Why no blank HD-DVD disks?

[159753]

Here is something that puzzles me. Why is it possible to buy blank BD-Rs and BD-REs from my local stationers and blank BD-REs from my local department store, but there are no blank HD-DVD media available? Now, there are BD and HD-DVD drivers in some new computers, plus HD-DVD and Blu-ray players, but no-blank HD-DVD media.

[MrBogey]

Why sell bricks when no one sells mortar?

HD DVD burners just aren't here yet. So there's no need to sell the discs.

[159753]

Well I bought BD disks when there was no players or computers with BD drivers.

[bootman]

I saw both available in Staples this weekend.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by 159753

Here is something that puzzles me. Why is it possible to buy blank BD-Rs and BD-REs from my local stationers and blank BD-REs from my local department store, but there are no blank HD-DVD media available? Now, there are BD and HD-DVD drivers in some new computers, plus HD-DVD and Blu-ray players, but no-blank HD-DVD media.

The only HD DVD recorders currently available are only compatible with write-once (-R) media, and seem to only work with single layer (15 GB) discs. Thus, those are the only blank media currently available, and they seem to cost about as much a BD-R 25 GB disc at online stores. As far as why you can't buy them in brick and mortar stores, you have to realize that the only burner is a laptop drive which cannot be readily purchased as an add-on drive. So, since the stores can't sell the drive, there's no reason to carry the media for the very few people who could use it.

This is one of HD DVD's biggest problems: it simply was not designed with recordability in mind, and Toshiba has found it much more difficult than planned to implement. Currently, MS and other HD DVD supporters are understandably trying to convince people to use dual-layer DVD media for creating HD DVD content, as Toshiba's announced desktop drive has been pushed back consistantly since before the format's launched.

[paulb]

You can buy them from newegg for $9.99 (+$4.99 shipping). But then again you can buy BD-R for $10.99 & $13.99 (+$4.99 shipping). And you can purchase those science fiction 50GB BD-R for $34.99 from tigerdirect.com.

[Proteus]

Everything above is true except one thing: Recordable HDDVD media is a 20gb layer, ironically. This is apparently what makes it currently impossible to burn a HDDVD on your PC and play it on your HDDVD standalone.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by Proteus

Everything above is true except one thing: Recordable HDDVD media is a 20gb layer, ironically. This is apparently what makes it currently impossible to burn a HDDVD on your PC and play it on your HDDVD standalone.

Huh? You can buy single-layer HD DVD-R media from a number of sources. They are all 15 GB... and are readable by settop HD DVD players.

EDIT: For anyone interested in recordable Blu-ray drives and discs, I have a page on my blog with the specs for all the readily available PC drives here and a page with media pricing from a number of sources here. </end shameless plug>

[Maxell]

This is one area that BLu-ray is well ahead. The burners are getting lower priced and faster burn rates (although still slow). My Best Buy sells Sony and Verbatim BDr's, no hddvd media yet. Blu-ray will also be soon found on camcorders, and quite possibly the first high-def standalone disc recorder.

Bottom line: Blu-RAy is way more versatile, used and can be used in various ways. Where as hd-dvd can only be played on a Toshiba player or Microsoft addon. Wow 2 options! (besides the combo players).

[LynxFX]

I've seen blank HD DVD discs on the shelves of Microcenter for over a year. It seemed quite funny to me. What was great though is that blank BD discs were right next to them.

25GB BD - $19.99
15GB HD DVD - $22.99
(prices from a year ago)

[Proteus]

I can't remember the exact information as I only read the article once a few weeks ago. I've seen the 15gb recordable HDDVD media but this article said something about the way it was written that made it incompatible with current HDDVD standalones and that way was involving there actually being a data structure used that would total 20gb???? I'll see if I can find it.

Either way, if it can be written and played in a standalone that is all good. What about dual layer?

[JadedRaverLA]

Proteus --

I've not seen any such article, but I would be interested in reading it if you can find it. It sounds like the author may have confused a couple of different points.

At any rate, the current 15 GB discs supposedly work in all released HD DVD players. Dual layer and rewritable media still don't exist in the commercial realm, possibly due to compatibility issues -- though I don't have any "insider" information on exactly what their problem is with such media. It will be interesting to see what kind of issues exist when such media and drives finally launch.

[jorg]

yes proteus i read same thing it was from the cd freaks web site its not hd dvd -r but somthing els it called its ****ed it pritty much burnners need completly new desing for drives to use the 20 gigs

[mngmikes]

the only problem i see with either format becoming a blank disk mogul is you can already purchase 200GB, 400GB, 1TB, 2TB portable hard drives that cost considerable amounts less than either the same amount of bluray or hdddvd blank disk all you need is a usb plug (electrical outlet for the TB stations) in which most pcs and some tvs now come with anyhow

[ziggy66]

This is an area where Blu ray can really capitalize. With the new Hi-Def camcorders out, along with the availability of Blu Ray Burners, people now have the ability to create their own home movies in HD and then watch them on their Blu Ray players at home.

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by mngmikes

the only problem i see with either format becoming a blank disk mogul is you can already purchase 200GB, 400GB, 1TB, 2TB portable hard drives that cost considerable amounts less than either the same amount of bluray or hdddvd blank disk all you need is a usb plug (electrical outlet for the TB stations) in which most pcs and some tvs now come with anyhow

The biggest advantage to BDr media will be the ability to put your own hd content on them. Also for many the ability to "back-up" blu-ray videos. As soon as these recorders become more affordable there will be ways to make copies, there's always hackers out there that find out how (if they haven't already).

[Bullseye]

Its bad enough that they sell films on HD-DVDs without also selling blank ones

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by mngmikes

the only problem i see with either format becoming a blank disk mogul is you can already purchase 200GB, 400GB, 1TB, 2TB portable hard drives that cost considerable amounts less than either the same amount of bluray or hdddvd blank disk all you need is a usb plug (electrical outlet for the TB stations) in which most pcs and some tvs now come with anyhow

Just give it one or two years and you'll notice huge price decreases in available recordable Blu-ray media. It's only a matter of time before you'll be able to buy a singlr 25GB disc for $5 or less.

[The Guardian]

A major computer chain in Canada (Canada Computers) has 1x HD DVD-R for $7.19 and 2x BD-R for $12.69...

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...=pl&id=719.862

[mngmikes]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Just give it one or two years and you'll notice huge price decreases in available recordable Blu-ray media. It's only a matter of time before you'll be able to buy a singlr 25GB disc for $5 or less.

well if you wanna wait 2 years down the road it would still be cheaper to go with the portable hard drives... right now you can get 2TB for $600.00 in 2 years you would be able to get it for anywhere between $200 and $300 dollars and in your calculations it would cost $400 dollars to get 2,000 GB worth of disk at $5.00 for every 25GB

just accept it... the new storage media is portable hard disk no matter how you look at it, it is the way of the future as is DRM free and NO region codes