Who will win the race for the replacement of the current successful DVD format?
Laptop Battery High definition television and bigger PC storage requirements have bought forward the need for a new format to be released.
Issue PowerDVD displays an error message "Unsupported disc format..." ray Disc. 1. ray Disc title in a HD DVD drive. 2. ray Disc or HD DVD movie standards. 1. ray Disc drives and HD DVD drives are not compatible with each other. ray Disc drive and an HD DVD disc in an HD DVD drive.
Thinkpad The current contenders proposing these new formats have some heavyweight electronic giants in their corners. Companies like Sony, Panasonic and Dell support Blu-Ray Disc Format whilst Toshiba, NEC, Microsoft and Intel support the newly named HD DVD. (Previously called AOD - Advanced Optical Disc)
New Laptops available online from Laptopshop.co.uk, select a price point from below or choose from the popular Laptop PC manufacturers shown. If you know what you are looking for then try the advanced search facility to narrow the selection down to Laptops you want. We stock Notebooks from top manufacturers including Sony, Lenovo (formerly IBM), Toshiba, Acer, HP Compaq, Samsung, Fujitsu Siemens, Asus and more! We also carry a range of Refurbished Laptops
Microsoft Both camps put forward their systems in the same year -2002. Since the existence of the two formats has become a race a DVD forum has been formed to try to sort out the best format to take to the market place.
"Computer industry analysts estimate that some 60 percent of all corporate data exists only on desktop and laptop computers, " said Walter Scott, CEO of Acronis. "Incorporating Acronis True Image with New Mexico Software backup server is the ideal solution to capture that corporate data and ensure that it is not lost. While traditional server backups are effective for protecting server data, every company should have a combination of server and workstation backup plans."
Laptop Computers Despite the request for both parties to submit their technology to the forum, Blu- Ray Disc was not put forward for consideration telling the chair it was a new technology and nothing to do with the existing DVD format.
Description Have a friend with a laptop Do they always complain about the heat Cool them down with HandStands' Cool Lift. Designed to help promote air flow and reduce heat, the Cool Lift is perfect for notebook computers with the latest hot processors from Intel, AMD, Motorola, or IBM. Proof Shields for Laptops help prevent scratches from normal laptop use. Proof Shield. It even completely disappears when applied!
Laptop Computer Obviously with sales expected to exceed 5 billion discs worldwide in 2006 and not wanting a repeat of the Beta and VHS format war of the eighties, there is much at stake.
"We are committed to supporting and advancing the HD DVD ecosystem, and the new Xbox 360 quality content, " said Jordi Ribas, general manager of HD DVD at Microsoft. "Microsoft developed the Emulator to help save studios and postproduction houses time, resources and costs involved with the creation of HD DVD content, - pushing the envelope with the format."
Desktop Computer So what's the difference between the two? In a nutshell - very little, to get understanding let's see how the system works.
Notebooks Fortunately both formats operate in the same way as CD - meaning that a laser scans the reflective surface of the disc, reading or writing data which is stored in the form of microscopic pits that are moulded into the substrate layer of the disc.
Lenovo Both formats use a blue violet laser to scan, operating at 450nm.
Hard Drive The old red laser operating a 650nm is put at a disadvantage. It is out of date because the new laser technology can focus the laser spot with much greater precision. This allows more microscopic pits and therefore more data on the disc, giving greater capacity.
Travelstar It's from here on in that the two formats differ.
Gateway HD DVD physical format is close to the existing DVD format but with a blue/violet laser and new data processing techniques the capacity is increased.
Laptop Parts Blu-Ray use an aperture lens on its laser which produces a cone like beam which will allow for even smaller microscopic pits and more data to be squeezed onto a disc.
Software When it comes to capacity there is a vast difference with HD DVD. Their -R disc (Rom) will hold 60GB on a double-sided dual layer disc and an RW disc holding 45GB.
Hard Drives Blu-Ray can have multiple layers in all formats. It is said that TDK have already produced a 4 layer 100GB disc.
Electronics Therein lies the fundamental difference between the two camps with Sony and the Blu-Ray system believing it's all about capacity.
Canon In terms of Video quality there is little difference as both support MPEG 4 and MPEG 2 and Microsoft's VC1.
Desktop Pc The issue that has driven the bigger players like Microsoft into the HD DVD camp is the software. It allows you to use the interactive content on the disc and the mandatory manage copy feature. It's this feature that some in Hollywood are keen to have closed after losing out to the pirate DVD market that cost them millions.
Desktop Computers Microsoft and Disney joined forces to have the IHT software written so that it dovetails with the new Windows Vista program that will replace the current XP series.
Think Pad Blu-Ray have their own alternative software called BD-J which is similar, but comes with a catch, manufacturers producing Blu-Ray product will need to pay Java licensing fees. It does seem also at this time that Blu-Ray will make the software optional, something bound to cause confusion amongst consumers.
Repair The HD DVD camp believes also that the Blu-Ray conical cone innovation could be prone to manufacturing difficulties, thus leaving the HD DVD product a far more reliable technology.
Data Recovery Unspoken at this point, is the pricing which may raise many issues. No doubt the Chinese manufacturing influence needs to be factored in as we all remember the influx of cheap Chinese DVD players certainly made the product reach saturation point very quickly.
Cisco HD DVD have already on board the Chinese manufacturers and companies like Toshiba have suggested a $499 starting price which is roughly half that of its Blu-Ray counterpart.
Keyboard Finally I guess the last word comes from Bill Gates who believes that this will be the last physical format ever as once everything is streamlined direct to hard disc via the much trumped digital distribution where there will be no further need for either of the formats.
Once digital distribution goes mainstream then everything you watch or listen to will be streamed to hard disc.
Monitor Greg Taylor is the Managing Director of Lamelec Australia. Greg has been the Chief Engineer for the Four Seasons, Daikyo and Radisson group of hotels for 14 years.
http:// www.lamelec.com.au
