Sony unveils Blu-ray recorders to fight HD DVD

Scheduled for release November 8, four recorders will accommodate dual-layer discs, offer up to 16 hours of storage.

The story "Sony unveils Blu-ray recorders to fight HD DVD" published September 12, 2007 at 5:45 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[mac54]

Get with the program, guys!!!!

I have always contended that the HD DVD vs BluRay war will be won in North America by the first side to provide a reasonably priced recorder. When I first read the headline for this story, I responded with "Finally they've come to their senses!" My hopes were crushed once again as I read the full story and realized that the boys who have the power to introduce these recorders to North America must still be out there sniffing glue.

[basraw]

I need to ...

back up some harddrives.. 200 gig drives.. should make for 4 50 gig dvds... but it still freaking cheaper to buy another 200 gig drive and back it up that way.. oh well..

i won't be buying anytime soon.

[megazone]

Messy US market

I suspect the hold up with the US is our messy market, especially dealing with Cable Labs and CableCARD to handle high-def cable. Right now the cable industry doesn't allow protected content on removable media - even DVRs that support external drives must 'marry' the drive to that DVR and NOT allow content to be accessed by *any* other device.

They just approved DTCP-IP to handle content moved over an IP network to another device, with plenty of restrictions.

For a disc recorder to really sell in the US it must support high-def cable content. We've already seen that OTA-only HD DVRs bombed, and only those with cable support have sold. So the two camps have to convince Cable Labs to approve recording HD cable content to disc media.

[davidlawless]

Given up on CD/DVDs

This battle between HD-DVD and BluRay was the final straw.

I'm no longer buying CD/DVDs of any type. If it isn't available via
digital download on the iTunes store, then I'm not buying it...

I gave up using CD/DVDs as backup media a long time ago.

[cnrix]

blueray vs hddvd

Is it illegal to make a bit for bit copy of an HDDVD disc to a BlueRay disc if I destroy the original ? I have committed to BlueRay but I want to watch some titles which are HD DVD only. I realize there are details to be resolved, but am I purchasing a disc (format) or the right to watch a movie ?

[Stormspace]

You can't

Bit for bit shouldn't work since the formats are different. You'd have to read the disk, convert it and write it back into the other format. The current DMCA laws prevent you from breaking the encryption, even for personal use.

[QuietStormX]

HD-DVD is Dead!

I don't know why there is a fight. With Blu-ray you have the storage over a HD-DVD. In my case and everyone elses, I want the larger disc where I can record several movies not just one with HD-DVD. And what about recording? I can buy a Blu-ray recorder.... Plus buy a huge disc for file storage! (Size matters!)

[Stormspace]

Blue-ray v HDDVD

I don't care for either format. Both formats are laced with so much DRM that there is no guarantee they will play on your new HDTV. HDDVD and Blue-ray are just Hollywood's attempt to curtail what they consider to be DVD piracy. HDTV's aren't pushing these new formats, it's the need for new DRM, and as long as that is the case neither format will be good for the consumer.

[NickH]

A genuine question.

Why is it, in every article I read about Blu-ray/HD-DVD, there is the phrase "HD-DVD backed by Toshiba and Microsoft."

Is Microsoft really the second most important backer of HD-DVD, after it's developer Toshiba.

Yes, I know that Xbox has a HD-DVD add on, but realy, thats not going to make or break this format, any more than the Playstation 3 will.

You can purchase Blu-Ray drives for PCs, so I assume that Windows supports them, just as well as HD-DVD.

Surely the most important supporters of these formats are the content providers, and drive manufacturers.

I'm not arguing that Microsoft isnt a HD-DVD supporter, but wondering why they are regarded as such an *important* supporter?

[scottlewis101]

Re: A genuine question

Well, Microsoft stands to gain significantly from the interactivity layer built with Microsoft technology. Blu-Ray uses a boiled down version of Java.

Their support has nothing to do with the add on drive for the 360.

[cmirsky]

Remember....

Remember the VHS/BETAMAX wars ?
BM was a better technology, could store more info., had a better picture and sound, etc. But VHS won for 2 reasons.
1). JVC was willing to share the VHS technology whereas SONY was not.
2). The porn industry accepted the VHS technology as the tapes were less expensive, and the price dropped drastically from there.

Ultimitely, price and market acceptance will determine the victor.