Video Asylum

Posted by Joe Murphy Jr (A) on October 15, 2006 at 19:36:49

In Reply to: HD DVD compatibility with older dvd players posted by gonzo on October 15, 2006 at 16:56:53:

The new formats, HD DVD and Blu-ray, are both high definition formats. As such, they are of higher resolution and require greater "processing power" to deliver those improved images. DVD players of yesterday and even today don't have what it takes under the hood to deliver 5 - 6x the resolution of DVD.

While both of these formats are capable of delivering dual-format discs (a high definition part for compatible high definition players and a standard definition part for regular DVD players), only HD DVD has persued this option. However, not all studios supporting HD DVD also produce such discs (even then, there are few discs at this time). You need to check out some of the online sites to find out what movies also have a regular DVD layer/side.

There are pros and cons to making these discs. For people not yet ready for high definition discs, it allows them to purchase a movie they want now and view it on their regular DVD player and later, when they get a high definition player, view their movie in high definition. The downside is the fact that these discs are more expensive to produce and thus carry a higher price. For people who already have a high definition player and don't want or need a standard definition version, they must put out more money for a movie they want which includes a feature they don't want.

Here's a link to such a discussion:

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