Blu-Ray vs HD DVD Showdown

For the past couple years we have heard about the “high definition revolution” and successors to DVD; Blu-Ray, and HD DVD are almost here and are getting ready to push us into the high definition era.

Blu-Ray and HD DVD are the next generation of optical disks using blue lasers to read data. The main benefit of these formats is to allow for storage of high definition (HD) audio and video data. This data is shown with 1080 or 720 lines, while the current standard is 480 lines. What is the benefit of HD content? The first advantage is much higher resolutions. While some of us see this already in our computing worlds, it’s not common in the home entertainment sector yet. Of course greater resolutions mean finer details; ever wanted to see that mole of Cindy Crawford’s in super detail? Well wait around for your HD copy of “Fair Game” and you just might be able to.

The entertainment industy is ready to move us into the HD age whether we are ready or not. The following are some of the basic ideas behind these formats. In the coming months and years when HDTV becomes a standard, games grow in size, and our overall need for massive storage increases, these formats could become a hot commodity.

The greater capacities can potentially reach 200GB on multilayered disks - far more than any current type of media. This was achieved because of the blue laser’s shorter wavelength (405nm) in comparison to the wavelength of the currently used red lasers (650nm). This means that the blue laser can read smaller pits on the optical disks, which can then be packed closer together. How exactly does a different color laser read more data? With a shorter wavelength, the blue laser can be pinpointed even tighter to a specific spot on the disc, allowing for more data to be stored and read in the same physical area.

Each format will support MPEG layer 2, (current codec used for DVD), MPEG-4, and VC-,1 a derivative of Windows Media 9 (Microsoft’s codec of choice for HD content). MPEG-4 and VC-1 will support more HD content per layer as they are more advanced codecs - almost double the amount per layer than MPEG-2 can support.

Both formats will transfer around 36Mbps but because of the density differential, HD DVD will actually have to rotate faster to transfer as fast as Blu-Ray.

The two formats have their various pros and cons and have different companies supporting them - leading us to what could be the biggest format war since Betamax vs VHS. The separate camps have sat down for discussions for merging the two formats, but it seems that neither side wants to budge and lose what could be a vast amount of money on royalties. Such a conflict could brew consumer indifference, and not be beneficial for either format. Hopefully we can further educate our readers about the opposing fronts so when the time comes to go the HD route, you won’t be running around as if you were flashbanged and instead will be able to chose clearly and take aim.

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Blu-Ray

The main supporters of Blu-Ray (BD) are Sony and Phillips. It’s developed jointly by members of the Blu-Ray Disc Association (BDA).

The Pros

.1mm Layer thickness - allows for more layers and thusly more storage
Java menus - much more versatile than DVD menus
Hard coating to protect discs
Various sizes - 23.3GB, 25GB, 27GB; potentially up to 200GB with multiple layers
More major movie studio support
Faster transfer speeds

The Cons

More expensive hardware and media, at least initially, for users
Longer production time per disc than HD DVD, seconds, but at millions of quantities it will become imporant
Data layer much closer to the surface of the disk than on normal DVD

HD DVD

Backers of HD DVD include Toshiba, NEC, and Sanyo. Microsoft and Intel have also come out supporting HD DVD - for what that’s worth. HD DVD is the “official” successor to DVD, and is the next standard authorized by the DVD-Forum.

The Pros

Cheaper costs, current DVD manufacturing process easily modified for HD DVD
Faster rate of production
100% compatible with CD and DVD
HD DVD fully supported in Windows Vista

The Cons

Smaller capacity - 15GB single layer, 30GB double layer, potential for 90GB/layer
Less support in the electronics & entertainment industries
Slower speeds
No hard coating - however the layer is just as far in as DVD, similar handling measures will work fine

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The Outcome

The question you should be asking yourselves as gamers and consumers: Who is going to win? No one wants to be on the wrong side of the fence when one format wins out and the other closes up shop.

Some of our older readers may remember the Betamax vs VHS format battle from the early 80’s. The JVC backed VHS ultimately won out against what was widely considered a superior quality format, Betamax from Sony. It’s something that Sony should keep in mind, as should we. Even though from a technical standpoint Blu-Ray seems to have the advantage, it may not come out the victor. Another aspect to consider was that Betamax was proprietary, and wasn’t opened up to other companies - a mistake Sony isn’t going to make a second time.

Blu-Ray also is getting a serious push in the form of the Playstation 3, which could amount to the cheapest Blu-Ray drive when it finally debuts; assuming a worldwide holiday release and a $500 or less price point as speculated. Sony will be using the Playstation 3 as a full-on Blu-Ray player and will also be shipping games on the Blu-Ray discs. This could lead to massive game content and in game footage in extreme detail among other benefits of having massive storage for a console game.

A further, but far from scientific, aspect to consider is the pornography industry. It’s widely suggested that the porn industry’s choice of VHS, which was cheaper, easier to produce, yet inferior in picture, could have led to the faster demise of Betamax. Does this industry still have such pull for future formats? In the age of digital content and online media it’s much more difficult to measure the impact. The pornography DVD industry is still huge even with digital media, and if these studios start backing one format or another, it could lead to wider consumer base in that specific format.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) is another thing to think about. Being taken to the extreme by each formats backers because of the push by content makers, DRM will protect content from piracy and copyright infringement. Will people shy away from such protections and lack of fair use? (A topic I will discuss much further in my follow up article)

Are consumers even ready for High Definition? DVD became the standard not that long ago, while VHS is expected to be completely phased out by the end of the year. I myself am not sure that high resolutions, extreme detail, and large capacities are enough to push people to upgrade. Most of my associates and friends have the “wait and see approach”, and are perfectly happy with their current DVD setups and collections. Who wants to rush right out and upgrade massive DVD collections just to get their current movies in HD?

What it all comes down to is ‘we the people’. Ultimately we will decide which format ends up on top, if either. It is quite possible that both Blu-Ray and HD DVD will go the way of Betamax and DVD-audio, letting another medium (possibly holographic storage) gain a foothold. Personally if I had to pick a format to succeed it would be Blu-Ray, mainly because of its content and hardware cohorts, and its superior specs. But that doesn’t mean I won’t keep my mind, and wallet, open to other possibilities; that is, afterall, what will decide which format, if any, comes out as the champ: the almighty dollar.

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