[GSixZero]

http://sbindependent.org/node/259

In a blow to supporters of the developing HD-DVD format, Apple� has officially joined the side of it's main competitor, the Blu-ray consortium._ CEO Steve Jobs_promoted the partnership, saying that _�Apple is pleased to join the Blu-ray Disc Association board as part of our efforts to drive consumer adoption of HD."_ HD stands for "High Definition," which is a richer, crisper, media format that has slowly_started to enter the market.

Other_members of the Blu-ray_Disc Association include Sony, Philips, JVC, Pioneer, Panasonic, HP, Dell, Hitachi, Samsung, TDK, and Disney.

Blu-Ray outstrips the HD-DVD format in technological superiority and data storage (Blu-Ray can hold 25 gigabytes for every 15 gigabyte HD-DVD) but Blu-Ray is much more expensive to produce._ The issue will become more important in the next few years as FCC regulations phase out analog television broadcasting and require all TV's made after 2006 to be digital compatible._ Eventually, the_DVD will join_its laserdisc, VHS, and reel-to-reel ancestors on the dusty and forgotten video shelf._ But for now, its replacement is unclear.

[ManOfSteal]

You mean Blu-Ray?

[Randman]

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
You mean Blu-Ray?

Do you mean Blu-ray?

[MacManMikeOSX]

Blu_ray isn't supposed to replace DVD, it's actually supposed to be the high-end market only. The intended strategy is that as videos are to DVDs now, DVD will be to Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

[vmpaul]

^^For computer or entertainment uses?

[ManOfSteal]

Originally posted by Randman:
Do you mean Blu-ray?

No.

[Randman]

Originally posted by ManOfSteal:
No.

Then what do you mean?

[ManOfSteal]

Originally posted by Randman:
Then what do you mean?

Blue-Jay.

[BasketofPuppies]

Originally posted by MacManMikeOSX:
Blu_ray isn't supposed to replace DVD, it's actually supposed to be the high-end market only. The intended strategy is that as videos are to DVDs now, DVD will be to Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

Better tell that to Sony Computer Entertainment and the HD-DVD Association.

[mitchell_pgh]

iPod killer #234,938?

Why not, everything else has been

[the_glassman]

I'm glad Apple has finally jumped on the band wagon and has chosen the superior format. Now bring on Holographic Disc!

[Superchicken]

So Apple's picked a format... how long till HD-DVD becomes the standard?

[Cipher13]

Props, Apple.

[hmurchison2001]

Blu-Ray is superior in total capacity. Apple is on the wrong side of this one. However, both formats will co-exist for quite some time. We can only hope for a Universal player now when the players become affordable.

Most of you don't realize that Sony has once again done you a disservice.

The HD-DVD forum was setup to make a smooth transition from DVD to Blue Laser HD. The goals were simple.

1. Give the end user 1080i/p or 720p video and great quality.
2. Make it cheap which means feature length films(2hrs) on 1 disc
3. Support red laser DVD by using the same file structure and optics.

All was going well until the greed of Sony reared it's head again. Here's what they did.

1. Attempted to make Blu-Ray MPEG2 only hence the need for 50GB of space. They later capitulated and added VC-1 and AVC
2. Created a new technology which is amazing but uncompatible with todays DVD pressing plants.
3. Ensured that the discs are more expensive and with the bolted on red laser support, ensured that the players will be more expensive.

In short, other than total capacity, Blu-Ray has broken ranks and done nothing but setup yet another format war which will cost consumer more. Hey...Sony profits above all else right?

Now Apple has gone stupid and thrown their support behind Blu-Ray because they likely seek concessions from Sony...but where? That's the million dollar question.

Blu-Ray is going to be a good format for backing up data on the computer. However most people on this planet are not rich. Walmart and Costco are big for a reason. The cheapest products win.

HD-DVD wins a long and protracted war by staying ahead of Blu-Ray in cost.

If you think I'm lying do some google searches about HD-DVD players being priced at $1k and find the announced 89 titles. Now try to duplicate that in the Blu-Ray camp. They are silent for a reason folks. They don't know how much Blu-Ray is going to cost and evidently neither do many of you.

[BasketofPuppies]

Blu-Ray player and disc manufacturers will initially pay more than their HD-DVD competitors, but competition will prevent those costs from being passed along to consumers. (What, you thought the PlayStation 3 was going to cost $500?)

And those higher costs to manufacturers are temporary. Component and manufacturing costs (in addtion to profit margins) go down signifcantly over time.

Whichever camp gets the most support from consumer electronics, computer, and entertainment companies will win. All other points in the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray war are moot.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
iPod killer #234,938?

Hey, you got your numbers wrong.

It's the iPod killaaarr # 524,328,385,237 !

-t

[mitchell_pgh]

Blu-Ray sounds cooler.

[historylme]

Like FireWire. and look how universal that is.

[Busemann]

Playstation 3 will use Blue-ray, which really means it will win.

Strange of MS not to use HD-DVD in XBox 2

[TailsToo]

Originally posted by Busemann:
Playstation 3 will use Blue-ray, which really means it will win.

Strange of MS not to use HD-DVD in XBox 2

Why would the format of the PS3 make a difference? It isn't like you can use their games on anything else! (ok, the vast majority of people cannot)

[Busemann]

Originally posted by TailsToo:
Why would the format of the PS3 make a difference? It isn't like you can use their games on anything else! (ok, the vast majority of people cannot)

The PS2 was the major force behind DVD's in the early days you know.

[BasketofPuppies]

Originally posted by Busemann:
Strange of MS not to use HD-DVD in XBox 2

The HD-DVD Association pushed Microsoft to use a HD-DVD drive in the Xbox Next, but Microsoft decided to stick with DVD for a variety of reasons (cost, uncertain future of both formats, et al).

Probably a good idea just in case Blu-Ray emerges as the winner and Microsoft decides to make the next next Xbox backward compatible with the Xbox Next.

[BasketofPuppies]

Originally posted by Busemann:
The PS2 was the major force behind DVD's in the early days you know.

Only in Japan where DVD Video players were still expensive at the time. (And even there it was a given DVD Video would be the new home video standard.)

In the rest of the world, DVD Video players reached reasonable prices long before the PS2 was released. Did people buy PlayStation 2's instead of standalone DVD Video players? Yes. Did people buy DVD Videos instead of games with their PS2 purchases? Yes. But these people would have bought standalone DVD Video players instead had the PS2 not been able to play DVD Videos. DVD Video replacing VHS was already happening well over a year prior to the PS2's Western release.

The next home video format is not a given. Like the PS2, people will buy the PS3 for games, not home videos. It will help Blu-Ray Video, but how much it will is questionable.

Especially since both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players will be backward compatible with DVD Video.

[d0ubled0wn]

Blue laser is the better technology. I think it's better to move forward with better technology even though it may cost more initially. Economies of scale will eventually bring the cost down. Considering that the PS3 will have Blu-ray drives, that's a guaranteed millions of units sold right there in addition to home theater components and computer peripherals.