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Broadcom's Treaty In the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD War

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the everyone-holding-hands dept.

eldavojohn writes "For a while there, I didn't know what to buy. Blu-Ray or HD-DVD? Which would be the leader? Only a fool would buy discs of the technology that would be the next Betamax. Fortunately, my dilemma has been solved by Broadcom. From the article: 'Consumer and communications chip supplier Broadcom Corp. Thurs. (Nov. 9) introduced what the company labeled the first single-chip solution to support both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD standards.' I guess I'll just wait until I can get a player that will play them both."

22 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. Pr0n by eldavojohn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    For those of you who claimed that the porn industry would decide this war (as was speculated in the beta max/VHS war), they've decided to choose both technologies. So that is no longer really the deciding factor. Are we going to see movies and studios side with the separate technology and the consumer simply use both?

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:Pr0n by archen · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is probably on the fast track to killing both if one or the other isn't decided. If you look at the costs at ramping up production of bluray or hd-dvd it's not worth it. Current facilities that produce DVD's took millions to tool. Unless the consumers actually put their weight behind one, these places are probably just going to keep pressing DVDs. Which in turn means less selection in titles, which reduces the demand for the format and keeps economies of scale from taking effect.

    2. Re:Pr0n by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Are we going to see movies and studios side with the separate technology and the consumer simply use both?

      I can't see how anyone who was around when the various writeable DVD formats were around, resulting in all drives supporting 'DVD +/- R/W', would see it working out any other way. A fractured market won't work. They want to convince people to upgrade to their HD DVD player -- "plays half of upcoming new releases!" isn't going to do it.

      The only kink is that I thought I'd heard the consortiums were trying to stop licensees from making cross-compatible players. I'm mistaken, or they changed their mind because they realized it wouldn't work.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  2. Best answer... by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Buy neither. Technology designed by lawyers should not be rewarded.

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
    1. Re:Best answer... by nomadic · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So the actual technical standards and implementations were designed by lawyers? I knew I should have taken more circuit design classes in law school, sounds like I really missed out...

  3. neither by tehwebguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    i don't see any reason to buy into either one. i'm not planning on getting a new tv any time soon, and i don't need to pay even MORE per movie.

    --
    -- lol pwned
  4. Not happening. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sony has so far refused to allow Blu-Ray licensing to any device that plays nice with both formats. They still have too much at stake to let anyone give the consumer a choice that may not be theirs.

    1. Re:Not happening. by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      However, in the meantime, devices using the chip capable of handling both formats will be crippled so that only one format can be used per device. Just because it can support both formats doesn't mean it will in the same device. Drive makers can instead buy this chip in bulk rather that two other chips (one per standard) in bulk and not worry about having half their purchase become worthless because of consumer adoption of one format over another.

      That's the benefit.

      At least until someone learns how to flash a drive to enable both formats.

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  5. Waiting has always been the right answer. by numbski · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The visual benefits are marginal right now.

    I know, I know. 480p vs 720p vs 1080p...blah blah blah.

    Listen, how much is it REALLY worth to go drop $1000+ on an HD player that only reads certain discs? I've intentionally been waiting for dual/triple format players to hit the market before buying.

    Also, I've been quietly hoping inside someone would step up with a better format that isn't DRM encumbered. I'd likely suffocate holding my breath though. :P

    --

    Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

    1. Re:Waiting has always been the right answer. by Gnascher · · Score: 2, Funny

      "DRM encumbered"

      You misspelled "encrusted".

      I think what you meant was "infected".

      --
      It's not my fault! It was this way when I got here.
  6. Ricoh's has developed a laser... by ajayrockrock · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ricoh has developed a laser that can read both formats too. I'm sure we'll see hybrid players sometime next year.

    --Ajay

    1. Re:Ricoh's has developed a laser... by tenton · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's never been a major technical hurdle to create a player that can handle both formats. Being that they use the same wavelength laser (405nm), it was clear that there could be hybrid players, without major scientific breakthroughs. No, the issue is much more difficult to overcome; it's about licensing (i.e. money). So, at this point, it seems these developments only reduce the cost of the components (as the manufacturers just neeed to make one product; thus increasing the volume and leveraging economies of scale).

      Hybrid players next year may be a bit optimistic. I hope I'm wrong about that, though.

  7. No thanks to both... by dslauson · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The industry has transitioned from "Just look at all the great things you can do with technology!!!!" to "Oh, crap. People can do way too many things with technology."

    The new generation of hardware, software, and consumer electronics they're trying to cram down our throats offers only minimal improvements over the old stuff in order to try to get the consumer to give up all the things they used to be able to do.

    This is the reason that I'll never buy either of these products. I'm pretty happy with DVDs, thank you very much.

  8. Why bother? by bigwavejas · · Score: 3, Informative

    Is there even a market for Blu or HD-DVD's? I would think the market is shifting to downloads.

    --
    "Simplify, simplify, simplify!" Thoreau
  9. They solved your problem? by synergy3000 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well what about NEC? http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/11/conte nt_5189776.htmChip. Been there done that last month. Any players with it yet? It won't be that easy.

  10. Re:Jeez - Zonk Just Shut The Fuck Up by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Your year long anit-Sony/PS3 FUD campaign has been a total waste of everyone on Slashdot's time."

    Anti-Sony FUD campaign? That's a funny thing to call Sony's marketing tactics.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  11. dual player by arazor · · Score: 5, Informative

    There wont be any legal dual format players any time soon. The Sony Blu-Ray license prohibits HD DVD playback in the same machine.

    1. Re:dual player by swillden · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There wont be any legal dual format players any time soon. The Sony Blu-Ray license prohibits HD DVD playback in the same machine.

      Just like the DVD-CCA's CSS key license prohibits region-free players :-)

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  12. Ya right! by Dion · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What makes you think that there will not be thousands of factories in China pumping out DVD players (and DVD drives for computers) and SD TVs for years to come?

    --
    -- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
    1. Re:Ya right! by novus+ordo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      See PS3.

      --
      "You're everywhere. You're omnivorous."
  13. Good luck by Dion · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Good luck getting any of the customizable goodness that makes HTPCs such a great win.

    Playback is going to be windows vista 64bit only, you can go screw yourself if you use anything else.

    Personally I'll skip both those coaster technologies until there is a reliable Linux player.

    If the Motion Picture Ass. of America reads this, then I will do what ever is easiest of the three options:
    1) Play the HD movies from the legal optical medium, on my Linux box, with an opensource player.
    2) Play the HD movies from harddisk, downloaded fron the Net, on my Linux box, with an opensource player.
    3) Play the SD movies from the legal optical medium, on my Linux box, with an opensource player.

    Notice I didn't mention Windows Vista or Standalone players as I consider both to be useles junk.

    --
    -- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
  14. This doesn't help the consumer at all by Stinky+Fartface · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Even if all this tech came together and formed a great hybrid player, it still doesn't resolve the central issue of which format to support. I mean, what format are you going to buy your media in? It's great it supports both, you can always rent or Netflix either, but you still may find yourself several years down the road with a library of movies in an obsolete format. The player is only a small part of the problem. Additionally, it doesn't solve the issue for the retailer either. Space in stores is finite, and you can be sure that no retailer wants to reduce the variety of merchandise just so they can carry three formats of every title.