Dell And HP Set The Record Straight On Blu-ray Disc Associationís High Definition Format

3-Oct-05

Dell and Hewlett Packard, address the inaccurate information cited by Microsoft and Intel regarding the Blu-ray Disc format: ?ìFrom a PC end-user perspective, Blu-ray is a superior format.? It offers 67-150% more storage capacity, higher transfer rates, slim-line notebook compatibility, broadband connectivity and a proven interactive layer with BD-Javaô,î said Maureen Weber, General Manager of Hewlett Packardís Personal Storage Business. ?ìThe technical merits and consumer benefits of Blu-ray Disc make it the ideal solution for HPís customers.î?Virtually every computer company that has expressed a preference for a high definition disc format has chosen Blu-ray Disc as the superior format for computer platforms and applications.? Top-tier computer brands supporting Blu-ray Disc include, among others, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Panasonic, Sony and LG.? ìEvery computer manufacturer in the BDA carefully reviewed both formats and ultimately chose Blu-ray as the superior solution for meeting customer demands and providing the best possible end-user experience,î said Weber.? ìIt is surprising that Tuesdayís announcement is not aligned with that of the vast majority of the computer industry and is contrary to our consumer research.îMicrosoft and Intelís announcement erroneously indicates that HD-DVD has an advantage in a number of areas.? To set the record straight, here are the facts:Capacity: Blu-ray Discís capacity is 50GB.? This will be available at launch for BD-ROM, BD-R, and BD-RE. This is 67% more than HD-DVDís 30GB ROM capacity and 150% more than its recordable storage capacity ñ a critical issue for computer users.Managed copy: Managed Copy is not a function of the optical disc format, but a function of the content protection system. The AACS content protection system, which is used by both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD, enables managed copy and network streaming functionality.? It is not format specific.Hybrid Disc: Blu-ray Disc was the first format to introduce a hybrid disc that could hold both high and standard definition versions of a movie on a single disc.? The Blu-ray Hybrid Disc is the more elegant solution as it holds both versions of the film on the same side of the disc, which provides for easy labeling and greater ease of use for consumers.Backward Compatibility: Blu-ray Disc players and recorders can and will support DVDs through the addition of red lasers in the hardware.? In order to be backward compatible with DVD, HD DVD must also include a red laser. Interactivity:? Blu-ray disc is built on BD-Javaô, which leverages years of industry investment and experience in the set-top box, PC, and cell phone industries. ?BD-Java provides a mature, robust platform for authoring and delivering unprecedented interactive capabilities to the user for movies, music, and games. BD-Java was selected over iHD, the developmental Microsoft technology used in HD-DVD.? The BDA carefully compared both iHD and BD-J, and concluded that iHD didnít go far enough in providing a compelling feature set beyond DVD, while BD-J offered studios a much richer palette for providing a compelling interactive HD experience for consumers, particularly when a player is connected to a network. ìWe are actively engaged with our customers who continue to tell us that features such as capacity, advanced interactivity, and industry wide support are of utmost importance when considering new optical solutions,î said Kevin Kettler, Chief Technology Officer, Dell, Inc. ìBased on this feedback and a comparison of the two formats, Dell has no doubt that Blu-ray Disc best meets the needs of computer users and provides the type of open industry standards needed to drive innovation and growth of the format across all platforms ñ consumer electronic, personal computers and gaming consoles.î

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