The battle between
Blu-ray and HD-DVD is not based on who has the better technology but who has a
bigger ego. The resolution of an issue is not easy thing as the standards are
not technologically compatible. Merging DVD-RW and DVD+RW in one was much
easier task as both devices were using the same laser.
Unfortunately Blu-ray
has blue laser and is definitely far from being compatible with a laser that HD-DVD
use. Until now, Blu-ray had better specs, and we believed that it has better
chances, at least on long term.
Toshiba thinks that the war is far from being over. It has a 51GB HD DVD for a
new battle. This is a three layer disc that can totally store 51 GB or 17 GB
per layer. The discs should be available by the end of the year.
As we expected, there are no information about the cost of the 51 GB disc or
performance regarding the third layer. We still don't know can the current
devices support the new drives. But it is a cool press gimmick.