The Intense Blu Ray vs HD DVD Battle for Supremacy

The format war between the manufacturers of optical disc format in digital data storage industry is very much intense. In fact, a number of consumer electronic giants in the field of digital data and multimedia formed group with the intention of providing better and much more innovative technology for its consumers. The recent development and innovation of the optical disc format (Blu Ray Disc technology and HD DVD) was primarily designed to further improve, enhance and replace the standard DVD format. The two particular formats are currently engage in format war.

As previously mentioned, the Blu Ray vs HD DVD format war is a competition between two dissimilar optical disc formats and is considered by its followers as a contest between two "high definition" optical disc formats. Specifically, the purpose of the Blu Ray vs HD DVD format war is to enhance, improve and replace the DVD standard.

However, of the two formats, the Blu Ray has a slight advantage; the Blu Ray disc has a much larger storage capacity than its counterpart. A single layer Blu Ray disc is capable of storing 25 gigabytes of digital data while the HD DVD has a 15 gigabytes capacity on its single layer disc. The dual layer Blu Ray discs can store 50 gigabytes of data while the dual layer HD DVD disc is capable of storing 30 gigabytes of data.


The reason why Blu Ray discs is capable of storing larger amounts of data is because Blu Ray discs stores data near its surface. However, storing data near the surface of the disc can cause problems if the surface is scratched. In order to solve this problem, Blu Ray disc manufacturers have used certain methods so that the surfaces of Blu Ray discs are protected with "scratch resistant coating". The protective coatings or commonly known as "scratch resistant coatings" of Blu Ray discs are said to withstand direct abrasion.

As for the HD DVD, its discs use the same materials that are used on a standard DVD. HD DVD discs share the same characteristic that of a regular DVD disc. The data stored on HD DVD discs are written deeper compared to the Blu Ray disc in order to reduce damage if the disc is scratched.

In the Blu Ray vs HD DVD format war, Blu Ray is slight ahead of HD DVD. One of the most prominent factors is the storage capacity of the Blu Ray disc. More people consider this feature as the "edge" of the Blu Ray.

Those who have followed the Blu Ray vs HD DVD competition for optical disc format affirm that the competition is somewhat close. The Blu Ray vs HD DVD format competition is an indication that technology is continuously innovating. Thereby adding proof of Man's never ending quest for a more efficient life.