Originally Posted by DogSmoke
I think the name HD-DVD confuses people. The HD in HD-DVD doesn't mean the same thing as it does with HDTV. HD TV is high definition. HD-DVD is High Density. Basically meaning more data can be stored on it, plus the other snazzy features documented above.
So just because you want to get on the HD bandwagon, you don't have to buy one format or the other. They both support High Definition output.
Quite, but a 15Gig DVD which isn't filled to the brim with high quality HD material will be a waste of money imo, no need to go blueray or whatever if you're only going to watch the same as you can get on DVD today. Unless you want all Lost Episodes or whatever on a single disk
. Increasing capacity is all to do with higher quality sound (and more channels - 9.1, 11.1...) and picture, that's what drives capacity upwards in the home cinema market.
As an example, you can't get DTS on some movies unless you are prepared to loose the extras, or go for lower quality NTSC pictures, and that's because there isn't enough space on a DVD for a full PAL movie, extras and DD + DTS soundtracks.
I mentionned 1080p as being a minimum to really enjoy High Definition content, this will soon be superseeded by even higher resolutions which will only be realistic with High Density DVDs.
Now, if you're talking about pure data (e.g. computer) storage, that's another story.
Originally Posted by DogSmoke
BTW, the best format doesn't always win, as seen in the VHS/Betamax war.
Or, if recordable DVD's are anything to go by, both standards will survive and someone will eventually support both in one unit
