HD DVD Looks Set to Beat Blu-Ray

DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures have recently joined Universal Studios in favouring Toshiba’s HD DVD format over that of Sony’s Blu-ray. An article in the Economist cites the following reasons for it:

  • An HD DVD can be stamped out using the same sort of equipment as a conventional DVD, which makes it cheaper to produce.
  • HD DVD players are cheaper to build due to the HD DVD being more robust.
  • Blu-ray uses the BD-Java programming language which is powerful but complex. In contrast, HD DVD uses HDi, which needs much less lines of code to accomplish basic tasks. Software for Blu-ray is therefore more expensive, and more prone to bugs.
  • HD DVD has better navigation around menus, with HDi being the key.
  • The Internet connection built into all HD DVD players allows interactivity with the outside world, opening a whole world of possibilities for users.

Sony is very powerful and should never be underestimated. But then again, Sony is not invincible - remember what happened to Betamax? Blu-ray might well be relegated along with its elder cousin to the dustbin of history.

30 August 2007 | Uncategorized | Comments

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