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Mega-DVDs -- 100GB Apiece
saitouhajime writes: "Matsushita is reporting that they've developed a method of storing 100 Gigabytes onto a standard sized dvd. Articles can be found here(1) and here(2)." 100GB on a disk would be a nice way to store backups -- but since the DVD consortium hasn't made any promises, this format may remain just a demo technology forever.
Warning: I am making the possibly misguided assumption that this new technology is based on "blue laser" wavelengths".
I have long since wondered when blue laser technology would fit into the "grand scheme" of data storage needs. Standards serve both to implemement existing technology as soon as possible in order to acquire more investment dollars, and in order to ensure compatibility with existing and established markets and products. However, standards also serve to hamper technological advancements. Just look at the X86 architecture (or whatever it's called). On the other hand, standards also ensure compatibility with a wide variety of manufacturers and products. They generally make our lives much easier.
I believe that in order to push this new technology, and also to provide compatibility with the existing infrastructure, early developers of this technology will have to make some compromises. These compromises will be most notable in the actual user-cost. My reasoning being, is that they will have to make their product with two different lasers. One that uses the blue wavelength, and one that uses the old DVD standard. This will increase the cost untill they can figure a way to use a single laser to do both, like Sony has done with their Playstation2. I think this format has the potential to do very well, except for the standards issue. If the general public can accept the early high costs of this technology and view it as a true leap, it will quickly become cheaper and more usefull. If not, then it will die a quick death, and be thrown towards a niche category like perhaps the Minidisc is in America. Standards are again, both a blessing and a curse.
>>>>>> Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him into the hyperdrive.
Maybe I'm just being an optimist, but it would be really cool to use this for High Definition DVDs. Heck, it wouldn't even cost more (besides the drive mechanics) because by that time most TVs will have to accept HD over the air, so over the firewire is cheap!
When i first heard about the DVD coming out with 17 GB i still dreamed of having a 2 GB hard-drive, but now i cant even afford to buy a 4-9 GB DVD-R drive, and i already have a 15 GB HD, and thats not even large for today's standards.
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If they would release this new Giga-DVD RIGHT NOW it may be somewhat cool, but assuming its gonna take at least 1-2 years until we see anything of it on the market, the HDs will already have evolved to 200 or 400 GB i guess. and then i wouldnt be very amazed by it anymore, especially if they first chose to only give us the 25 GB version
Alright, It would totally own CDr or DVDr, but it wouldnt be sufficient anymore.
how do you think about this?
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. take off every