Blu-ray discs

[GBU]

For those who don't know what a blu-ray disc is its (as stated by Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray

"Blu-ray Disc (BD) is a next-generation optical disc format meant for storage of high-definition video and high-density data. The Blu-ray standard was jointly developed by a group of consumer electronics and PC companies called the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). As compared to the HD DVD format, its main competitor, Blu-ray has more information capacity per layer, 25 instead of 15 gigabytes, but may initially be more expensive to support.

Blu-ray gets its name from the shorter wavelength (405 nm) of a "blue" (technically blue-violet) laser that allows it to store substantially more data than a DVD, which has the same physical dimensions but uses a longer wavelength (650 nm) red laser.

Blu-ray have said that their plans for a Spring 2006 launch will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2006."

Now the reason I post this is because For A Few Dollars More is going to be one of the first 18 blu-rays to be made.

The list is :

    * The Fifth Element
    * Bram Stoker's Dracula
    * Desperado
    * For a Few Dollars More
    * The Guns of Navarone
    * Hitch
    * House of Flying Daggers
    * A Knight's Tale
    * Kung Fu Hustle
    * The Last Waltz
    * Legends of the Fall
    * Resident Evil Apocalypse
    * Robocop
    * Sense and Sensibility
    * Stealth
    * Species
    * SWAT
    * XXX

Ya, there are some terrible movies on that list, but I think its an honor for FaFDM to be one of the first ever to be made. Pretty cool, huh?

[KC]

Well, I'm not rushing to buy any discs or equipment until they settle the format war! 

[Conan]

Well, I'm not rushing to buy any discs or equipment until they settle the format war! 

Yep.  If I took the expensive, risky plunge and bought either format, then it is destined to become Betamax II.

[GBU]

Actually, the format war ended about a month ago. The companies that were going to make the HD-DVD's decided to stop. They didn't see any real profit coming from it, because they saw the potential of Blu-ray.

1) It holds a lot more info then a HD-DVD
2) The PS3 is going to use Blu-ray discs for their games, and the 360 decided not to use HD-DVD's. So their main buyer pulled out.

[Conan]

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-01-04-xbox360-hd-dvd_x.htm

http://www.eet.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175004773

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060104/new001.html?.v=42

  Microsoft is making an external HD-DVD drive, HP is supporting HD-DVD, and Toshiba is coming out with players. 

  Yes Blu-ray sounds better on paper, but no, the format war hasn't ended.

[KC]

Indeed, Toshiba is still in there punching ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/technology/05videos.html?pagewanted=all

The fight for control of the market for new high-definition DVD players intensified yesterday when Toshiba, a leader of an industry group backing the HD-DVD format, said it would release a machine in March for less than $500.

The announcement, made at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, staked out Toshiba's position as the leader of the low-cost alternative to the Blu-ray format being promoted by a rival group dominated by Sony, Panasonic and others.

[Gant]

So the new Dirty Harry PS 3 Game will be on Blu-ray  ?

[little_bill]

  Yes Blu-ray sounds better on paper, but no, the format war hasn't ended.

correctomundo, and conan i reckon this war won't be over for quite some time. to be fair to hd-dvd it can be increased to such size it seems ridiculous to think that we could ever properly utilise the amount of space availible, never mind the potential in blu-ray

[GBU]

Microsoft is making an external HD-DVD drive, HP is supporting HD-DVD, and Toshiba is coming out with players.

This is true, but I quote from Peter Moore, Vice Pres. for Microsoft

Moore clarified to GameSpot that the new external Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive will be used for video only, not games.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2006/01/05/news_6141930.html

What I am trying to say is that whoever wins the console war, wins the format war, because the console will be the main distributer of the disc. And since the 360 won't have their games in HD, it will dramatically hurt the chances of HD becoming mainstream.

[Philo Beddoe Jr]

I was one of the first wave of people to buy into DVD, but I think I will be one of the last to buy Blu Ray or HD DVD.


It is just such an extravagant investment, with all the associated requirements like the HD DVD Player and HD Digital TV. 

Unless they bring associated costs down. 

WKC.

[Agent]

Maybe an answer to the DVD format wars?

Inventors try one disc for two new DVD formats

[Canadian Lady]

It is just such an extravagant investment, with all the associated requirements like the HD DVD Player and HD Digital TV. 

What kinda money are we talking here?  I haven't even heard of these blue-ray discs!