HD-DVD vs Blu-ray. Which path to take?

HD-DVD vs Blu-ray is one enigma that will probably be solved during the next year. First there were VHS tapes succeeded by DVD discs in 1997. They became an instant success in the home theater market. In less then 9 years a new generation of home video formats appeared. The DVD recorder appeared and now this new, improved technology arrived and will appeal to videophiles. However, before deciding to go for HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, we’ll need to wait and see who will win this war.

A standard DVD disc has a capacity of 4.5 Gb, while a dual-layer DVD disc has twice this capacity (9 Gb). These will soon become obsolete, because the new formats can hold up to 15 Gb per layer (HD-DVD) or 25 Gb per layer (Blu-ray).

HD-DVD stands for High-Definition DVD or High-Density DVD. The reason why HD-DVD and Blu-Ray can store so much data is the blue-violet laser used in their manufacturing. The blue laser has a shorter wavelength (of 405 nm) compared to the red laser’s wavelength that is used for DVD discs.

HD-DVD can store up to 15 GB on a single layer disc and 30 Gb on a dual layer disc. Most movies released on HD-DVD format were released on dual-layer discs. A single-layer HD-DVD has a smaller capacity than a Blu-ray disc, but it is also less expensive. This is because manufacturing HD-DVDs is easier, the process being similar to DVD manufacturing.

Blu-Ray technology also uses blue-violet laser, but it can store more then a HD-DVD. Eventually we expect to see Blu-Ray discs with a capacity of 200Gb. 50 Gb Blu-Ray discs are already available and they can store up to 23 hours of standard definition video and 9 hours high definition video.

As you may expect large DVD recorder manufacturers are pulling the strings behind this HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray war. A group of companies called BDA (Blu-Ray Disc Association) supports Blu-Ray technology (Sony, Panasonic) while Toshiba is the main supporter of HD-DVD technology. In 2005 there was a unification attempt, but it failed. As a result the formats remained incompatible: you cannot play a HD-DVD disc on a Blu-Ray player or vice-versa. Obviously DVD recorders have the same incompatibility.

HD-DVD vs Blu-ray: the players: The first HD-DVD player was created by Toshiba. Some DVD recorders are already on the market. Samsung, Pioneer and Sony released the first Blu-Ray players. The Blu-Ray players are more expensive than HD-DVD players but they have an advantage: they can output video at a resolution of 1080p. Sony’s Play Station 3 will be able to play movies, as well (on Blu-Ray discs). Of course DVD recorders will have the same advantages and limitations

HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray: the movies: There are 3 HD-DVD formats: HD-DVD only discs (single or dual layered), hybrid discs (a disc with a standard 4.5 Gb layer that can be played on normal DVD players and 15 Gb layer) and twin discs (with a double layer of 9Gb and a double GD layer of 30 Gb).This means that hybrid and twin formats can be played both on DVD players and on HD-DVD players. You can also find movies on Blu-Ray discs, that can be purchased at approximately the same price as those supported by HD-DVD.

When it comes to HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray war there is still room for debate. It’s better for the buyer to wait and see who will win the final battle. After all, DVD discs have still a lot to offer until a new, universal format will be available on the market. If you want a DVD recorder in any of these formats they will be expensive.

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