How storage devices works


HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray: The Great Optical Disc Battle

Long gone are the times when all we had werecan hold 25 GB of storage, while a dual-sided
compact discs, first for music, then for dataone  can  store  50  GB.
storage and movies. The DVDs came next,
boasting of what seemed then as tons of dataAs a counterpart of the HD-DVD's iHD
storage.Interactive Format, Blu-ray will use the
HDMV, as well as Java software support to
But as they say, times quickly change, and soimplement  interactive  menus.
does the technology. Personal and commercial
demands for data storage -- be they forA  Comparison
music, movies, games, or software -- are
outstripping the present capacities ofFactors going for the HD-DVD: The DVD Forum
optical  discs.is its big daddy. The movie industry, which
counts among its ranks Universal Studios,
Fortunately, two new players in the opticalWarner Brothers, New Line Cinema, and
storage scene have arrived -- HD-DVD andParamount Pictures, supports the format. The
Blu-Ray. Both share similarities, and at thegiants of the IT industry -- Toshiba, NEC,
same time compete against each other toSanyo, the DVD Forum, Microsoft, and Intel --
become the new standard technology for thealso support the format. All HD-DVDs and
future. This match-up will eventuallyHD-DVD players are backward compatible,
determine the successor to the DVD. While itmeaning they will still support old DVDs. It
might seem a boon to consumers to have twois cheaper and faster to manufacture than
disc types to choose from, the battle betweenBlu-Ray  discs.
the two discs might be disastrous to the
industry.Factors going for Blu-Ray: Blu-Ray has the
support of the world's largest electronic
HD-DVDcompanies -- Sony, HP, Dell, Pioneer,
Philips, Panasonic, Samsung, Apple,
HD-DVD stands for either High Density DigitalLG-Electronics, and Mitsubishi Electric.
Versatile Disc or High Definition DigitalThere are also companies from the
Video Disc. The HD-DVD's look is a familiarentertainment industry that support the
one -- it is 120 mm in diameter, the sameformat -- Electronic Arts, MGM, Walt Disney,
size as a CD and DVD. A single-sided HD-DVDand 20th Century Fox. The PlayStation 3 will
can hold 15 GB of storage, while a dual-sidedbe supporting Blu-Ray discs. Blu-Ray discs
one can store 30 GB. A triple-sided HD-DVD, ahave faster data transfer rates than their
huge possibility courtesy of Toshiba, cancounterparts. Blu-Ray discs have larger
hold  45  GB.storage  capacities  than their counterparts.
HD-DVDs use the iHD Interactive Format, whichAs you can see, each side has its advantages
will allow interactive content to be writtenand disadvantages. It's really too tough to
for  the  discs.call at this point as to who will emerge the
winner. But one thing is certain -- the
Blu-Raycommercial industry disdains this battle of
attrition, as any format war has the
Blu-Ray takes its name from the laser that itpotential to split the market into two
uses -- a 405 nm wavelength blue laser, whichincompatible sub-markets; these smaller
is also employed by the HD-DVD. Amarkets means that the format war kills off
single-sided Blu-ray disc, which shares therevenues.
same diameter with the HD-DVD, CD, and DVD,



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