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For those not in the know there are two formats being developed
for high definition DVDs which could well be the future in the fight
against piracy. One of them is Blu-ray which has the backing of
a lot of technology firms like Dell, Hewlett Packard, Panasonic,
Sony and LG. The other format is HD DVD and Microsoft, Toshiba and
computer chip giant Intel have thrown their weight behind that format.
The catch is that these two formats are incompatible. This means
that if you buy a Blu-ray DVD player it will not play discs made
by HD DVD and vice versa. However both formats can play standard
DVDs.
HP GM personal storage business Maureen Weber said, "From
a PC end-user perspective, Blu-ray is a superior format. It offers
67-150% more storage capacity, higher transfer rates, slim-line
notebook compatibility, broadband connectivity and a proven interactive
layer with BD-Java. The technical merits and consumer benefits of
Blu-ray Disc make it the ideal solution for HP's customers."
The companies said that they were trying to set the record straight
regarding what they termed erroneous comments made by Microsoft
and Intel on the Blu-ray format.
Dell and HP state that on the capacity front Blu-ray Disc's capacity
is 50GB. This will be available at launch for BD-ROM, BD-R, and
BD-RE. This is 67 per cent more than HD-DVD's 30GB ROM capacity
and 150 per cent more than its recordable storage capacity -- a
critical issue for computer users.
Paramount has said that it would release films in the Blu-ray format.
Interestingly earlier it had said that it would release films in
the HD DVD format. It could well be the case that Paramount might
release films in both formats. Fox and Disney have also supported
Blu-ray though reports inidcate that they too may release DVDs in
the other format as well. Sony's next-generation PlayStation 3 game
console will come equipped with a Blu-ray DVD player. This was a
key factor behind Paramount's support.
Sony's PlayStation 2 console, which can play conventional discs,
was a key driver of current-generation DVD sales.
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