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.

Comments

100GB is only for double sided

[dopplex]

The article says that to achieve 100GB, the disc has to be double sided.. So presumably most of the media we see will actually only have a 50GB capacity.

Archive, not backups

[Tsk]

For backups at least ina profesionnal environement you need more speed. writting DVD is slow compared to technologies like LTO, which stores up to 200 Gig on a casette.Archives which you write and then store somewhere in a safe palce because You personaly don't need the data, are better stored on worm devices like DVD's. French quality commette recommends Worm device writting for archives you need to keep for the IRS.

Violet Laser != DVD

[Diesel Dave]

First: It a sad thing *ANY* article on slashdot is consumed by dog shit posts. 20 comments already attached to this article and not a damn one has anything to say.

That said the real story here is the wavelength change. Normal CD's are red lasers. DVD's are blue. This thing is VIOLET. The shorter the light wave, the more dense the data can be. So this is big news because it is a new level of technology, not a progression of one of the current technologies. (Without question some form of this will be adopted)

This means that some of the recent tricks (multi-layers) will probably be applicable to this to yield a VERY high amount of storage, maybe 100-200GB per side. That is of course if they don't come out with an ULTRA-VIOLET laser based system first. (Uhmm does an ultra-violet laser even exist yet??)

OK guys we're at 50GB per platter now. Give me random I/O of 4ms, and I'll chuck my magnetic HD's out of the window.

Re:Violet Laser != DVD

[RussGarrett]

Yes, UV lasers do exist, but they're not the nicest of things. Firstly, like IR lasers, they're invisible, but unlike IR lasers, they tend to scatter and diffract off surfaces very easily, due to the high wavelength. So you never really know where they are.

Secondly, UV lasers have a nasty habit of causing cancer on contact with the beam. Granted, only a very low power beam will be required to read the media, but I bet the average consumer will be thrilled with having invisible carcinogenic radiation inside their computer.

On a vaguely related note, due to the ionising nature of UV lasers, they're considering making tasers out of them. I spose the thinking is, if they don't incapacitate the criminals, they'll give them cancer. I see a great case for lawsuits here....

--Russ

The big difference

[UserChrisCanter4]

For those of you not in the know, Matsushita is the Japanese parent company of Panasonic.

With all of the other fanciful storage media (FMD, anyone), we're talking about tiny start-up companies that are throwing (usually) empty promises out about their newest gizmo because, let's face it, they'll do anything to jack the stock price a little.

I would feel safe in making a bet that we would never, ever see widespread use of FMD (maybe something similar, but probably never FMD). I just don't think a company that small would have the financial resources to tangle with the big boys on something as big as a common media storage format.

Meanwhile I sit here looking at my Panasonic television. I saw their Home theater DVD-R unit at the electronics store today for $1K. Call me crazy, but I just find this claim a little more legit than most.