Question about the future size of DVD-/+ R

[mreed80]

When CD-R first came out 74 minutes seemed to be the standard if my memory serves me correctly. Now you can get up to 99 minutes on what is obviously the same physically sized disc.

DVD-/+R are at 4.7 now, does anybody know any reasons why DVDs might not get up to maybe around 6 GB sooner or later? Is it even possible?
It would obviously help in overall quality in creating a complete Disc backup when including menus or just get bigger movies onto one disc without using DVD2ONE or something.

Just curious

[Gazorgan]

I would say no. What is going to happen is a shift to 'Blue-Ray' lasers. This will let you get 17GB on a disk instead of 4.7 GB. What this really means is you will still only get 2+ hours of HDTV level video.

On the flip side, you could get 2-4 DVD's backed up on 1 disk. I don't see this happening for at least 1-2 years. The standalone recorders are $4000 US and media is $30 US over in Japan. Of course the first DVDR's were the same way and now you can get a DVDR for under $100 US ( with multiple rebates, and pretty much on sale at elast 1/month around here).

The original CD format called for 80 Minutes as a standard, but the original releases were 74 minutes. Remember that most Albums were only 45 minutes, so this was plenty. Don't forget those little pocket CDR's that are 174 MB.

[herbapou]

It going to be very hard for those type of DVD and machines to go mainstream.

Even if the readers can read both old and new format, there is still already large amounts of DVD`s players out there. So ...

Movie makers will still have to produce the old format.
Video renting stores will buy the old format to accomodate everyone.

Those are the same reasons why DVD do not "evolved" in the compression departement. If players could used MPEG-4 instead of old MPEG-2, you could already fit 10+ hours of DVD resolutions movies on a 4.7gb DVD. Also, the movie industry doesnt wants to put more than one movie per DVD.

The same thing happened with music CD`s. The are still using uncompress wave files when good quality mp3 compression has been available for a long time. We are just starting to see mp3 players in home audio systems and in car radios and the music industry is still selling very old uncompress music CD`s. The music industry dont want to put more than 20 or so songs on a CD anyway.

[disturbed1]

It won't be that hard for it go mainstream. It's just going to take a while. Most are projecting 5-6 years before it's a commidity.

As far as producing two formats, thats done every day. DVD and VHS, Compact Disc, and good 'ol Cassette Tape.


DVD won't die for a long, long time. The new players will, at least at first, be capable of playing DVDs. Once everything is worked out, and the DVD Forum approves the final specs, they should be compatible with all DVD approved formats, DVD-Video (single and dual layer), DVD-Audio, DVD-R for video, and DVD-RAM for video. DVD Forum is really pushing this new DVD multi thing now. More DVD-RAM capable players are slated for release later this year, with Panasonic leading the way of course.

[disturbed1]

Those are the same reasons why DVD do not "evolved" in the compression departement. If players could used MPEG-4 instead of old MPEG-2, you could already fit 10+ hours of DVD resolutions movies on a 4.7gb DVD. Also, the movie industry doesnt wants to put more than one movie per DVD.

MPEG-4 was never used because it wasn't an ISO standard until just recently. Plus there too many variations of the format. I believe a lot of people forget that DVD and MPEG2 in general is a 10+ year old technology. I personally don't think MPEG-4 going mainstream (wide spread set top usage) since it uses an AVI wrapper. MPEG2 is much easier to decode, and already has a firm placement in DVD, DBS, DVR, HDTV, DSS and probably more.

The same thing happened with music CD`s. The are still using uncompress wave files when good quality mp3 compression has been available for a long time. We are just starting to see mp3 players in home audio systems and in car radios and the music industry is still selling very old uncompress music CD`s. The music industry dont want to put more than 20 or so songs on a CD anyway.

This is so true. Imagine how CDs one could fit on a DVD5 using 192kbit/s AC3 compression. I put all 10 original Led Zeppilen CDs on one DVD with album covers, and lyrics for each song, and still had room for a few bootlegs.

The RIAA couldn't talk consumers into paying $100 for one disc. They would rather sell each individually for $14 a piece. Or half a collection for $70 for 5 discs.

[rijir2001]

"The same thing happened with music CD`s. The are still using uncompress wave files when good quality mp3 compression has been available for a long time. We are just starting to see mp3 players in home audio systems and in car radios and the music industry is still selling very old uncompress music CD`s. The music industry dont want to put more than 20 or so songs on a CD anyway"

I wouldn't call MP3 a good substitute for wave files on CDs. The quality differences are obvious during playback. I would rather move onto DVDAudio where the quality is superior to CD. MP3 is good for portable devices. But quality wise it is a step backwards. I couldn't imagine spending a grand or more on a serious audio system to dedicate it to MP3 playback. That would be like buying a HDTV only to watch VHS tapes on it.

Russ

[LanEvo7]

Wav's do sound better to an extent. If you encode the mp3 file at a high bitrate like 192 or 224, it sounds pretty close. 128 is common because its optimal for downloading.

Mpeg 4 might go mainstream, but it would take a couple years. Even DVD took around 6 years go become a standard in people's homes. DVD burning just took mainstream maybe a year or two ago. Blu-rays going to take time also.

Besides Mpeg4 still has many bugs with it and there are so many compression formats. If they fix it, then its great. Until then MPEG 2 for me.