blu-ray

[Andrew M.]

What's this then? Is everybody in on it? http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39282192,00.htm

Isn't Maxell working on holographic memory too?

I have heard that Maxell has 300GB as well.
Next year we will have not expensive 300GB HVD I think.
How long data will last on it though?

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

What's this then? Is everybody in on it? http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39282192,00.htm

Why not just go right to the source and reference the official press release?

Yes, they have prototype media expanding past the abilities of the current dual layer (available) and quad layer (prototype only) drives out there now. But considering Sony, Pioneer and LG all can't get quad layer writers to actually work 100%, it's somewhat of a moot point at this time. And just because they have a prototype 6 layer disc, it really means nothing, we don't even know if it actually works or will be compatible with the new blue diodes that are in development now to make the 4 to 8 layer drives possible.

I have no doubt we'll see 6 layer writers by the end of 2008 or sometime early in 2009. But right now, we're still waiting for someone to deliver a quad-layer drive that works. I was at a BluRay presentation last July with a bunch of Sony big wigs and some of their tech guys. They had a few discs there that people could pass around and one of them was reported to be an 8 layer prototype. Who knows if what they claim was true. It looked just like the dual-layer disc they loaded in the prototype BDP-S1 player other than it had a little darker color to it and a little less transparency.

Isn't Maxell working on holographic memory too?

Yes. Maxell is also the primary media manufacturer for InPhase and one of the backers of the project. They're also developing their own holographic storage unit and media. I think there's a swap of IP and patent licensing between Maxell and InPhase -- only makes sense.

 

[Kyle Spicer]

Two problems with it... Expensive and slow. No one really knows just how durable the discs are or what sort of shelf life to expect. The discs are VERY vulnerable to scratches and the slightest scratch can ruin a disc. This just goes along with the data density. Just as DVDs were more sensitive to scratches than CDs, even more so with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.

There are some misconception's on Blu-Ray. It is actually very durable or from what I have seen. It has something similar to TDK Scratch proof disks. I think there was a report on Tom's Hardware that said you could drop the disk on the ground and rub your feet across it and still get all the data off of it. The disk also have a protection for fingerprints, which is necessary considering how much more data is being put on the disk and how small an area the laser has to read from.
The cost is going to be something that takes time to get over. Just like when DVD's first came out. HD-DVD uses current manufacturing facilities that DVD's use. Basically all HD-DVD is, is a supped up DVD Disk. It uses the same laser technology, where as Blu-Ray has to have a complete new manufacturing line installed. This cost cash and the companies are defiantly not going to eat it themselves (there not RED :biggrin: . ) In the labs they have disk that will go 8-12 layers on Blu-Ray. This is great but probably still far away from reaching consumers.

In short I cant see Blu-Ray nor HD-DVD being a FAST backup solution by any means, but it will be a backup solution (probably one of the best when prices drop a little)...