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

Long gone are the times when all we had wereFormat, Blu-ray will use the HDMV, as well as Java
compact discs, first for music, then for data storagesoftware support to implement interactive menus.
and movies. The DVDs came next, boasting of whatA Comparison
seemed then as tons of data storage.Factors going for the HD-DVD:
But as they say, times quickly change, and so doesThe DVD Forum is its big daddy.
the technology. Personal and commercial demands forThe movie industry, which counts among its ranks
data storage -- be they for music, movies, games, orUniversal Studios, Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema,
software -- are outstripping the present capacities ofand Paramount Pictures, supports the format.
optical discs.The giants of the IT industry -- Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo,
Fortunately, two new players in the optical storagethe DVD Forum, Microsoft, and Intel -- also support
scene have arrived -- HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Boththe format.
share similarities, and at the same time competeAll HD-DVDs and HD-DVD players are backward
against each other to become the new standardcompatible, meaning they will still support old DVDs.
technology for the future. This match-up willIt is cheaper and faster to manufacture than Blu-Ray
eventually determine the successor to the DVD.discs.
While it might seem a boon to consumers to haveFactors going for Blu-Ray:
two disc types to choose from, the battle betweenBlu-Ray has the support of the world's largest
the two discs might be disastrous to the industry.electronic companies -- Sony, HP, Dell, Pioneer, Philips,
HD-DVDPanasonic, Samsung, Apple, LG-Electronics, and
HD-DVD stands for either High Density DigitalMitsubishi Electric.
Versatile Disc or High Definition Digital Video Disc. TheTheir are also companies from the entertainment
HD-DVD's look is a familiar one -- it is 120 mm inindustry that support the format -- Electronic Arts,
diameter, the same size as a CD and DVD. AMGM, Walt Disney, and 20th Century Fox.
single-sided HD-DVD can hold 15 GB of storage, whileThe PlayStation 3 will be supporting Blu-Ray discs.
a dual-sided one can store 30 GB. A triple-sidedBlu-Ray discs have faster data transfer rates than
HD-DVD, a huge possibility courtesy of Toshiba, cantheir counterparts.
hold 45 GB.Blu-Ray discs have larger storage capacities than their
HD-DVDs use the iHD Interactive Format, which willcounterparts.
allow interactive content to be written for the discs.As you can see, each side has its advantages and
Blu-Raydisadvantages. It's really too tough to call at this point
Blu-Ray takes its name from the laser that it uses --as to who will emerge the winner. But one thing is
a 405 nm wavelength blue laser, which is alsocertain -- the commercial industry disdains this battle
employed by the HD-DVD. A single-sided Blu-ray disc,of attrition, as any format war has the potential to
which shares the same diameter with the HD-DVD,split the market into two incompatible sub-markets;
CD, and DVD, can hold 25 GB of storage, while athese smaller markets means that the format war
dual-sided one can store 50 GB.kills off revenues.
As a counterpart of the HD-DVD's iHD Interactive