Blu-Ray/HD-DVD drive

[KIT786]

It seems my PC DVD has died on me, it opens but cannot read any type of disc, so I assume the lens have died or somthing. Anyway so I'm wondering should I just get a another standard DVD ReWriter or should I go for one of the newer formats, that can also write to DVD?

Not really had a proper look on whats out there in terms of PC Blu-Ray/HD-DVD drives, so don't know whats good or bad. However I have seen a hybrid Blu-Ray ReWriter/HD-DVD drive. It can read/write/rewrite Blu-Ray/DVD/CD (including DL), but can only read HD-DVD. The make/model is LG GGW-H20L and I've seen it going for about ?180 i think it was, which sounds very reasonable when you consider what it does.

So should I go for a ~?50 DVD Rewriter or the ~?180 Blu-Ray/HD Hybird? Opinions plz!

[Lyris]

Personally, given how dirt-cheap standard red laser drives are, I'd be waiting a little while before replacing my own one with a blue laser HD drive.

It depends how often you watch movies on your PC, I guess. Is your video card/display up to spec, would it even support the playback of HD films?

[sj33]

You can get DVD Writer drives for £18, which is a crazy price!

Like Lyris says really. You can get a HD-DVD drive for £70, Blu-Ray for £95 or a dual format for £160, which is really quite a price hike from £18! And you can be sure prices will drop during the year.

Unless you need such a drive, you may as well get an £18 DVD Writer for now.

[EvilBoris]

Unless you really need to burn Blu Ray disc is there much point?

Also when a 50GB disc costs you £15 a pop, is it something you are going to do very often?

[Hohum]

Yeah, and imagine if an error occurs during burn... just a tad costly

[KIT786]

I suppose you guys are right, while I do watch a lot of movies on the PC (and I know the PC can handle HD as I can play back 720p no probs), I don't really need to be burning that much data to a disc. Also didn't realise the discs cost that much, I thought it was something in the reigion of maybe 5 quid per disc!
This will problery mean I'm gonna have to wait a while longer to get my HD movies fix. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction though

[dfq23]

You can get a LG rewriter that will play BD and HD-DVD but not write to em from play for £145

[KIT786]

well due to the news that it might be over for HD-DVD might not be needing a dual format player after all. Got myself a dvd writer now anyway, thanks for the info though dfg23

[dvdmike]

Go for the LG mine is on order

[Salsa Party Animal]

Could it be possible to copy the files on HD DVD into a blu ray disc and make it blu ray ?

Just asking if this is possible or need converting to work on Blu Ray Disc ?

[Lyris]

The files on the discs are both laid out in different ways, so it's not that convenient sadly.

HD DVD discs contain an HVDVD_TS (yes, HV, "Hi-Vision DVD") folder with .EVO (Enhanced Video Object) files inside.

BDs contain a STREAM\BDMV folder with MPEG2 Transport Streams inside (BD was originally designed as a solely MPEG2 system so the Transport Stream part remains, despite it being possible to put VC1 or AVC movies inside the MPEG2 TS container).

There's lots of differences - it's possible to convert an HD DVD to BD (it's easier than the other way around) but it's not a walk in the park.

[dvdmike]

I can do one in under 6 hours now beat that Sony lol

[Lyris]

Tut tut Scenarist, Blu-print?

[dvdmike]

Nope re-encode normally to fit a few films on a 25gb BRD at 720p no real loss of detail

[Salsa Party Animal]

Good. So I will get one in end of the year which should mean much cheap HD DVD Blu Ray combo