New DVD format delayed till end of the year

[Vanderlow]

INTERVIEW-New DVD format delayed as Hollywood takes the stage
Reuters, 03.30.04, 8:55 AM ET


By Lucas van Grinsven, European Technology Correspondent

AMSTERDAM, March 30 (Reuters) - The world's largest electronics makers are working closely with Hollywood's film studios to nail down the standards for the next DVD, but said on Tuesday it will be delayed until the end of the year.

The Hollywood studios are in no hurry to decide which format they will accept, happy to ride the wave of the red laser DVD for a few more years.

"The first Blu-Ray recorders are already on the market, but for consumer electronics makers it will be 2006 or 2007 before we see the first pre-recorded blue laser DVD disks," Buma said.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/newswire/2004/03/30/rtr1316620.html

[RabidDog]

I too, am "happy to ride the wave of the red laser DVD for a few more years. "

*dejavu re this post

[Athlon]

does this mean my DVD collection will soon become obsolete ??

[cplevel42]

does this mean my DVD collection will soon become obsolete ??

No! Unless you are rich

[andkiich]

I think it's too soon in the market for the blu-ray, even in the next 2 or 3 years. Only way this "might" work is if all blu-ray machines are backward compatible.

[flaninacupboard]

even then i don't really see it working yet. not everyone has a DVD player yet, not everyone really understands what they are yet either. shops will be wary of carrying BD's, simply because of the number that will be returned with folks saying "this doesn't work in my player!" so it will be a specialist item, and probably go the way of the LD. then ten years later someone will release a lower quality but cheaper alternative which will for no specific reason become amazingly popular. (so, JUST like LD then.....)

[energy80s]

From what I understand, all Blu-Ray DVD players will play back "red laser" standard def DVD's OK, so all the existing discs will still be playable in the new machines. I doubt if High Def will be the main selling point of Blu-Ray as very few countries intend launching high def TV systems, but the additional storage space and the possibility of archiving many hours of standard def TV programmes may well be its saving grace. It really depends on how well received and how compatible Dual-Layer red laser DVDR's are!