HD-DVD/BluRay PC DVD Player.

[OvertoneBliss]

So, will these things exist?

I use my PC as a "media centre" and so therefore I'm hoping this new format will be made for play via a HD-DVD/BluRay drive.

Has anyone heard anything?

Would be a bummer if it didn't happen as I'd have to go and buy another whole unit .

Phil.

[danvitale]

I'd expect there will not be a combined HD-DVD/BluRay drive for a good few years.. BluRay drives are starting to be included in the PC bundles later on this year, and commercial BluRay recorders are being sold in Japan, so that format is starting to roll, however theres been very little HD-DVD hardware released so far, let alone a combined drive.

[Tejstar]

Given that they are competing formats I would see this as extremely unlikely!

Edit: Actually I don't think he's talking about combined drives!?

[richjthorpe]

I don't think it's as unlikely as you think. Look at SACD and DVD-A, a lot of DVD players play both of these formats.

Would I be right in thinking that BD and HDDVD will both use blue lasers ?

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by richjthorpe

Would I be right in thinking that BD and HDDVD will both use blue lasers ?

I thought that HD-DVD uses red?

[AML]

I think these new formats have to use a new laser as red lacks the bandwith?
So even though HD-DVD isnt labeled as Blue (for obvious reasons) i still think it is.

There is that one chinese format that works with existing technology so it uses the current red laser and DVD format.

[richjthorpe]

Originally Posted by AML

There is that one chinese format that works with existing technology so it uses the current red laser and DVD format.

VCD isn't it ? They've managed to get 9Gig on a DVD and are looking to get 16Gig from a 20 (I think) layered disc. Good for 120 minutes of Hi Def apparently.

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by richjthorpe

VCD isn't it ? They've managed to get 9Gig on a DVD and are looking to get 16Gig from a 20 (I think) layered disc. Good for 120 minutes of Hi Def apparently.

I think you mean VMD (Versatile Multi-layered Disc).

[KraGorn]

There are numerous Chinese formats, another one is HVD, and IMHO there's zero chance Hollywood will license their content for those formats.

I'm sure I've read dual-format drives have already been demonstrated and are planned, just like DVD+ and DVD- were incompatible formats albeit using the same laser technology unlike these HD formats.

As for PC-based systems, it remains to be seen. DVD-Audio can only be played on one or two specific sound cards and SACD will never be licensed for PC use. Given the paranoia in Hollywood about piracy don't expect to see HD playback until there are very effective hardware locks on it to prevent ripping etc.