

[ManOfSteal]

1H2006

[olePigeon]

I still think it was a mistake. While I agree Blu-Ray is better for data, I think HD-DVD is better for movies for it's backwards compatibility with existing DVD technology. Also, hybrid HD-DVDs are possible as well with HD content on 3/4 of the disk, and standard content on the first 1/4. That way customers can buy HD-DVDs and still play a non-HD version of the movie on existing DVD players, then upgrade to an HD-DVD later on.

While DVD Players are dirt cheap now, you know the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are gonna be expensive as hell when they first come out.

[Eriamjh]

Considering that no Blu-ray burners exist, it's hard to say.

[Big Mac]

The comparatively small increase in capacity over regular DVDs is what makes HD-DVD undesirable. HD content is most definitely quite large, so the next generation disc should have a lot of capacity. Blu-ray will be more expensive to produce until manufacturers switch over to that process, but the media itself should be cheaper. And Blu-ray will have backward compatibility too, so I don't see why hybrid, standard definition and high definition discs could not be created for Blu-ray players players as well. According to what I have read, the first Blu-ray burners will be out 2H 2005. Since the company has already committed to the format, It would be really cool if Apple could be at the forefront of the technology.

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by Big Mac:
The comparatively small increase in capacity over regular DVDs is what makes HD-DVD undesirable. HD content is most definitely quite large, so the next generation disc should have a lot of capacity. Blu-ray will be more expensive to produce until manufacturers switch over to that process, but the media itself should be cheaper. And Blu-ray will have backward compatibility too, so I don't see why hybrid, standard definition and high definition discs could not be created for Blu-ray players players as well. According to what I have read, the first Blu-ray burners will be out 2H 2005. Since the company has already committed to the format, It would be really cool if Apple could be at the forefront of the technology.

An HD-DVD holds 60GBs. Something like 10+ hours of high definition video with 7 channel audio. Is 10 hours not enough for you?

I think Blu-Ray holds 100GBs of storage. So you get an extra 40GBs of space. But when it comes to movies, HD-DVD is perfectly fine. I think the people that support Blu-Ray are still computer oriented.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
An HD-DVD holds 60GBs.

I thought it held 30 something?

Plus Blu-ray could easily pay DVD's.

[RonnieoftheRose]

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
I thought it held 30 something?

Plus Blu-ray could easily pay DVD's.

If I remember correctly HD-DVD holds 30GBs while Blu-Ray holds 50GBs.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
If I remember correctly HD-DVD holds 30GBs while Blu-Ray holds 50GBs.

Ya that is what I thought also. I vote for Blu-ray 100%

[Stogieman]

blu-ray.com/faqs

How much data can you fit on a Blu-ray Disc?

A single-layer disc can fit 23.3GB, 25GB or 27GB.
A dual-layer disc can fit 46.6GB, 50GB or 54GB.

To ensure that the Blu-ray Disc format is easily extendable (future-proof) it also includes support for multi-layer discs, which should allow the storage capacity to be increased to 100GB-200GB (25GB per layer) in the future simply by adding more layers to the discs.

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
I thought it held 30 something?

Plus Blu-ray could easily pay DVD's.

15GB per layer. Double-sided, dual layer HD-DVD hold 60GBs.

Blu-Ray is 25GBs per layer. Double-sided, dual layer Blu-Ray holds 100GBs.

But again, you guys are thinking of it from a computer sense. Blu-Ray is great for storage, but for movies my vote goes for HD-DVD.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Originally posted by olePigeon:

But again, you guys are thinking of it from a computer sense. Blu-Ray is great for storage, but for movies my vote goes for HD-DVD.

Not me, I am speaking as someone who has had 2 HD tv's over the past 5 years and there is nothing I like about HD-DVD over blu-ray.

[RonnieoftheRose]

Originally posted by olePigeon:

But again, you guys are thinking of it from a computer sense. Blu-Ray is great for storage, but for movies my vote goes for HD-DVD.

Makes no sense at all.

[olePigeon]

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Makes no sense at all.

I'm referring to HD-DVDs being backwards compatible (at least the first layer of it) with existing DVD players. So standard definition and high definition movies can be placed on the same DVD, that way people who can't afford the new HD-DVD players will still be able to invest in some HD-DVDs before they take the plunge.

[Big Mac]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
I'm referring to HD-DVDs being backwards compatible (at least the first layer of it) with existing DVD players. So standard definition and high definition movies can be placed on the same DVD, that way people who can't afford the new HD-DVD players will still be able to invest in some HD-DVDs before they take the plunge.

Okay, I think I recognize the point olePigeon is making. While both HD-DVD and Blu-ray can be backward compatible with standard definition DVDs, only HD-DVD can offer limited forward compatibility because it will use the same laser technology as existing players. I don't think that's going to be a very big factor, though. If HD-DVD's biggest selling point is potential forward compatibility, my vote is still with Blu-ray. And btw, I cannot find any references to dual-layer, dual-sided HD-DVD; everything I have found claims HD-DVD's maximum capacity is dual-sided 30GB. And if one side is the standard definition version, the HD version will be confined to 15GBs on the other side.

[Hawkeye_a]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
I still think it was a mistake. While I agree Blu-Ray is better for data, I think HD-DVD is better for movies for it's backwards compatibility with existing DVD technology. Also, hybrid HD-DVDs are possible as well with HD content on 3/4 of the disk, and standard content on the first 1/4. That way customers can buy HD-DVDs and still play a non-HD version of the movie on existing DVD players, then upgrade to an HD-DVD later on.

While DVD Players are dirt cheap now, you know the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are gonna be expensive as hell when they first come out.

I totally agree with you. I too think Apple should have gone with HD-DVD. solely cause it's maintained by the DVD forum which is a seperate governing body as opposed to developed and pushed by a corporation(Sony and a few others (nothing against Sony, just in general)).Thats not to mention that HDDVD drives and media are cheaper and easier to produce.

If the goal is High Definition movies, i think HD DVD provides adequately and proves to be an elegant solution, given it's backwards compatibility. Where as Bluray seems like a clunky at best implementation, for the sake of extra storage, for the same quality (HD) video in the end. It's more expensive to manufacture, it's going to take unnecssary research and energy to make the drives backwards compatible.

I do remember reading an article somewhere that stated that Jobs is against HD burners going into consumers hands.

Personally i think 15-30GB storage is more than adequate for the motion picture industry to release movies in high def. and it's done while implementing backwards compatibility, and cheap/efficient production methods.

Also, another issue is the rate of adoption. I dont think HD-DVD or Blu Rays will catch on very quick. i think it's taken about 10 years or so for the DVD to finally surpass VHS globally. And i dont know about you guys, but im not a technophile(no offence), so i wont be giving up my home entertainment system. Heck my TVs resolution isnt even taking advantage of DVD video lol. So in my opinion, i think HD-DVD/BR will be adopted rather slowley in the consumer marke place. Thats where marketing comes in....and Sony has made a brilliant strategic decision to have BR on PS3s. Where as HDDVD has no plans of making inroads into the consumer space...(yes Nintendo will be using it on the revolution, but i doubt they will enable HD-DVD video playback...if they do...that'll be a first....and we might have a battle on...but so far, it's looking like BR will be the winner cause of the PS3).

I cant be bothered to do the calculations, so was wondering how many Gigs would a 3 hour long HD resolution movie, with 5.1 or 7 channel surround sound take up ? (i think 3 - 3.5 hours is like more than adequate for a hollywood movie.)

[moonmonkey]

Originally posted by olePigeon:
I'm referring to HD-DVDs being backwards compatible (at least the first layer of it) with existing DVD players. So standard definition and high definition movies can be placed on the same DVD, that way people who can't afford the new HD-DVD players will still be able to invest in some HD-DVDs before they take the plunge.

Shouldn't poor people just watch TV?

[macaddict0001]

Originally posted by Hawkeye_a:

I cant be bothered to do the calculations, so was wondering how many Gigs would a 3 hour long HD resolution movie, with 5.1 or 7 channel surround sound take up ? (i think 3 - 3.5 hours is like more than adequate for a hollywood movie.)

for 3 hours it depends how well its encoded. using similar encoding algorithms to a current dvd about 35 gigs but the should be able to get it down to about 26.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

DVD players are so so damn cheap right now I really don't care about having the next gen players play old DVD's or not, it is not that big a deal to have both players.

Also blu-ray can easily stick a red laser in the player to watch old DVD's.

[budster101]

I totally disagree.

[Severed Hand of Skywalker]

30 Gigs vs 50 gigs now doesn't sound that much but remember when we thought DVD's were huge?

I think HD-DVD will be dated sooner and the more HD TV and Data I can get on one disk the better.