Group 17

• Ben Grossman (Me): Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD• Mike Prinke: Video games as a growing part

of culture• Rachel Balonon: Recording Techniques for

Motion Picture Soundtracks• Adam Colton: Web 2.0 Applications• William Yee: The Internet

Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVDBen Grossman

History

VS

VHS won out even though Betamax was better quality

VHS vs. BetamaxWhy VHS won:

• Licensing problems between Sony and other companies

• VHS initially simpler and cheaper to produce

• Beta initially had shorter recording times• VHS won out in rental market

Why do we need a new format?

DVD’s

• Single Layer: 4.7 GB– Only enough for a few hours of standard

definition content– Not good for High Definition content which

is much bigger

• Dual Layer still only 8.5 GB (Not nearly enough for HD content)

New Formats (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray)

• MUCH bigger

• HD-DVD single layer:15 GB

• Blu-Ray single layer: 23-25 GB

0

5

10

15

20

25

DVD HD-DVD Blu-Ray

Size (GB)

What about dual layer?

HD-DVD Blu-Ray

Single Layer

15 GB 23/25 GB

Dual Layer 30 GB 46.6/50 GB

RW Single Layer

---- 23.3/25/27 GB

RW Dual Layer

---- 46.6/50/54 GB

Highest Test

45 GB 100 GB

Theoretical Limit

60 GB 200 GB

020406080

100120140160180200

HD-DVD Blu-Ray

Single Layer

Dual Layer

Highest Test

TheoreticalLimit

GB

…Blu-Ray can hold more data

Similarities

• 405 nm blue-violet laser• Codecs• Similar Security features (although Blu-

Ray has more)• MUCH more storage space than

standard DVD• Quicker response time when you

change scenes

Game Systems

• Xbox 360: optional add on HD-DVD drive

• PS3: Built in Blu-Ray player on every system

Blu-Ray Advantages

• More big company support– 84% of movies released in 2005 were by studios

with support for Blu-Ray– Sony won’t release any movies in HD-DVD

• Supports RW format• Scratch resistant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jEbZt6AIQ

• Supports Java software• Larger data capacity• Stock on PS3 (could mean the difference if

PS3 ever takes off)

HD-DVD Advantages

• Price– Amazon.com currently selling one model for

around $300– Comparable Blu-Ray player: around $470

• Can get scaled down PS3 for $499

• Has unofficial support from Microsoft• Was released 2 months earlier• ALL players are backwards compatible

Side by SideBlu-Ray HD-DVD

Capacity X

Security X

Cost X

Backward Compatibility

X X

Re-writable X

More Support X

Included in Game Console

X

Earlier Start X

So which one should you buy?

NEITHER!!…wait for one of the two formats to win over the

other and prices to come down

Sources

•http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/19/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-state-of-the-s-union-s-division/

•http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/129058.html

•http://www.highdefdigest.com/feature_blu-ray_vs_hd_dvd_round_one.html

•http://www.google.com image search

•http://www.mediacollege.com/video/format/compare/betamax-vhs.html

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jEbZt6AIQ

•http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hd-dvd

•http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc

•http://www.amazon.com