Posted by Jay G. on 06/09/06 11:54

On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:42:07 GMT, Roy L. Fuchs wrote:

> On Thu, 8 Jun 2006 16:41:35 -0500, "Jay G." <Jay@tmbg.org> Gave us:
>>>
>>> Yeah... I am sure the industry wants to press two libraries.
>>
>>They're already going to be pressing two libraries, one DVD, and one HD
>>disc of choice. Hell, some companies already press 3 libraries if you
>>count UMD, and some will press both HD formats until there's a winner.

I see you're not even going to touch this point.

>>Also, if dual-format players become the norm, studios won't *have* to press
>>two formats. They can simply press in the HD format of their choice,
>>either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, secure in the knowledge that the majority of
>>people will be able to play either disc in their player, much like DVD-R
>>and DVD+R discs today.
>
> AGAIN... apples and oranges.

You said it was okay to compare apples and oranges.

> The two you mention use the SAME
> LASER. HD and BluRay are enough different that such a player will
> have a fairly high price attached cost to it. One that won't soon
> drop.

CD, DVD, and HD DVD use different lasers, yet the design for players that
can play all three aren't prohibitively expensive.

Besides, HD DVD and Blu-Ray don't use different lasers:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/
"Both systems use the same kind of 405nm wavelength blue-violet
laser... Since the Blu-ray disc has a tighter track pitch, it can
hold more pits on the same size disc as HD DVD even with a
laser of the same wavelength."

You probably were thinking of the pickup apertures:
"The differing track pitch of the Blu-ray disc makes its pickup apertures
differ, however - 0.65 for HD DVD vs. 0.85 for Blu-ray

The technically difference hasn't stopped some manufacturers from
attempting to develop mult-format players:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/06/lg_blu-ray_hd-dvd_plans/

And before you say that making different pickup apertures is prohibitively
expensive, HD DVD players already have 3 different pickup apertures, as
well as 3 different laser wavelengths:
http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/186

Also Blu-Ray has developed one optical device capable of playing back all
three formats of CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray:
http://www.blu-raydisc.com/assets/downloadablefile/4_keytechnologies-12835.pdf

Considering that feat, adding in HD DVD, which uses the same wavelength,
may not be too difficult.

-Jay

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