Does Toshiba up the ante with 45 Gigabyte HD-DVD Discs?
Posted on 10/05/05 21:32 by Dan Bell                             
Does Toshiba up the ante with 45 Gigabyte HD-DVD Discs?

Toshiba will try to throw a scare into Blu-ray with this latest news we saw over at Mac World. It seems according to this report, that the storage has been increased by about 50% going from 30 Gigs to 45, coming awful close to Blu-ray at 50 gigs. But, on closer inspection, we see that they did it by adding another layer, so now we are looking at 3 layers of 15 Gigs each. I am sure that this is not exactly what we can call a breakthrough and Blu-ray can handle 8 layers. So how does this make HD-DVD any more attractive? No matter, what is important is time is running out in this game.

The new disc has a capacity of 45GB, which is just under the 50GB offered by a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc, and will give content producers additional space to store longer high-definition movies or extras such as trailers, out-takes or interactive features.

Toshiba accomplished the capacity jump by adding an extra data storage layer to the disc. Each HD-DVD layer has a capacity of 15GB and the new disc packs three such layers.

The company also announced a second prototype disc that uses the same basic technology. The hybrid disc combines a dual-layer HD-DVD with a dual-layer DVD to provide a double-sided disc that can be played in either HD-DVD or DVD players. The disc could be used as a transitional format enabling consumers to buy discs for use in DVD players while building up a library of high-definition content for the time when they purchase an HD-DVD player.

What do you think, is this a good thing? Or should we just disregard this news as merely a desperate ploy? It certainly is no break-through, it's seems more like a PR gambit. Blu-ray has a tri-format pickup head, meaning they can read a DVD or a Blu-ray disc, so it is still a more elegant solution to the transitional phase. 

This Dual-disc seems more of a hasty solution than a "transitional format". It's just two peices of plastic stuck back to back at least five layers thick. How would you like your kid cramming this expensive (assumption) hybrid in your cars 6 CD player by mistake and getting it stuck in there? Also, if I buy a HD movie I don't need a DVD hitchhiking on the back and I damn sure don't want to pay for it. What good is that? Will this Dual disc be able to be read in the HD-DVD player on the DVD side? This is what I need because I am heavily invested in DVD and I don't want two boxes setting around. I want my High Def player to be able to handle what everbody already has, DVD!

To stay up to date and to discuss these matters further, be sure to drop by our Satellite, HD-TV, Blu-ray and HD-DVD Forum.

Source: Mac World

Reactions
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By SupremeCheddar, Tuesday 10 May 2005 22:08
Didn't Sony start developing 8 layer discs with 200GB of storage? And weren't they going to start delivering 4 layer 100GB ones in 2007? Blu-Ray has much more long term potential than HD-DVD, I say go for the one time upgrade as long as Sony doesn't pull a Beta with the Royalties/Specs.
By hardgiant, Wednesday 11 May 2005 02:04
Keep in mind that: Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). are all supporters and had a hand developing the standards of bluray but people always want to single out Sony.
By Jim Kiler, Wednesday 11 May 2005 05:10
Yes, Blu-Ray has quad layer 100GB discs and potential for 200GB discs, so who cares about 45GB for HD-DVD, give us the more future proof technology of Blu-Ray, time to hang it up Toshiba.
By Zod, Wednesday 11 May 2005 05:52
ZodI'm not a big fan of dualdiscs. I don't like having recorded surfaces on both sides. It just seems to double your odds of damaging a disc. Its not like blank media is that expensive to make, they could just include a HD and a regular definition disc in the same package. Its like the dualdisc CD format. I bought the new NIN, and it was dualdisc. I bought the new springsteen, and the DVD was seperate. For the springsteen I can leave the audio disc in the car, and play the 5.1 track off the dvd player in the house. It kicks ass. Not to mention it was cheaper then the NIN dualdisc. they'll charge more for dualsided dvd anyways, which will dwindle the reason to buy a dualformat disc.
By Gil T Pleasure, Wednesday 11 May 2005 07:40
Gil T PleasureWouldn't adding a third layer increase the cost of producing the disc? Doesn't that defeat the advantage of HD-DVD?
By H3rB3i, Wednesday 11 May 2005 09:01
H3rB3iHmm, really funny. I remember that HD-DVD promoted that there is no requirement for higher capacity on their discs because of the use of better video codecs. Now this. This all looks like a gag to have better cards in the talks and not more. Blu-ray is the better technology and for a unified format is every step away from BD disc structure a step backwards.
By cdz11, Wednesday 11 May 2005 15:24
Blu Ray might have more capacity but it will be more sensitive to dust, scratches, dirt, etc. Both formats have pros and cons but anyway, lets hope that they come out with a single format, I wouldn't want be buying two players specially for playing Blu Ray and HD DVD titles.
By squad417, Wednesday 11 May 2005 21:46
Actually, hd-dvd will be more susceptible to dust and scratches. Blu-ray has tdk's hard-coating as part of the spec. One more hd-dvd argument shot down supergrin
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