Blu-Ray and HD DVD are the next generation of optical disks using blue lasers to read data. The main benefit of these formats is to allow for storage of high definition (HD) audio and video data. This data is shown with 1080 or 720 lines, while the current standard is 480 lines. What is the benefit of HD content? The first advantage is much higher resolutions. While some of us see this already in our computing worlds, it’s not common in the home entertainment sector yet. Of course greater resolutions mean finer details; ever wanted to see that mole of Cindy Crawfords in super detail? Well wait around for your HD copy of “Fair Game” and you just might be able to.

The entertainment industy is ready to move us into the HD age whether we are ready or not. The following are some of the basic ideas behind these formats. In the coming months and years when HDTV becomes a standard, games grow in size, and our overall need for massive storage increases, these formats could become a hot commodity.

The greater capacities can potentially reach 200GB on multilayered disks - far more than any current type of media. This was achieved because of the blue laser's shorter wavelength (405nm) in comparison to the wavelength of the currently used red lasers (650nm). This means that the blue laser can read smaller pits on the optical disks, which can then be packed closer together. How exactly does a different color laser read more data? With a shorter wavelength, the blue laser can be pinpointed even tighter to a specific spot on the disc, allowing for more data to be stored and read in the same physical area.

Each format will support MPEG layer 2, (current codec used for DVD), MPEG-4, and VC-,1 a derivative of Windows Media 9 (Microsoft’s codec of choice for HD content). MPEG-4 and VC-1 will support more HD content per layer as they are more advanced codecs - almost double the amount per layer than MPEG-2 can support.

Both formats will transfer around 36Mbps but because of the density differential, HD DVD will actually have to rotate faster to transfer as fast as Blu-Ray.

The two formats have their various pros and cons and have different companies supporting them - leading us to what could be the biggest format war since Betamax vs VHS. The separate camps have sat down for discussions for merging the two formats, but it seems that neither side wants to budge and lose what could be a vast amount of money on royalties. Such a conflict could brew consumer indifference, and not be beneficial for either format. Hopefully we can further educate our readers about the opposing fronts so when the time comes to go the HD route, you won’t be running around as if you were flashbanged and instead will be able to chose clearly and take aim.