HD DVD and Blu-Ray Burning

Author: Amit Raju

Article:
This article explains high definition video recording. Some of
you may wonder what HD brings to the table, so here it is. The
maximum resolution that a normal DVD can produce is 480i. The
resolution of High Definition goes up to either 720p or 1080i,
far beyond the capabilities of a standard DVD recorder. The
older DVD recorders can not record HDTV broadcasts at full
resolution because of this restriction.

High Definition recording is done either on Blu-ray Disc,
HD-DVD, or on a Hard Drive. Some newer models will combine both
technologies, however. Both Blu-Ray discs and HD-DVDs deliver
true high definition.

By the way, the name 'Blue-Ray' comes from the fact that the
frequency of the laser that reads the disc is so high that it
reaches the blue end of the spectrum.

You might have heard about the big battle taking place between
HD-DVD and Blu-Ray right now. It's reminiscnet of the old VHS
vs. Betamax fight in the '80s. So hoe do you choose between
HD-DVD and Blu-Ray?

The choice may affect your purchases for the future as to what
type of HD camcorder you buy, what type of discs you use, and so
on.

Sony is the producer of Blue-Ray, and this technology used in
all of their recorders and players, as well as the new
Playstation 3. Not surprisingly, PS3's biggest competitor - the
xBox 360, uses HDDVD discs. HDDVD came first, so those who have
already taken the plunge will be relieved that prices on HD-DVD
discs, recorders, and players are falling rapidly.

Blu-ray discs can hold more data or video than HD DVD
counterparts, but they are more expensive. Further muddling your
decision is the fact that some Hollywood studios have decided to
work with HDDVD (Paramount, Universal and Warner), while others
have settled on Blu-Ray (Sony Pictures, MGM/Columbia TriStar,
Fox, Warner, and Lions Gate). The quality of both Blu-ray and HD
DVD discs varies with the film itself, but titles available on
both formats generally have similar video quality.

Of course the dilemma may be moot, soon, as new dual-format
players have been announced. So you may not be forced to choose
between the two in the end.

About the author:
Amit Raju owns and operates http://www.hdburn.net, a site
focusing on High Definition Dvd
Recorders.

Bluray Review...for the Non-Techie

Author: Alison Smith

Article:
You Are Gonna Love Blu-Ray...

...I do. And no, I am not a person who knows about resolution,
pixels, 1080p etc etc. I leave technicalities to the other
half.....ok maybe I have absorbed a little by
osmosis....remember that from school - osmosis, that is, not
Blu-Ray.

We have recently bought a PS3 and I am just discovering many
films all over again. I don't love it because of the technical
jargon, I just love it because the picture looks great, the
sound is fantastic and hey who needs an excuse to watch movies.
We have also got a Toshiba HDDVD player and the same applies.
Check out my other lens for the lowdown on HDDVD.

Enter the world of Blu-Ray and you won't be disappointed. I mean
watch the shenanigans that go on in Open Season and your sides
will be aching all night.

Each week I am going to add a pocket sized review on either a
hit or miss film. This won't be going too much into detail on
technical film quality, although that might get mentioned, but
will tell you succinctly whether I think the film is great or as
my report card used to say about by French lessons 'could do
better'. I will then give you a chance to vote it a 'hit' or a
'miss' - but of course we won't all agree, that's what makes
life so 'tres magnifique'!



About the author:
Alison Smith: Check Out these Non-Jargonesque reviews:
http://www.squidoo.com/blurayforthenontechie