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[Xbox-Scene]

Why the Xbox 360 Supports HD DVD-- Posted by XanTium on March 3 17:04 EST
From the Team Xbox GamerScore Blog:

After reading Sunday's New York Times (requires registration), I really wanted to find out a bit more around HD DVD. So I sat down with some folks working on Xbox 360's upcoming HD DVD drive*, and asked: Why HD DVD? Why not Blu-Ray? (for the purpose of this post, I'll lovingly call it ‘Beta-ray')

I found out a few interesting things on why we're so confident of HD DVD:
* Price. One company out there has a $1,800 Beta-ray player (no release date) - one that doesn't even play CDs! For 1,800, you could get a $500 Toshiba player, and about 40 HD movies.
* Industry support: Looks like the pendulum is swinging back in HD-DVD's favor.  As an analyst quoted in the article says:  "It's only a matter of time before people start backing out of the Blu-ray camp."  If that's the case, it might be because of. . .
* Beta-ray's own difficulties:  Microsoft had serious doubts around the technical feasibility and pricing of Beta-ray for some time and our fears now seem well founded. Sony is hinting PS3 will be delayed because of Beta-ray, and that's with Sony driving the Beta-ray standards. If even Sony can't get it to work right, it raises lots of questions.  A little reported fact (and one that the New York Times was confused about) is that the first Beta-ray discs will actually hold less: only 25GB compared to HD DVD's 30GB.  That means less room for high definition extras and interactive features, which HD DVD says they fully intend to support.

So there you have it. A few more reasons why HD DVD is poised to win. Thoughts?  

[lowendfrequency]

QUOTE

A little reported fact (and one that the New York Times was confused about) is that the first Beta-ray discs will actually hold less: only 25GB compared to HD DVD's 30GB.

This is the point that the majority of people need to realize.  The ONLY advantage that Blue-Ray has ever had in the format war is that it supposedly stores more.  In reality, Blu-Ray is only a single layer medium.  Dual layer BR discs have yet to be developed, and the initial players that are selling for $1k plus won't be able to read dual layered discs when they are finally released.   HD-DVD on the other hand already has dual and triple layer discs, with a quad layer in development.  Supposedly all HD-DVD drives will be able to read a minimum of four layers regardless.

So as far as game systems are concerned, the PS3's BR drive will only be able to read single layer 25GB discs... forever.  The 360 on the other hand will be able to read 60GB HD-DVD's.  What's that you say? They're cheaper too?  Oh noes!!1

This post has been edited by lowendfrequency: Mar 4 2006, 12:08 AM

[kidkinetix]

He pretty much comprises his point with the term 'Beta-Ray' (even though I agree with this new name!).  These companies should have done consumers a favour a long time ago by holding hands, now we're stuck being early adopters hoping that the format we choose wins the war, or we wait out long enough to see if a clear winner emergers or a player comes along with support for both formats.

[zX_Storm]

IMO, M$ ain't going to support a Sony product. Of COURSE they will promote anything and everything that compromises Sony. I know a lot ofpeople won't agree with me, but that's my opinion. Corporate companies suck, when it comes to rivalry.

[ferrari_rulz_02]

well if sony is puhing back the ps3 because of problems with blu-ray, then it is fairly obvious its going to have a long road ahead of itself if it is to be used at all.

if m$ could release (or the price atleast) of their hd-dvd player in the next few months, then that would hurt the ps3 and blu-ray even more

[zX_Storm]

QUOTE(lowendfrequency @ Mar 3 2006, 07:39 PM)

This is the point that the majority of people need to realize.  The ONLY advantage that Blue-Ray has ever had in the format war is that it supposedly stores more.  In reality, Blu-Ray is only a single layer medium.  Dual layer BR discs have yet to be developed, and the initial players that are selling for $1k plus won't be able to read dual layered discs when they are finally released.   HD-DVD on the other hand already has dual and triple layer discs, with a quad layer in development.  Supposedly all HD-DVD drives will be able to read a minimum of four layers regardless.

So as far as game systems are concerned, the PS3's BR drive will only be able to read single layer 25GB discs... forever.  The 360 on the other hand will be able to read 60GB HD-DVD's.  What's that you say? They're cheaper too?  Oh noes!!1

Have you actually read anything on this? The BR drive in the PS3 reads 50GB Dual Layer BR discs, single layer, plus all the old DVDs. The HD-DVD technology, Dual Layer is only 30GB max, 15GB single layer. It's on every documentation on it. Not to mention, there was a press release about a month ago about one of the dvd-r publishing companies that they can make BR single layer dvds that have a single layer of BR and a single layer of DVD, it works in both standard DVD players and BR. And the BR players were announced at $900, wherever they got this $1,800, I'm quite curious. HD-DVD cannot handle triple, quad. etc. layer discs. That was the BR, they can stack layers on the BR (was also tied into a press release). HOWEVER, BR is slower reading than HD-DVD. Which can be a drawback on some, but I don't think it's going to be the deciding factor.

[Digitalden]

Hmm looks to me that HD-dvd can handle triple layers! Maybe you should read some more.Also Looks like the HD-dvd also has a hybrid with hd-dvd layer and a dvd layer for standard players.
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_05/pr1002.htm

This post has been edited by Digitalden: Mar 4 2006, 12:38 AM

[mgamer20o0]

there is so much disinfomation out there. i read so much and everyone says something diffrent. until they are here who cares. even after they are out i wont care until someone wins. there are only a couple dvds that i would buy again on hi def dvds.

[blackchild1101]

QUOTE(mgamer20o0 @ Mar 4 2006, 12:13 AM)

there is so much disinfomation out there. i read so much and everyone says something diffrent. until they are here who cares. even after they are out i wont care until someone wins. there are only a couple dvds that i would buy again on hi def dvds.

I concur. But I kbelieve that BR is the superior format.

[limbfilter]

QUOTE(zX_Storm @ Mar 3 2006, 05:57 PM)

 And the BR players were announced at $900, wherever they got this $1,800, I'm quite curious.

Yeah....funny how they compared the highest priced br player to the cheapest hddvd player...

[maao]

QUOTE(Xbox-Scene @ Mar 3 2006, 11:11 PM)

I found out a few interesting things on why we're so confident of HD DVD:
* Price. One company out there has a $1,800 Beta-ray player (no release date) - one that doesn't even play CDs! For 1,800, you could get a $500 Toshiba player, and about 40 HD movies.

Key word: "One company", just as there is probably "One company" that makes a rediculously expensive HD-DVD player.

QUOTE(Xbox-Scene @ Mar 3 2006, 11:11 PM)

* Industry support: Looks like the pendulum is swinging back in HD-DVD's favor. As an analyst quoted in the article says: "It's only a matter of time before people start backing out of the Blu-ray camp." If that's the case, it might be because of. . .

People won't back out of either camp.  They'll just support both until one emerges the de facto.  That will depend on consumers and content providers.

QUOTE(Xbox-Scene @ Mar 3 2006, 11:11 PM)

* Beta-ray's own difficulties: MS had serious doubts around the technical feasibility and pricing of Beta-ray for some time and our fears now seem well founded. Sony is hinting PS3 will be delayed because of Beta-ray, and that's with Sony driving the Beta-ray standards. If even Sony can't get it to work right, it raises lots of questions. A little reported fact (and one that the New York Times was confused about) is that the first Beta-ray discs will actually hold less: only 25GB compared to HD DVD's 30GB. That means less room for high definition extras and interactive features, which HD DVD says they fully intend to support.

This isn't just a technical issue.  It's also a market issue.  Timing is everything, and either can blow it if they don't time the market right.  What's the point of having an HD DVD player if the majority of people don't have HDMI/HDCP support in their TV's?  Heck!  People don't even have HDCP capable monitors or video cards for computers so it makes no difference if Blu-Ray is out first or second!

As for size, Blu-Ray has always had the higher capacity.  But if you take single layer Blu-Ray and compare it to dual-layer HD-DVD (note: dual-layer, not dual-sided), then yes, 30 GB is higher than 25 GB.

[ferrari_rulz_02]

well i think that blu-ray might be a superior format, but teh market determines teh winner. and aas hd-dvd is far cheaper, the hd-dvd will most likely be the winner.

and three 15gb layers should be heaps for the next 8 years

[joerehall]

everyone needs to keep in mind that Betamax was far superior to VHS, but did it win? Being the superior format does not determine who will become the standard.

[VinnySem]

Also keep in mind, if MS does go forward with HD-DVD support, will it be for games only? Any HD movie requires HDCP over HDMI or DVI, neither of which the 360 has 'yet'. Or will there be some new "HD Movie Pak" which will also have either HDMI or DVI hookup and a HD-DVD drive? I could see that costing damn near $250.

[ferrari_rulz_02]

QUOTE(joerehall @ Mar 4 2006, 12:45 PM)

everyone needs to keep in mind that Betamax was far superior to VHS, but did it win? Being the superior format does not determine who will become the standard.

thats why hd dvd will win. it is accepted by the public and teh movie industry. it should win