Until now, we have heard of some companies pushing the Blu-ray format and others pushing the HD-DVD format. Recently Sony (who backs Blu-ray) and Toshiba (who backs HD-DVD) even agreed to start working on a single unified format. Well Panasonic which backs the Blu-ray format is aiming to try a different approach to push the Blu-ray format by actually setting up a test production facility to make test discs for demonstration purposes. Panasonic will launch the technology center mid May and expects to begin its Blu-ray ROM test production at the end of the month, followed by dual-layer BD ROM's in December.
Panasonic will only do this as a temporary measure as they felt it was necessary to demonstrate a physical working product for the entertainment industry in an aim to show that this format can be established. As Hollywood pushes for a single next generation DVD format to prevent consumer confusion as well as stick with one media type, Panasonic aims to lure them along with replicators and production houses towards the Blu-ray format with its test manufacturing facility.
However as this production will only be a temporary measure, Panasonic has no intention of becoming permanently based in the disc manufacturing or authoring business.
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The electronics maker announced Tuesday that it will christen the center in mid May, with full test production of Blu-ray ROM discs beginning at the end of the month. Production of dual-layer discs will begin in December. The test discs will feature content suitable for demonstration purposes. The plan, however, is temporary--Panasonic is one of the leading consumer electronics makers and has no intention of permanently getting into the disc manufacturing or content creation businesses. With a debate in the industry over what will be the next generation DVD format, executives felt it was necessary to demonstrate something tangible for the entertainment industry. Read the full article here. Some more info in this PR Newswire press release here. |
As Panasonic is one of the leading consumer electronics makers, beginning the production of Blu-ray ROM will surely grab some more attention towards the Blu-ray format. With some consumer Blu-ray drives and media already on sale in Japan along with demonstrations of Blu-ray drives in action and now a production facility for BD ROM's also, it looks like HD-DVD will have to start doing some catching up. The only major advantage I see with HD-DVD over Blu-ray would be its lower disc pricing due to a possibility to convert DVD-ROM production facilities to produce HD-DVDs, unlike Blu-ray which requires new manufacturing equipment.
Feel free to discuss about Blu-ray, HD-DVD and other next generation DVD formats in our Satellite, HD-TV, Blu-ray and HD-DVD Forum. For a comparison of the HD-DVD and Blu-ray, see this article.
Source: C|net News - Consumer Products
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If BluRay had some incredibly rare and expensive dye constituent or some real materials cost disadvantage to HD-DVD I could see the issue. But if it's just a matter of requiring new production machinery I find the focus on this issue rather odd. After all, even the old machines have limited run lives and require maintenance. It's not like they're absolutley cost free just because they're currently in use.
It's not a matter of whether disc and hardware makers have to make a new product. It's a matter of having to make 2 or 3 completely different and incompatable products, each requiring separate facilities and supplies.
2 Disc production lines instead of one, that's a no-brainer. And, you have to build a new one from scratch while keeping the old one running.
For rental stores, all they would need to do is put out a single disc case for each title as before, however when one picks up a movie to rent, all the clerk has to do is ask the customer if they own a DVD, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player and then take out the movie disc from the appropriate selection.
