HD VMD camp claims their format has better PQ than Blu-ray or HD DVD

[HDTV1080P]

This fall we are now going to have 3 HDTV optical disc formats to choose from. HD VMD, HD-DVD, and BLU-RAY. HD VMD is also called HD Versatile Multilayer Disc.

1. What is very interesting is the HD VMD camp according to their website claims that the picture quality will be better then both the BLU-RAY format and HD-DVD format.

Quote
“HD VMD players are extremely versatile and compelling from both a technological and performance perspective. HD VMDs have a maximum data transfer rate of 40 Mbps versus 36 Mbps for HD DVD and Blu-ray, which gives it the potential of sharper more detailed pictures over the competing formats.”
http://www.nmeinc.com/

Fact number 1: BLU-RAY has a raw data transfer rate of 53.95 Mbps and HD-DVD has a raw data transfer rate of 36.55 Mbps. So even if the HD VMD format launches with a raw data transfer rate of somewhere between 40-45 Mbps the BLU-RAY format is better quality compared to HD VMD. Now the HD VMD format in theory will provide a better picture quality compared to the HD-DVD format since the HD VMD format has higher bit rates.

2. Quote
“An optical output is available to deliver surround sound formats including standard 5.1-channel Dolby Digital, DTS and more advanced surround sound formats including 7.1 channel surround and Dolby Digital Plus; however, the system will not support all of the newer advanced surround formats of the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, due to higher costs and the need for users to purchase additional home theater equipment, executives said.”

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6477636.html?q

Fact number 2. Both the BLU-RAY and HD-DVD formats offers better sound quality compared to the HD VMD format. Advanced sound formats like DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, and PCM are not supported with the HD VMD system due to the required bandwidth needs for those audio formats and the fact that HD VMD player prices would need to cost more for those features.

3. Quote
“The HD DMV’s multilayer technology can produce discs that hold up to six layers at 5GB per layer. The format will initially launch with three layer and four layer discs at 15GB and 20GB capacities, respectively.”

Fact number 3. Both the BLU-RAY and HD-DVD formats use more expensive higher capacity blue laser technology that allows more video and audio data to be stored on a disc compared to the red laser HD VMD system. The HD VMD format can hold 5GB of data per layer with a maximum of 6 layers for 30GB total disc space. HD VMD is the worse HD optical format for capacity since the HD-DVD format can handle 15GB per layer and BLU-RAY can handle 25GB per layer. The HD VMD format is so lacking in capacity that they have to launch all their first movies on 3 and 4 layer discs. The HD-DVD format only needed to launch their first movies on 2 layer discs since it has more capacity. The BLU-RAY camp had so much capacity per layer that all their first movies were first launched on single layer 25GB discs.

4. The HD VMD format will have 1080P HDTV player for only $199 at launch time.

Quote
“A top-of-the-line model (ML-777) with 1080p DVD up-conversion and native HD output at up to 1080p/24 fps, will carry a $199 suggested retail.”
Quote
“The ML-777 player will be fully backward compatible with DVDs and CDs and will up-convert standard-definition video to 1080p over its HDMI 1.3 connection. Other video outputs include component video, composite video and S-video.”

Fact number 4. The HD VMD specs are still very sketchy and it is not known for sure if the ML-777 player supports 1080P/24. The product brochure mentions 1080P/60 and not 1080P/24. http://www.nmeinc.com/ There is no doubt that the HD VMD format will be the cheapest 1080P format on the market. A $149 and a $199 HD VMD player is launching this fall. Most likely the HD VMD format will be the first HDTV player that reaches the $49.99 price range followed by HD-DVD and then one day BLU-RAY. So on price the HD VMD will be a clear winner and will be able to offer prices cheaper compared to both HD-DVD and BLU-RAY formats.


5. Quote
“The company claims to have a catalog of more than 3,000 titles, although most of the bigger titles will be restricted for release in markets outside of the United States.
The international catalog includes such recent box office releases as “Apocalypto,” “The Queen,” “Blade,” “Lucky Number Slevin,” and “The Passion of the Christ,” in addition to international productions from Bollywood and Chinese film producers.
“What we’ve done is close deals in the last 12 months with many global content distributors around the world that license titles directly from the Hollywood studios and have the right to put it on any format they wish,” said Alexandros Potter, NME executive VP. “Thus, we have Hollywood titles available for Iceland, U.K., France, Germany, India, Australia, Brazil, Poland, Scandinavia and other areas.”

Fact number 5. Yes there are some interesting titles to own like the Passion of the Christ and Lord of the Rings that will be on the HD VMD format in 1080P. People that are format neutral and own either a dual format player or both a BLU-RAY and HD-DVD player most likely are not going to purchase a third HDTV format called HD VMD to play a select few titles. Unless the HD VMD format can secure major support from Hollywood studios and name brand consumer electronics manufactories then the format is most likely going to fail. Yes there might be room for both HD-DVD and BLU-RAY but I doubt there is also room for HD VMD in the HDTV market

In a worse case nightmare scenario with 3 HDTV formats to choose from they all could fail if most consumers decides to stick with a standard DVD players for under $50 that up converts to 1080P. Does anyone want to own a combo player that plays BLU-RAY, HD-DVD, and HD VMD discs so that the HDTV optical disc market can become a niche product like Laserdisc? It would be a scary scenario if some major Hollywood studio signed an exclusive agreement with the HD VMD camp. Then if one wanted to see all the movies one would need to own 3 separate players or one combo player that played all 3 formats.

Quote
“Next year, the company plans to bring HD VMD recorders to market, the company said.”
Where is the 3 format HDTV recorders that support BLU-RAY, HD-DVD, and HD VMD? Any chance we could see a 4th HDTV format launch in the future?